GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Aerial shot capturing a barren landscape with a lush forest cluster surrounded by arid terrain.Capture the breathtaking seascape of Raouche's iconic rock formations during a stunning sunset in Beirut, Lebanon.

Lebanon

Asia · Western Asia

Low safetyAffordable cost of livingHigh development

It is less peaceful than most countries.

Safety

130th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.435lower is more peacefulLow safety
#130 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
2.2per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2020
Safety index
53.1Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$3,560national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2024
Rent index
14.3New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
17.8years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person fell 3% in current dollars from 2006 to 2024, and fell 19% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$11,917 PPP$4,473Inflation, % a year250%0200620102015202020242006, $4,635 a person, $10,312 at PPP2007, $5,125 a person, $11,356 at PPP2008, $5,912 a person, $12,416 at PPP2009, $7,091 a person, $13,586 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2010, $7,626 a person, $14,704 at PPP, inflation 4%2011, $7,835 a person, $14,975 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $8,407 a person, $16,121 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2013, $8,162 a person, $16,316 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2014, $7,578 a person, $16,140 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $7,714 a person, $17,046 at PPP, inflation -3.7%2016, $8,089 a person, $18,941 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $8,608 a person, $20,964 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2018, $9,175 a person, $21,985 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2019, $8,906 a person, $21,710 at PPP, inflation 3%2020, $5,561 a person, $16,260 at PPP, inflation 84.9%2021, $4,045 a person, $11,600 at PPP, inflation 154.8%2022, $3,654 a person, $12,291 at PPP, inflation 171.2%2023, $3,478 a person, $12,585 at PPP, inflation 221.3%2024, $4,473 a person, $11,917 at PPP, inflation 45.2%$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year250%0200620102015202020242006, $4,635 a person, $10,312 at PPP2007, $5,125 a person, $11,356 at PPP2008, $5,912 a person, $12,416 at PPP2009, $7,091 a person, $13,586 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2010, $7,626 a person, $14,704 at PPP, inflation 4%2011, $7,835 a person, $14,975 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $8,407 a person, $16,121 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2013, $8,162 a person, $16,316 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2014, $7,578 a person, $16,140 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $7,714 a person, $17,046 at PPP, inflation -3.7%2016, $8,089 a person, $18,941 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $8,608 a person, $20,964 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2018, $9,175 a person, $21,985 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2019, $8,906 a person, $21,710 at PPP, inflation 3%2020, $5,561 a person, $16,260 at PPP, inflation 84.9%2021, $4,045 a person, $11,600 at PPP, inflation 154.8%2022, $3,654 a person, $12,291 at PPP, inflation 171.2%2023, $3,478 a person, $12,585 at PPP, inflation 221.3%2024, $4,473 a person, $11,917 at PPP, inflation 45.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
77.9years, at birthHigh
#58 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
67WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
26.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
11%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2023
Home internet
20 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
477EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet20 MbpsSlow
Mobile45 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Capture the breathtaking seascape of Raouche's iconic rock formations during a stunning sunset in Beirut, Lebanon.
How it changed

Lebanon's Human Development Index

0.752High human development

102nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 25th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #100Egypt0.754
  2. #100Jordan0.754
  3. #102Lebanon0.752
  4. #103Saint Lucia0.748
  5. #104Mongolia0.747
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.710 in 2005 to 0.752 in 2023.

0.650.730.800.7522005201020232005: 0.7102006: 0.7132007: 0.7262008: 0.7342009: 0.7432010: 0.7502011: 0.7582012: 0.7622013: 0.7622014: 0.7612015: 0.7632016: 0.7672017: 0.7722018: 0.7742019: 0.7712020: 0.7502021: 0.7332022: 0.7552023: 0.7520.650.730.802005201020232005: 0.7102006: 0.7132007: 0.7262008: 0.7342009: 0.7432010: 0.7502011: 0.7582012: 0.7622013: 0.7622014: 0.7612015: 0.7632016: 0.7672017: 0.7722018: 0.7742019: 0.7712020: 0.7502021: 0.7332022: 0.7552023: 0.752

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
77.9 years2024at birthUp 1.9 years from 76.1 years in 2005
Internet users
81%2024of people onlineUp 66 points from 15% in 2006
Urban population
91%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 4 points from 87% in 2006
Births per woman
2.232024births per womanDown 0.06 from 2.29 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
7%2021of energy usedUp 1 point from 6% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
152024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsUp 2 from 14 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.9 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 1.6 t from 3.5 t in 2005
Forest area
14%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 13% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Beirut is famously resilient; economic collapse since 2019, but the cultural life never stopped. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and patchy access to essential health services.

About Lebanon

Lebanon is a small Mediterranean country of extraordinary cultural and geographic density, where the cedar forests and ski slopes of the mountains are less than an hour from ancient Phoenician ruins and the remarkable urban energy of Beirut. The culture is among the most sophisticated and outwardly expressive in the Arab world, with a tradition of food, art, literature, and nightlife that punches well above its size. Those who can navigate the complexities of the region will find it one of the most captivating places in the Middle East.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBeirut
  • LanguagesArabic, French
  • CurrencyLebanese pound (LBP)
  • Area10,230 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Lebanon's Human Development Index?

Lebanon's Human Development Index is 0.752 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #102 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Lebanon safe?

Lebanon scores 2.44 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #130 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Lebanon?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Lebanon at 41.7 (New York = 100); that is #71 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Lebanon?

Life expectancy at birth in Lebanon is 77.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #58 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Lebanon?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Lebanon at 98.2, ranked #77 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.