Moving to Zambia from Qatar

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Qatar to Zambia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Qatar to Zambia, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 91°F in Doha, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Zambia compared to Qatar.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

QA
0.1
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

QA
7.3
ZM
17.1

Qatar performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

QA
$2,901
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

QA
25.0
ZM
2.6

Qatar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

QA
91.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

QA
47.3t
ZM
0.5t

Zambia performs significantly better than Qatar across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

QA
13.6
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

QA
431.0%
ZM
2.8%

Qatar generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

QA
0.1%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

QA
$96,600
ZM
$3,700

Qatar performs better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

QA
79.8 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

QA
6.6
ZM
37.1

Qatar generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in education spending.

Data: Public Revenues and Tax Department, Qatar, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Doha Rain: 3.0 in/yr (75 mm)
91° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Doha Lusaka
Jan–Mar 75°/58°F (24°/14°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/76°F (37°/24°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 104°/83°F (40°/28°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/67°F (30°/19°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Doha Lusaka
Jan 71°/55°F (21.7°/12.8°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 73°/57°F (23.0°/13.7°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.7°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 89°/69°F (31.9°/20.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 101°/77°F (38.2°/25.0°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 106°/82°F (41.2°/27.7°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 107°/84°F (41.5°/29.1°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 105°/84°F (40.7°/28.9°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 101°/80°F (38.6°/26.5°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 95°/74°F (35.2°/23.4°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.5°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 75°/59°F (24.1°/15.0°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Qatar Meteorology Department Qatar Meteorology Department, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Qatar and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.

Qatar passport

Qatar passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Qatar passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Qatar

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Zambia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Qatar.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Zambia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Zambia: 0.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Zambia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Zambia safe for expats?

Qatar performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.1 in Qatar.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Qatar?

Qatar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 25.0 in Qatar. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Qatar: 76).

What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Qatar?

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 91°F in Doha. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Doha gets 3.0 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In Qatar, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

QA ZM
Population 2,508,182 19,642,123
Currency Qatari Rial (QAR) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages Arabic English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +974 +260
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999