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Economy of Israel vs Kuwait compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Israel has a GDP of $540B compared to $160B for Kuwait, ranking 29/197 and 59/197 by economy size, respectively.

Israel has $366B in government debt (67.6% of GDP), compared to $4.68B (2.92% of GDP) in Kuwait.

Israel vs Kuwait GDP by year

Israel
Kuwait
1x
Year GDP, current $
Israel Kuwait
2024 $540,379,921,262 $160,227,273,053
2023 $512,184,638,999 $165,384,407,116
2022 $525,181,008,026 $183,502,046,694
2021 $489,851,549,972 $148,350,671,489
2020 $410,768,352,658 $111,045,470,606
2019 $400,645,216,359 $140,856,394,861
2018 $376,299,083,108 $138,646,316,351
2017 $358,451,839,053 $120,687,539,806
2016 $321,940,971,558 $109,406,674,125
2015 $303,469,434,072 $114,585,555,689
2014 $315,017,088,117 $162,650,450,685
2013 $298,478,070,673 $174,168,116,535
2012 $263,589,172,712 $174,047,662,680
2011 $268,094,998,225 $154,039,231,246
2010 $239,679,036,634 $115,416,245,242
2009 $213,403,181,853 $105,968,691,905
2008 $221,231,658,863 $147,379,737,230
2007 $184,681,214,673 $114,634,043,362
2006 $158,900,547,825 $101,557,330,723
2005 $147,519,922,009 $80,798,630,137
2004 $140,047,984,605 $59,439,090,601
2003 $131,408,914,824 $47,874,582,232
2002 $125,332,331,884 $38,135,788,414
2001 $135,002,039,613 $34,889,559,870
2000 $136,512,300,542 $37,718,743,480
1999 $121,417,185,062 $30,122,365,849
1998 $120,547,409,279 $25,943,705,784
1997 $119,459,826,347 $30,350,190,704
1996 $115,116,595,545 $31,492,373,309
1995 $105,497,418,059 $27,186,980,647
1994 $90,740,103,829 $24,848,483,838
1993 $79,855,877,174 $23,941,391,391
1992 $79,457,685,757 $19,858,555,215
1991 $70,998,755,007 $11,009,993,703
1990 $62,016,729,541 $18,427,777,778
1989 $52,443,479,454 $24,313,855,653
1988 $52,650,948,910 $20,690,322,153
1987 $43,049,543,635 $22,368,704,134
1986 $35,834,154,874 $17,903,989,745
1985 $28,905,736,367 $21,445,970,614
1984 $30,645,607,293 $21,700,082,753
1983 $32,675,755,462 $20,871,081,080
1982 $29,255,285,401 $21,577,153,356
1981 $26,882,009,819 $25,058,020,338
1980 $25,395,256,478 $28,638,868,356
1979 $22,609,741,060 $24,749,063,922
1978 $17,701,286,907 $15,503,557,496
1977 $18,257,113,904 $14,137,406,741
1976 $15,956,349,550 $13,132,252,802
1975 $16,141,767,373 $12,022,811,621
1974 $17,172,607,138 $13,006,948,296
1973 $11,902,574,259 $5,408,804,607
1972 $9,222,557,539 $4,450,537,925
1971 $7,052,544,000 $3,880,392,195
1970 $7,406,712,876 $2,873,638,851
1969 $6,297,852,761 $2,769,198,892
1968 $5,458,427,928 $2,662,798,935
1967 $4,762,386,783 $2,441,599,023
1966 $4,703,300,098 $2,391,199,044
1965 $4,329,084,429 $2,097,199,161
1964 $4,024,344,853 $2,071,668,533
1963 $3,535,949,089 $1,900,895,857
1962 $2,966,154,031 $1,828,107,503
1961 $3,708,586,471 -
1960 $3,070,585,807 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/kuwait | CC BY

