The Human Truth Foundation

Which are the Best Countries in the Middle East?

https://www.humantruth.info/middle_east.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#cyprus #human_development #israel #middle_east #morality #qatar #religious_intolerance #syria #the_middle_east #united_arab_emirates #yemen

Social & Moral
Development Index
1
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank1
1Cyprus53.9
2Israel69.1
3Turkey79.2
4UAE81.0
5Qatar85.3
6Kuwait86.0
7Jordan88.8
8Bahrain91.1
9Lebanon95.0
10Oman99.4
...
14Syria119.1
15Iraq125.6
16Yemen126.2
The Middle East Avg94.1
World Avg88.6
q=16.

Dominated by Muslim countries, the Middle East has severe problems with human rights, gender equality, cultural misogyny, religious tolerance64 and its treatment of LGBT folk.65. The non-Islamic country of Cyprus treats its people the best; but others such as Israel are caught up in long-term conflicts and misbehaviours.

There are 17 locations that fall within this category. By adding up all the known populations that fall within these locations, and summing their physical land areas, we can calculate population densities. Some islands and territories can end up being counted twice depending on how they are classified and divided up politically, but, mostly such errors involve only small populations. So, some data on this collection of countries in total:


1. Summary Data

#economics #human_development #population #wealth

Pos.Population (2018)
Population2
Social & Moral
Lower is better

Avg Rank1
Gross National
Income (2021)
Higher is better
PPP $3
UN HDI (2021)
Higher is better

Value3
Land Area (2011)
km24
People
Per km2
Lower is better
1Bahrain1.6m91.1$39 4970.875 7602 065
2Cyprus1.2m53.9$38 1880.896 9 240 129
3Egypt98.4m100.3$11 7320.731 995 450 99
4Iran81.8m100.3$13 0010.7741 628 550 50
5Iraq38.4m125.6$9 9770.686 434 320 88
6Israel8.4m69.1$41 5240.919 21 640 387
7Jordan10.0m88.8$9 9240.720 88 780 112
8Kuwait4.1m86.0$52 9200.831 17 820 232
9Lebanon6.9m95.0$9 5260.706 10 230 671
10Oman4.8m99.4$27 0540.816 309 500 16
11Qatar2.8m85.3$87 1340.855 11 610 240
12Saudi Arabia33.7m101.6$46 1120.8752 149 690 16
13Syria16.9m119.1$4 1920.577 183 630 92
14Turkey82.3m79.2$31 0330.838 769 630 107
15UAE9.6m81.0$62 5740.911 83 600 115
16Yemen28.5m126.2$1 3140.455 527 970 54
17Palestine4.9m$6 5830.715
The Middle East Avg25.6m94.1$28 9580.78 452 651 56
World Avg39.0m88.6$20 1360.72 620 450 63
q=17.

Not showing due to lack of data: Palestine.

This page only shows places where the database has enough data to be able to come to reasonable conclusions about each place. The main focus is on nation states, but, some distinct external territories may be listed if the database has enough information about them. Averages are calculated from as many valid data points as possible, meaning, that some territories and locations that are not listed above may still be used to calculate some of the average values. Some calculations only use Independent State data - hover the cursor over values to see hints.

Links:

2. Social and Moral Development

#charitability #climate_change #culture #education #equality #freedom #gender_equality #health #human_development #human_rights #modernity #morals #peace #politics #prejudice #technology #the_environment #the_internet #tolerance

Here are each country's overall scores across the categories that make up the Social and Moral Development Index. This is followed by lists of how each country scores in each individual data set.

