The Gulf nation’s high internet penetration and investment in digital infrastructure have made it one of the world’s strongest digital economies.
Qatar is among the world’s best-connected countries, with the entirety of its population covered by at least a 3G mobile network and most households possessing a fixed broadband connection, according to the latest ICT Development Index (IDI) report.
The report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has placed Qatar among the world’s leading digital economies, with a score of 98.4.
Qatar, ranked among the higher-income countries in the report, improved its 2024 score by per cent and surpassed both regional and income group averages. Arab states had a median score of 88.2 this year, with Saudi Arabia topping the charts with 99.2.
Its latest figures reflect “development of infrastructure, quality of connectivity, and efficiency of use, thereby enhancing its position among the world’s leading digital economies,” Qatar’s Communication Regulatory Authority said in a post.
Its high rate of digital penetration meant 99.7 per cent of its population was using the internet, the index noted, while 98.7 per cent of total households had fixed internet access.
Figures from 2024 estimate Qatar has 2.7 million internet users, accounting for 99 per cent of its total population.
The report also details Qatar’s usage volume, which stands at 169.1 GB per mobile and 9339.7 GB per fixed broadband subscription. The latter is among the highest in the world.
In addition to regular indicators, such as infrastructure and the coverage efficiency of usage, the index takes into account “meaningful connectivity”, which looks at factors such as affordability, digital proficiency and quality of the service.
Qatar achieved a score of 100 in universal connectivity, while its meaningful connectivity figures stood at 96.8.
“Many governments and organisations are embracing [Universal and meaningful connectivity],” Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said in the report.
“Based on the premise that realising the full potential of connectivity requires more than access, it also means addressing barriers such as affordability, digital skills, and connection quality.”
While the IDI paints a partial picture by not capturing all aspects of the UMC framework, it remains vital to track progress. However, a strong correlation exists between digital development and overall economic development.
According to the report, disparities remain between and within the countries that are included. Affordability and usage are two main factors causing those differences, it added.
The average score for the 164 economies included in the IDI 2025 was 78.2, the lowest being 25 and 99 the highest.
In the case of Qatar, broadband pricing “reflects its status as a high-income country with heavy telecom investment,” according to Polish firm Ts2 Tech, it remains a world leader in speed benchmarks, facilitating the high-volume usage.
It is due to Qatar’s push to diversify its economy from oil and gas, which has in turn resulted in a significant investment in digital infrastructure as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