GDP per capita in Israel vs Kuwait by year

Israel
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Kuwait
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Israel Kuwait
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $54,177 $57,236 $32,718 $52,444
2023 $52,004 $55,171 $34,076 $53,025
2022 $54,950 $53,619 $39,982 $55,043
2021 $52,271 $46,162 $34,019 $50,652
2020 $44,576 $40,955 $25,236 $41,462
2019 $44,251 $41,325 $31,708 $50,703
2018 $42,363 $40,190 $32,068 $51,371
2017 $41,138 $39,471 $29,048 $46,566
2016 $37,672 $38,189 $27,324 $41,862
2015 $36,213 $35,871 $29,882 $45,267
2014 $38,343 $34,816 $44,369 $68,337
2013 $37,034 $34,827 $49,651 $76,813
2012 $33,321 $32,484 $52,155 $82,090
2011 $34,523 $31,314 $49,170 $79,037
2010 $31,439 $29,456 $39,212 $75,184
2009 $28,508 $28,087 $37,907 $80,110
2008 $30,269 $28,084 $55,585 $90,337
2007 $25,721 $28,307 $45,709 $91,435
2006 $22,527 $26,385 $42,947 $89,075
2005 $21,287 $25,701 $36,123 $84,968
2004 $20,568 $26,078 $27,552 $77,227
2003 $19,643 $24,702 $22,691 $69,752
2002 $19,076 $26,101 $18,513 $59,713
2001 $20,966 $25,806 $17,374 $58,553
2000 $21,707 $25,766 $19,296 $58,703
1999 $19,823 $23,415 $15,854 $56,406
1998 $20,189 $22,927 $14,067 $58,344
1997 $20,469 $22,279 $16,977 $57,420
1996 $20,224 $21,672 $18,201 $56,913
1995 $19,026 $20,642 $16,168 $57,163
1994 $16,807 $19,478 $14,930 $53,946
1993 $15,179 $18,218 $14,318 $48,482
1992 $15,510 $17,553 $12,146 $36,149
1991 $14,346 $16,486 $8,147 $23,390
1990 $13,308 $15,721 $10,938 $30,763
1989 $11,608 - $10,965 -
1988 $11,853 - $9,692 -
1987 $9,853 - $10,896 -
1986 $8,335 - $9,077 -
1985 $6,829 - $11,322 -
1984 $7,369 - $11,919 -
1983 $7,960 - $11,965 -
1982 $7,258 - $12,979 -
1981 $6,795 - $15,825 -
1980 $6,549 - $19,032 -
1979 $5,972 - $17,386 -
1978 $4,797 - $11,567 -
1977 $5,053 - $11,238 -
1976 $4,516 - $11,141 -
1975 $4,672 - $10,882 -
1974 $5,085 - $12,527 -
1973 $3,631 - $5,532 -
1972 $2,930 - $4,836 -
1971 $2,298 - $4,486 -
1970 $2,490 - $3,552 -
1969 $2,189 - $3,695 -
1968 $1,947 - $3,872 -
1967 $1,735 - $3,887 -
1966 $1,789 - $4,176 -
1965 $1,689 - $4,024 -
1964 $1,626 - $4,379 -
1963 $1,486 - $4,445 -
1962 $1,294 - $4,748 -
1961 $1,697 - - -
1960 $1,452 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/kuwait | CC BY

Israel's GDP per capita is $54,177, ranking 21/197, compared to $32,718 in Kuwait, ranking 37/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Israel ranks 36th at $57,236, while Kuwait ranks 40th at $52,444.

Economic indicators

Israel Kuwait
Gross domestic product
$540B
2024
$160B
2024
GDP rank
29/197
2024
59/197
2024
GDP growth
0.87%
2023-2024
-2.56%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$54,177
2024
$32,718
2024
GDP per capita rank
21/197
2024
37/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$57,236
2024
$52,444
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
36/197
2024
40/197
2024
Government debt
$366B
2024
$4.68B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.6%
2024
2.92%
2024
Government debt per person
$36,645
2024
$956
2024
Government debt per person rank
18/185
2024
143/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$43,003
2026
$23,828
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$331B
2024
$141B
2024
Number of millionaires
179,905
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
41
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
26.6%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2%
2021
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
43.8%
2024
50.4%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.07%
2023-2024
2.9%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
4.5%
2024
3.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.9%
2024
2.16%
2016
Population
10290887
5100145