Pos.Social & Moral
Lower is better

Avg Rank1
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)
Lower is better

Avg Rank5
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)
Lower is better

Avg Rank6
Modernity & Learning (2020)
Lower is better

Avg Rank7
Health (2025)
Lower is better

Avg Rank8
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)
Lower is better

Avg Rank9
1Cyprus53.964.847.455.663.140.5
2Israel69.195.868.629.570.265.7
3Turkey79.275.086.855.978.687.4
4UAE81.081.841.164.376.7122.3
5Qatar85.394.144.874.870.7121.7
6Kuwait86.0100.566.374.766.8108.4
7Jordan88.863.165.486.1109.8111.1
8Bahrain91.1107.982.366.269.3115.4
9Lebanon95.0103.9105.482.176.8104.4
10Oman99.4101.861.889.897.7122.9
11Iran100.379.0103.478.088.6136.5
12Egypt100.378.093.680.5117.0118.4
13Saudi Arabia101.694.988.462.094.9143.6
14Syria119.177.4124.9126.9122.2137.3
15Iraq125.6102.8116.6124.6139.7138.0
16Yemen126.271.9130.3141.2148.2134.5
The Middle East Avg94.187.6283.9381.4185.97114.30
World Avg88.684.9378.1286.3196.7486.55
q=16.

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

For more, see:

3. Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #emigration #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #the_middle_east

Population:

Pos.Population (2018)
Population2
Life
Expectancy (2021)
Higher is better

Years3
Fertility Rate (2022)
2.0 is best
10
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)
Lower is better

Per 10011
1Bahrain1.6m78.81.8008.7
2Cyprus1.2m81.21.3126.9
3Egypt98.4m70.22.8810.5
4Iran81.8m73.91.6813.4
5Iraq38.4m70.43.4506.0
6Israel8.4m82.32.8922.9
7Jordan10.0m74.32.7908.0
8Kuwait4.1m78.72.0906.8
9Lebanon6.9m75.02.0821.1
10Oman4.8m72.52.5707.8
11Qatar2.8m79.31.7805.1
12Saudi Arabia33.7m76.92.3909.5
13Syria16.9m72.12.7009.0
14Turkey82.3m76.01.8818.0
15UAE9.6m78.71.4407.7
16Yemen28.5m63.83.7205.7
17Palestine4.9m73.506.5
The Middle East Avg25.6m75.142.3411.4
World Avg39.0m71.282.4718.3
q=17.

Migration:

The countries in The Middle East with the highest percent of immigrants in their populations are UAE (88.4%), Kuwait (75.5%) and Qatar (65.2%), although the average for The Middle East is 29%. When it comes to emigration the highest rates are Palestine (68.4%), Cyprus (17.0%) and Lebanon (15.6%). The average regional emigration rate is 10%.

For full commentary and data, see:

4. Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Pos.Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
12
Environmental Performance (2018)
Higher is better
13
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2022)
Lower is better
Avg14
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Avg Rate
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)
Higher is better
%15
Meat Consumption (2021)
Lower is better

kg16
Green Future Index (2023)
Higher is better

Score17
1Bahrain75.2%55.24.1950%26.3%82.8
2Cyprus0.5%72.60.9271%71.0%75.8
3Egypt-20.6%61.20.7663%30.1%29.14.0
4Iran15.2%58.22.2464%47.9%31.62.6
5Iraq0.9%43.21.2428%24.9%18.3
6Israel-8.4%75.00.9455%27.6%107.74.6
7Jordan0.0%62.21.1069%41.4%36.0
8Kuwait28.9%62.32.0249%19.6%81.34.1
9Lebanon3.8%61.12.0649%54.3%36.3
10Oman-16.7%51.32.2848%48.0
11Qatar0.0%67.81.4651%26.5%83.03.4
12Saudi Arabia0.0%57.51.7652%27.2%55.14.1
13Syria20.0%2.1254%26.6%17.8
14Turkey10.0%53.00.8647%47.4%43.03.8
15UAE2.5%58.91.7357%20.8%84.34.8
16Yemen0.0%0.5948%43.2%17.8
17Palestine11.5%0.9119%27.5%
The Middle East Avg7.2%60.01.6051.5%35.1%53.03.9
World Avg-0.1%56.41.2357.5%39.9%52.54.8
q=17.

5. Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

National Culture:

The Middle East does poorly on fighting corruption compared to the other regions of the world. Syria and Yemen are two of the five most corrupt countries in the world according to Transparency International's 2022 data66. The countries in the region doing the best are the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Qatar.

