What This Measures
GDP per capita divides Qatar’s total gross domestic product by its resident population, providing a headline measure of average economic output per person. It is the most commonly cited indicator of national prosperity and is used by international organisations, credit rating agencies, and investors as a proxy for living standards and economic capacity.
Qatar’s GDP per capita is among the highest in the world, reflecting the combination of enormous hydrocarbon wealth and a relatively small population. However, this metric does not capture income distribution, the distinction between citizen and expatriate income, or the structural quality of economic output.
Baseline
USD 62,000 (nominal, 2010) — At the baseline period, Qatar’s per-capita GDP was already among the world’s highest, driven by LNG export revenues and a population of approximately 1.7 million.
Current Value
USD 87,000 (PPP, 2024 estimate) — Qatar’s per-capita GDP has grown substantially, supported by rising LNG revenues and controlled population growth. On a nominal basis, the figure fluctuates with hydrocarbon prices and exchange rate effects.
2030 Target
Sustained top-10 global ranking — The QNV 2030 framework does not specify a numerical GDP per capita target but implicitly targets the maintenance of Qatar’s position among the world’s wealthiest nations. The NFE/NFS production ramp will add significant revenue from 2026, supporting continued growth.
Status Assessment
Ahead — Qatar’s GDP per capita trajectory is robust, with the NFE/NFS programme expected to deliver a step-change in national income from 2026 through the early 2030s. The indicator comfortably exceeds baseline projections.
Key Drivers
The primary driver is hydrocarbon revenue, particularly LNG export earnings. The NFE/NFS programme will increase nameplate capacity from 77 to 126 Mtpa, with direct implications for national output. Non-hydrocarbon GDP growth in financial services, construction, and tourism provides a secondary contribution. Population growth management — Qatar’s resident population has expanded to approximately 3 million — affects the denominator.
What Needs to Happen
Maintaining top-10 status through 2030 requires successful execution of the NFE/NFS production schedule, sustained global LNG demand, and controlled population expansion. The deeper policy question is whether GDP per capita growth reflects genuine productivity improvement or simply the arithmetic of large resource revenues divided by a managed population base. The Vision’s success should be measured not by headline GDP per capita — which is virtually assured to remain high — but by the composition and sustainability of the income it represents.