Qatar
Asia · Western Asia
No income tax and high expat salaries; small and wealthy, with an extremely hot climate.
At a Glance
📈Qatar's Human Development Index
0.875
Very High human development#39 of 191 countries worldwide, #7 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 80% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Qatar
Qatar is a small Gulf state that has transformed itself within a generation from a pearl-fishing settlement into a global hub of architecture, sport, and cultural institutions, most visibly in the museums and skyline of Doha. The culture is Gulf Arab at its heart, shaped by Bedouin hospitality and Islamic tradition, even as it hosts the world's attention. Those with an interest in rapid transformation, contemporary art, or Middle Eastern culture in a very accessible form will find it worth exploring.
- 90% of the population are foreign nationals — citizens are the minority.
- Highest per-capita CO₂ emissions in the world.
- Spent more per World Cup than every other host combined — the most expensive in history.
Quick Facts
Capital
Doha
Language
Arabic
Currency
ر.ق QAR
Area
11,490 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
197Mbps
Mobile
583Mbps
GDP / Capita
$73K
PPP / Capita
$129K
Inflation
1.3%
Unemployment
0.1%
Innovation (GII)
34.6
GNI / Capita
$74K
FDI Inflows
1.4%
Cost of Living
50.4
Price Level Index
34th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.764 → 0.875 (+0.111)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Qatar for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Qatar head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Qatar's Human Development Index?
Qatar's Human Development Index is 0.875 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #39 of 191 countries.
Is Qatar safe?
Qatar scores 1.68 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #31 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Qatar?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Qatar at 50.4 (New York = 100); that is #100 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Qatar?
Life expectancy at birth in Qatar is 82.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #22 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Qatar?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Qatar at 182.7, ranked #18 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.