Pos.World Giving Index (2022)
Higher is better

%18
Corruption (2022)
Higher is better

Points19
Happiness (2024)
Higher is better

Score20
Creativity & Culture (2017)
Lower is better

Rank21
Open Trading, Aid & Development (2017)
Lower is better

Rank21
1Bahrain45.044.06.0105157
2Cyprus40.052.05.94438
3Egypt23.030.03.8123134
4Iran43.025.05.1157148
5Iraq37.023.05.0156153
6Israel37.063.07.26399
7Jordan32.047.04.39124
8Kuwait42.06.611083
9Lebanon24.024.03.26631
10Oman44.06.212675
11Qatar58.011461
12Saudi Arabia36.051.06.613685
13Syria13.0152147
14Turkey40.036.05.37540
15UAE47.067.06.85349
16Yemen16.03.6155137
17Palestine4.8
The Middle East Avg36.739.695.36107.991.3
World Avg39.642.985.5882.082.0
q=17.

Peace Versus Instability:

Pos.Global Peace Index (2023)
Lower is better

Score22
Peacekeeping & Security (2017)
Lower is better

Rank21
Refugees & UN Treaties (2017)
Lower is better

Rank21
Impact of Terrorism (2019)
Lower is better

Score23
1Bahrain2.15159773.20
2Cyprus1.9073170.42
3Egypt2.2741206.79
4Iran2.8083684.72
5Iraq3.011581159.24
6Israel2.71123844.53
7Jordan1.90311113.09
8Kuwait1.67140812.49
9Lebanon2.58153764.40
10Oman1.7911119
11Qatar1.5236940.03
12Saudi Arabia2.261411175.24
13Syria3.291311428.01
14Turkey2.8078396.53
15UAE1.98147530.05
16Yemen3.351571287.26
17Palestine2.545.18
The Middle East Avg2.38101.690.14.45
World Avg2.0782.082.02.78
q=17.

9.1. Are Borders in the Middle East Problematic? 67

#borders #colonialism #human_development #iran #iraq #religion #sectarianism #south_sudan #sudan #violence #war

Although it improved, Middle East and North Africa remains the least peaceful region in the world for the sixth consecutive year68 according to the Global Peace Index's compendium of statistics. Despite ongoing comments by some leaders and the occasional political theorist that the Middle East's conflicts today are a result of historical colonial empires drawing arbitrary borders, it is in general not true. Europe´s own post-independence borders have just the same arbitrariness, as do many in the world, and yet exist in a settled and peaceful manner69. Many borders, such as in the Balkans, were never set by colonial powers and yet have enduring conflicts. Religious groups and some ethnic groups are simply determined to fight; if there´s a border, they fight over the border. If there is no border, they fight within a single country. The borders themselves are rarely the actual cause of the conflict, nor the solution to it. Also, borders that were set by indigenous processes suffer violence too - for example, the new (2011) border between Sudan and South Sudan remains the most problematic and dangerously violent region in the world70,71, despite the fact that it was defined locally.69. Many borders in the Middle East do follow sensible lines, according to historical precedent and local customs.

Present-day [borders have] key similarities with the local Ottoman boundaries in place before the French and British arrived. The three separate provinces - Mosul, Baghdad and Basra - that were joined to make Iraq, for example, were often treated as a coherent economic and military area by the Ottoman government [and] going back to the origins of human civilization, had long been recognized in the term Mesopotamia.

Meanwhile, the fact that Iraq's eastern border with Iran followed a line set by the 16th-century conquests of Suleiman the Magnificent didn't prevent the countries from fighting a decade-long conflict over it that killed ten times more people than all the Arab-Israeli wars combined. [...] The only country in the area for which no ancient borders existed was Jordan - it was formed in 1922 from some not-too-desirable bits of arid land as something for Britain's ally, Abdullah, to be king of [and] Jordan has been spared much of the turmoil endured by its less artificial neighbors.