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Israel
Spending

Debt
Kuwait
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Israel Kuwait
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 43.8% 67.6% 50.4% 2.92%
2023 39.3% 61.3% 48.3% 3.13%
2022 36.9% 60.3% 39.6% 2.95%
2021 40% 67.7% 48.3% 7.2%
2020 44.8% 71.1% 62.9% 10.2%
2019 38.7% 59.3% 50.3% 10.5%
2018 39.2% 60.1% 51.1% 14.3%
2017 38.3% 59.8% 51.9% 19.6%
2016 37.9% 61.7% 54.1% 9.88%
2015 37.6% 62.8% 55.4% 4.6%
2014 38.3% 64.9% 45% 3.43%
2013 39.7% 66% 38.4% 3.09%
2012 39.6% 66.9% 38.2% 3.6%
2011 39.3% 67.2% 39.7% 4.64%
2010 39.7% 69% 45.5% 6.16%
2009 41.4% 72.6% 42.9% 6.65%
2008 41.2% 70.2% 40.9% 5.38%
2007 40.2% 70.8% 30.4% 7.05%
2006 41.6% 77.7% 32.3% 7.79%
2005 42.3% 85.2% 28.8% 10.2%
2004 43% 88.3% 35.3% 13.9%
2003 45.4% 89.7% 38.2% 17.2%
2002 50% 87.2% 42.8% 21.3%
2001 46.1% 81.1% 41.4% 23%
2000 43.4% 77.2% 29.9% 21.4%
1999 53.6% 94.8% 44.5% 25.5%
1998 55% 101% 51.7% 25.6%
1997 52.6% 99.3% 43.8% 24.3%
1996 53.2% 100.3% 42.8% 26.5%
1995 52.8% 102.3% 52% 34.9%
1994 41.7% 110.2% 57.8% 37.7%
1993 42.2% 118.3% 58.2% 28.8%
1992 44.1% 119.6% 77.6% 27.9%
1991 34.4% 123.7% 208.9% 45.3%
1990 46.8% 138.3% 122.9% -
1989 47.5% 147.4% - -
1988 46.5% 145.4% - -
1987 52.8% 143.2% - -
1986 55.7% 162.5% - -
1985 65.2% 199% - -
1984 - 284% - -
1983 - 260.5% - -
1982 69.7% - - -
1981 71.8% - - -
1980 69.4% 154.3% - -
1979 70.1% 155.5% - -
1978 62.2% 133.6% - -
1977 69.1% 142% - -
1976 66.3% 97.4% - -
1975 62% 85.1% - -
1974 - 79.8% - -
1973 - 62.1% - -
1972 - 63.9% - -
1971 - - - -
1970 41.6% - - -
1969 41.1% - - -
1968 39.4% - - -
1967 33.9% - - -
1966 29.6% - - -
1965 27.8% - - -
1964 28.2% - - -
1963 26.9% - - -
1962 27.7% - - -
1961 30.3% - - -
1960 30.4% - - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/kuwait | CC BY

In 2024, Israel's government spending was $237B, accounting for 43.8% of its GDP, while Kuwait spent $80.8B, or 50.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.6% in Israel and 2.92% in Kuwait, ranking 62/185 and 184/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Israel

Kuwait
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Israel Kuwait
2024 -8.26% 23.8%
2023 -5.06% 28.2%
2022 0.32% 30%
2021 -3.37% 9.98%
2020 -10.7% 0.14%
2019 -3.79% 13%
2018 -3.56% 17.5%
2017 -1.13% 15.3%
2016 -1.79% 13.1%
2015 -1.21% 16.6%
2014 -2.29% 30%
2013 -4.06% 40.6%
2012 -4.46% 40.7%
2011 -3.43% 38.8%
2010 -3.72% 31.9%
2009 -6.53% 31.3%
2008 -3.5% 21.3%
2007 -0.43% 37.1%
2006 -0.95% 28%
2005 -2.74% 38.9%
2004 -3.4% 32.5%
2003 -5.03% 27.2%
2002 -8.22% 31%
2001 -4.06% 45.2%
2000 -0.8% 52.5%
1999 -6.26% 28.2%
1998 -7.99% 19.5%
1997 -4.84% 29.5%
1996 -5.97% 24.3%
1995 -4.28% 11.7%
1994 -5.62% 1.76%
1993 -5.62% -3.12%
1992 -8% -28.1%
1991 -7.04% -145%
1990 -9.67% -50%
1989 -9.03% -
1988 -7.57% -
1987 -7.47% -
1986 -7.51% -
1985 -14.2% -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 -13.8% -
1981 -23.5% -
1980 -19.6% -
1979 -16.7% -
1978 -14.7% -
1977 -20.3% -
1976 -19.4% -
1975 -19.6% -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 -16% -
1969 -15.3% -
1968 -11.7% -
1967 -7.68% -
1966 -4.35% -
1965 -2.72% -
1964 -3.65% -
1963 -4.41% -
1962 -4.09% -
1961 -5.86% -
1960 -6.62% -
1959 -7.23% -
1958 -8.31% -
1957 -7.17% -
1956 -9.3% -
1955 -4.3% -
1954 -7.84% -
1953 -8.32% -
1952 -7.19% -
1951 -8.13% -
1950 -10.7% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1950–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/kuwait | CC BY

