Lebanon ranks first among Arab countries for the share of its population holding a doctorate degree, according to a study reportedly conducted by American research firm Caldwell. The figure stands at 2.3 percent, more than twice the rate of any other country in the region.
Saudi Arabia comes in second at 0.9 percent. The United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, and Jordan tie for third at 0.8 percent each. Qatar follows at 0.5 percent. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Palestine round out the top ten at 0.3 percent each.
A Legacy Built on Universities
Lebanon's lead is not new. It traces back to decades of investment in higher education that began long before most of its neighbors built their own university systems. The American University of Beirut opened in 1866, followed by Université Saint-Joseph in 1875. Both institutions have produced generations of doctoral graduates in medicine, science, law, and the humanities.
Today, the country counts more than 40 licensed universities serving a population of roughly 5.5 million. The density of academic institutions per capita is among the highest in the Arab region.
What the Brain Drain Does to the Number
The ranking lands at a difficult moment. Lebanon has lost a significant share of its highly educated workforce to migration since the 2019 financial collapse. Doctors, engineers, university lecturers, and researchers have left for the Gulf, Europe, North America, and Australia, often citing salaries that no longer cover basic living costs.
Reports from professional bodies have placed the number of physicians who emigrated between 2019 and 2023 in the thousands, many holding doctoral or specialist qualifications. The pattern extends across academia and applied sciences.
The 2.3 percent figure, then, reflects what Lebanon produces. Whether those graduates stay in the country is a separate question, and one that the headline number does not answer.
How Lebanon Compares to the Gulf
The gap between Lebanon and the Gulf states is striking when measured against population and resources. Saudi Arabia, with more than six times Lebanon's population and a vastly larger education budget, sits at less than half of Lebanon's percentage. The UAE, which has heavily recruited foreign academics over the past two decades, still ranks below Lebanon despite its targeted investment.
Tunisia is the only North African country in the top ten, reflecting its own strong tradition of public higher education dating to the French protectorate period and continued under the post-independence republic.
For Lebanon, the figure offers a rare line of positive economic news at a moment when the broader picture remains shaped by departure rather than arrival.