"Stop Blaming Colonial Borders for the Middle East's Problems"
Nick Danforth (2013)69

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Pos.Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)
Lower is better24
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2023)
Lower is better

%25
Multidimensional Poverty (2018)
Lower is better

Severity26
1Bahrain5.50
2Cyprus3.6031.3%27
3Egypt11.6031.9%28.019
4Iran9.2034.8%29
5Iraq15.9029.5%30.033
6Israel3.3037.9%27
7Jordan10.6033.7%31.002
8Kuwait5.90
9Lebanon7.4031.8%32
10Oman6.70
11Qatar5.7035.1%33
12Saudi Arabia6.40
13Syria13.0026.6%29.029
14Turkey9.0044.4%27
15UAE5.2026.4%34
16Yemen24.7036.7%35.241
17Palestine12.0033.7%36.004
The Middle East Avg9.1633.4%.054
World Avg14.5936.5%.154
q=17.

6. Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark37. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone37. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots38.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)39

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe37, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia37.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Pos.Research & Development (2016)
Higher is better

% RDP PPP
Secondary Education (2018)
Higher is better
40
Length of Schooling (2021)
Higher is better

Years41
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)
Lower is better

Rank21
Maths, Science & Reading (2015)
Higher is better

Score42
Religiosity (2018)
Lower is better

%43
IQ (2006)
Higher is better44
1Bahrain0.044559.6%16.3115
2Cyprus0.484580.3%15.6311313
3Egypt0.684565.3%13.8607281
4Iran0.314669.8%14.6907884
5Iraq0.034748.0%12.11628287
6Israel4.114889.1%16.13414163695
7Jordan0.434984.0%10.66511978584
8Kuwait0.304551.5%15.312786
9Lebanon54.9%11.36811295782
10Oman0.174566.4%14.612383
11Qatar0.475067.5%12.61451222
12Saudi Arabia0.075172.8%16.18184
13Syria41.0%9.214083
14Turkey1.014853.1%18.355127368
15UAE0.494770.7%15.784129884
16Yemen28.0%9.110885
17Palestine61.1%13.486
The Middle East Avg0.6662.5%13.893.0126470.584.8
World Avg0.8463.0%13.582.0138954.385.6
q=17.

Technology and Information:

Pos.Internet Users (2016)
Higher is better
52
Internet Freedom (2012)
Lower is better
53
IT Security (2013)
Lower is better
54
IPv6 Uptake (2017)
Higher is better

Ratio55
Digital Quality of Life (2024)
Higher is better
56
1Bahrain92%710.051.1%
2Cyprus72%0.061.6%
3Egypt33%590.442.5%
4Iran49%900.850.132.5%
5Iraq13%1.840.0
6Israel73%0.201.865.4%
7Jordan46%450.042.6%
8Kuwait80%0.930.044.9%
9Lebanon76%0.0
10Oman71%1.720.047.9%
11Qatar92%0.650.058.6%
12Saudi Arabia65%710.936.857.5%
13Syria30%830.0
14Turkey58%460.520.352.2%
15UAE92%0.355.8%
16Yemen25%0.014.9%
17Palestine63%0.0
The Middle East Avg60.4%66.40.960.5748.3%
World Avg48.1%46.70.983.8248.4%
q=17.

7. Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man57. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria57.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans57, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia57.

For more, see:

Health:

Pos.Life
Expectancy (2021)
Higher is better

Years3
Alcohol Consumption (2016)
Lower is better

Per Capita58
Fertility Rate (2022)
2.0 is best
10
Smoking Rates (2014)
Lower is better
59
Suicide Rate (2013)
Per 100k60
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)
Lower is better