In 2024, Israel's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $44.6B, equivalent to 8.26% of GDP. This compares to Kuwait's surplus of $38.1B, or 23.8% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Israel recorded a fiscal deficit in 34 of those years, while Kuwait ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Israel posted an annual deficit equal to 4.5% of GDP, compared to surplus of 16.7% of GDP for Kuwait.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Israel

Kuwait
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Israel Kuwait
2024 3.07% 2.9%
2023 4.23% 3.64%
2022 4.41% 3.98%
2021 1.48% 3.42%
2020 -0.58% 2.1%
2019 0.82% 1.09%
2018 0.81% 0.54%
2017 0.25% 2.17%
2016 -0.54% 3.2%
2015 -0.62% 3.27%
2014 0.47% 2.91%
2013 1.59% 2.68%
2012 1.68% 3.26%
2011 3.49% 4.84%
2010 2.7% 4.5%
2009 3.37% 4.61%
2008 4.53% 10.6%
2007 0.47% 5.48%
2006 2.05% 3.06%
2005 1.34% 4.14%
2004 -0.42% 1.25%
2003 0.71% 0.96%
2002 5.8% 0.89%
2001 1.12% 1.3%
2000 1.03% 1.81%
1999 5.19% 2.99%
1998 5.49% 0.13%
1997 8.95% 0.68%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/kuwait | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Israel has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.25%, compared with 2.94% in Kuwait. In 2024, inflation was 3.07% in Israel and 2.9% in Kuwait.

Balance of trade

Israel Kuwait
Current account balance
$15.5B
2024
$46.7B
2024
Current account balance ranking
21/190
2024
15/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.86%
2024
+29.1%
2024
Goods imports
$96.3B
2024
$33.4B
2024
Goods exports
$70B
2024
$77.5B
2024
Service imports
$44.4B
2024
$28.1B
2024
Service exports
$83.7B
2024
$12.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
26%
2024
38.3%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.4%
2024
57.7%
2023

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Israel Kuwait
Economic freedom 68.4 59.9
Economic freedom ranking 47/197 100/197
Property rights 73.1 42
Government integrity 66.2 47.9
Judicial effectiveness 68.1 43.4
Tax burden 60.2 97.7
Government spending 52 36.2
Fiscal health 60.8 99.9
Business freedom 72.4 57.4
Labor freedom 56.8 49.2
Monetary freedom 78.2 68.7
Trade freedom 82.8 75.8
Investment freedom 70 50
Financial freedom 80 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Israel
Kuwait
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Israel Kuwait
2026 68.4 59.9
2025 69.9 59.9
2024 70.1 58.5
2023 68.9 56.7
2022 68 58.3
2021 73.8 64.1
2020 74 63.2
2019 72.8 60.8
2018 72.2 62.2
2017 69.7 65.1
2016 70.7 62.7
2015 70.5 62.5
2014 68.4 62.3
2013 66.9 63.1
2012 67.8 62.5
2011 68.5 64.9
2010 67.7 67.7
2009 67.6 65.6
2008 66.3 68.1
2007 64.8 66.4
2006 64.4 66.5
2005 62.6 64.6
2004 61.4 63.6
2003 62.7 66.7
2002 66.9 65.4
2001 66.1 68.2
2000 65.5 69.7
1999 68.3 69.5
1998 68 66.3
1997 62.7 64.8
1996 62 66.1
1995 61.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/kuwait | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Israel is 68.4, ranking 47/197, compared to 59.9 for Kuwait, ranking 100/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Israel Kuwait
Services, % of GDP
72.5%
2024
55.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.3%
2024
57.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
0.49%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$528B
2024
$200B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$56,790
2024
$63,270
2024
Total reserves including gold
$215B
2024
$50.7B
2024
Total reserves ranking
18/177
2024
41/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.86B
2024
$9.71B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$14.8B
2024
$615M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$9.92B
2024
$10.3B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
22%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.4%
2024
17.7%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/kuwait | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1950–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.