Lebanon

Western Asia

Middle East

Lebanon has strong multilingual education and regional commercial networks, but banking restrictions, inflation, political instability, infrastructure constraints, and security risks materially affect relocation decisions.

52
Overall score
Moderate · 96% data coverage
Language
Arabic
Currency
LBP
Citizenship
5 years (discretionary)
Personal tax
Progressive; rates and currency treatment require current verification
Cost of living
$1,100 / mo (single; prices are volatile)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
67
Access
17%
75Residence12%
47Citizenship and passport5%
50
Earning power
25%
40Salary and work12%
60Buying power13%
48
Business and wealth
20%
62Taxes7%
35Business8%
48Investment5%
60
Daily life
25%
62Quality of life18%
56Education7%
32
Rights and institutions
13%
46Freedom6%
20Rule of law7%

Pros

  • Country-wide comparison coverage
  • Local residence and work pathways available

Cons

  • Legal and tax outcomes are case-specific
  • Costs vary materially by city and lifestyle

Best for

Users comparing regional optionsPeople prepared to verify a specific pathway

Score profile

Access
Residence
75
Citizenship
67
Passport
21
Earning power
Salary & work
40
Buying power
60
Cost of living
62
Economy
42
Business and wealth
Taxes
62
Personal tax
62
Corporate tax
51
Business
35
Investment
48
Wealth building
48
Daily life
Safety
56
Healthcare
66
Environment
53
Infrastructure
65
Education
56
HDI
75
Rights and institutions
Freedom
46
Rule of law
20
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Good
75
Migrant stock24.5% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.96 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Good
67
Years required5 years (discretionary)
Dual allowedYes
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 5 years (discretionary); qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Low
21
41 / 198
Mobility
#99
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free13
  • On arrival25
  • eTA3
  • Visa required157

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Limited
40
Output per worker$39,998 PPP (2023)
Unemployment11.0% (2023)
Participation43.4% of 15+ (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$663 · $1,336 PPP (2019)
Tech (IT & comms)$995 · $2,004 PPP (2019)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Moderate
60
GNI / person$11,790 PPP (2024)
Consumption / person$10,791 PPP (2023)
Price level65 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality35.5 Gini (2022)
Inflation14.6% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Moderate
62
Price level65 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$1,100 / mo (single; prices are volatile)
CitiesBeirut, Tripoli, Sidon
Economy
Economic strength
Limited
42
Output & income
GDP$26B (2024)
GDP / person$4,473 (2024)
GNI / person$11,790 PPP (2024)
GDP growth-0.8% / yr (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation14.6% / yr (2025)
Unemployment11.0% (2023)
Output per worker$39,998 PPP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture1.0% of GDP (2024)
Industry2.6% of GDP (2024)
Services35.7% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Banking (historically)TourismAgricultureReal estateServices
Top exports
Gems & jewelleryAgricultural productsChemicals
TypeLower-middle-income, services-led (in crisis)
Key sectorsBanking & services (collapsed since 2019), Tourism, Diaspora remittances
SummaryA once-prosperous services and banking hub now mired in a severe financial collapse and currency crisis.
CurrencyLebanese pound (subject to extreme devaluation)

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Moderate
62
PersonalProgressive; rates and currency treatment require current verification
CorporateGenerally 17%
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Moderate
62
PersonalProgressive; rates and currency treatment require current verification
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Moderate
51
CorporateGenerally 17%
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Limited
35
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.96 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-1.13 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Moderate
48
Market cap46% of GDP (2021)
Private credit107% of GDP (2017)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Moderate
48
Salary & work
Limited
40
Business
Limited
35
Investment
Moderate
48
Tax friendliness
Moderate
62
Cost of living
Moderate
62

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Moderate
56
Personal safety
Homicide rate2.2 per 100,000 (2020)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-1.30 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-1.39 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Good
66
Outcomes
Life expectancy77.9 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality17.6 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians2.68 per 1,000 (2020)
Hospital beds2.73 per 1,000 (2021)
Health spending$644 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Moderate
53
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure26.7 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress58.8% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
65
Digital infrastructure
Internet use80.6% (2024)
Internet resilience47 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed48 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed56 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses9.6% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality2.64 / 5 (2018)
Rail density39.2 km / 1,000 km² (2002)
Air connectivity4,060 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Moderate
56
Attainment
Expected schooling11.7 years (2023)
Mean schooling10.4 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment54% gross (2023)
Education spending1.2% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$5,000-20,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesArabic
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Good
75
HDI0.752 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy77.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling11.7 years (2023)
Mean schooling10.4 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$11,299 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Moderate
46
Freedom in the World43 / 100 (Partly free)
Freedom on the Net50 / 100 (Partly free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Low
20
Rule of Law percentile20 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Lebanon visa & immigrationgoogle.comLebanon tax residency rulesgoogle.comLebanon citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Lebanongoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.