Rank21
Overweight Adults (2016)
Lower is better

%61
1Bahrain78.81.91.80 9697.59365.8
2Cyprus81.210.81.311 6889.15959.1
3Egypt70.20.42.881 1880.17363.5
4Iran73.91.01.68 86911861.6
5Iraq70.40.43.451 22713564.6
6Israel82.33.82.891 3468.55164.3
7Jordan74.30.72.791 8550.21869.6
8Kuwait78.70.02.091 5173.62073.4
9Lebanon75.01.52.083 0236367.9
10Oman72.50.82.57 5772662.6
11Qatar79.32.01.78 6982571.7
12Saudi Arabia76.90.22.391 3951569.7
13Syria72.10.32.70 4598861.4
14Turkey76.02.01.881 5814466.8
15UAE78.73.81.44 7151467.8
16Yemen63.80.13.72 38811948.8
17Palestine73.5
The Middle East Avg75.141.92.341 2184.8360.164.9
World Avg71.286.22.47 81920.9382.049.0
q=17.

Children's Health:

Pos.Adolescent Birth Rate (2022)
Lower is better

Per 100062
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)
Higher is better

Avg %63
1Bahrain8.798.2
2Cyprus6.895.3
3Egypt43.693.4
4Iran29.798.1
5Iraq61.270.7
6Israel7.495.2
7Jordan24.996.6
8Kuwait5.397.5
9Lebanon20.079.4
10Oman9.798.0
11Qatar6.995.6
12Saudi Arabia11.698.0
13Syria38.162.4
14Turkey15.795.5
15UAE2.894.0
16Yemen52.567.4
17Palestine42.9
The Middle East Avg22.889.7
World Avg43.888.3
q=17.

8. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #The_Middle_East #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)9
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank9
1Cyprus40.5
2Israel65.7
3Turkey87.4
4Lebanon104.4
5Kuwait108.4
6Jordan111.1
7Bahrain115.4
8Egypt118.4
9Qatar121.7
10UAE122.3
...
15Iraq138.0
16Saudi Arabia143.6
17Palestine145.3
The Middle East Avg114.30
World Avg86.55
q=17.

The best countries in The Middle East at protecting human rights, engendering tolerance and supporting equality, are Cyprus, Israel and Turkey but the bloc as a whole does poorly compared to the global average. The worst countries are Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. In short, The Middle East has severe problems with human rights, gender equality, misogyny, religious tolerance64 and LGBT equality. Acceptance of human-rights principles is largely impossible given the prominence of Islamic theocracy which is sternly opposed to human rights. This is the worst region in the world for religion-based persecution64.

The Arab World [is] a region where the mean and median levels of performance [at ensuring human rights and freedom] are probably most charitably labeled poor.

"Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice"
Jack Donnelly (2013)65

For full commentary and data, see:

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #folk_religion #god #hinduism #human_development #islam #judaism #no_religion #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Pos.Religiosity (2018)
Lower is better

%43
Disbelief In God (2007)
Higher is better
%72
Jews (2010)
%73
Christians (2010)
%73
Muslims (2010)
%73
Hindus (2010)
%73
Buddhists (2010)
%73
Folk Religion (2010)
%73
Unaffiliated (2010)
%73
1Bahrain0.614.570.39.82.50.11.9
2Cyprus0.173.225.30.10.20.11.2
3Egypt7200.15.194.90.10.10.10.1
4Iran7840.10.299.00.10.10.10.1
5Iraq8200.10.899.00.10.10.10.1
6Israel361575.62.018.60.10.30.23.1
7Jordan8500.12.297.20.10.40.10.1
8Kuwait00.114.374.18.52.80.10.1
9Lebanon5730.138.361.30.10.20.10.3
10Oman00.16.585.95.50.80.10.2
11Qatar0.113.867.713.83.10.10.9
12Saudi Arabia00.14.493.01.10.30.30.7
13Syria00.15.292.80.10.10.12.0
14Turkey680.10.498.00.10.10.11.2
15UAE00.112.676.96.62.00.11.1
16Yemen00.10.299.00.60.10.10.1
17Palestine860.12.497.60.10.10.10.1
The Middle East Avg70.51.84.611.579.42.80.80.10.8
World Avg54.39.90.560.622.42.03.52.77.9
q=17.

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