Palestine has a GDP of $13.7B compared to $537B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 146/197 and 29/197 by economy size, respectively.
The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.
| Year | GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
|||
| Current $ | Constant $ | Current $ | Constant $ | |
| 1970 | - | - | $685,986,701 | $14,070,592,924 |
| 1971 | - | - | $939,893,600 | $19,222,171,572 |
| 1972 | - | - | $1,415,086,929 | $26,734,126,559 |
| 1973 | - | - | $4,231,243,616 | $47,217,855,776 |
| 1974 | - | - | $11,651,505,689 | $54,063,519,993 |
| 1975 | - | - | $14,720,728,249 | $57,430,272,387 |
| 1976 | - | - | $19,213,158,779 | $66,921,691,096 |
| 1977 | - | - | $24,871,775,165 | $81,269,253,405 |
| 1978 | - | - | $23,775,764,225 | $79,977,394,655 |
| 1979 | - | - | $31,225,659,621 | $96,711,523,271 |
| 1980 | - | - | $43,599,160,050 | $119,801,181,765 |
| 1981 | - | - | $49,333,424,135 | $125,382,930,480 |
| 1982 | - | - | $46,622,718,605 | $116,958,054,939 |
| 1983 | - | - | $42,803,323,345 | $111,407,435,357 |
| 1984 | - | - | $41,807,954,236 | $115,882,617,757 |
| 1985 | - | - | $40,603,650,232 | $111,717,244,274 |
| 1986 | - | - | $33,943,612,095 | $95,006,426,309 |
| 1987 | - | - | $36,384,908,744 | $98,219,526,270 |
| 1988 | - | - | $36,275,674,203 | $95,647,247,530 |
| 1989 | - | - | $41,464,995,914 | $107,448,100,944 |
| 1990 | - | - | $50,701,443,748 | $127,141,173,341 |
| 1991 | - | - | $51,552,165,622 | $128,234,691,621 |
| 1992 | - | - | $54,239,171,888 | $132,524,071,346 |
| 1993 | - | - | $55,625,170,253 | $134,195,452,934 |
| 1994 | $2,843,300,000 | $5,057,700,000 | $59,305,093,980 | $143,449,770,720 |
| 1995 | $3,282,800,000 | $5,417,700,000 | $65,743,666,576 | $153,043,528,513 |
| 1996 | $3,409,600,000 | $5,483,500,000 | $73,571,233,996 | $161,917,610,698 |
| 1997 | $3,759,800,000 | $6,287,800,000 | $78,839,008,445 | $175,179,308,497 |
| 1998 | $4,067,800,000 | $7,189,100,000 | $75,674,336,283 | $175,690,822,167 |
| 1999 | $4,271,200,000 | $7,784,400,000 | $84,445,473,111 | $180,789,745,171 |
| 2000 | $4,313,600,000 | $7,118,400,000 | $104,337,372,362 | $200,410,321,466 |
| 2001 | $4,003,700,000 | $6,455,600,000 | $103,311,640,572 | $203,214,232,287 |
| 2002 | $3,555,800,000 | $5,649,400,000 | $109,816,201,498 | $208,159,362,863 |
| 2003 | $3,968,000,000 | $6,441,200,000 | $124,346,358,067 | $226,478,512,549 |
| 2004 | $4,603,100,000 | $7,853,400,000 | $147,824,370,320 | $248,144,435,950 |
| 2005 | $5,125,700,000 | $8,740,100,000 | $180,617,467,965 | $260,192,198,684 |
| 2006 | $5,348,300,000 | $8,653,000,000 | $222,116,541,865 | $285,788,137,283 |
| 2007 | $5,815,700,000 | $8,980,800,000 | $257,916,133,424 | $294,888,746,643 |
| 2008 | $7,310,400,000 | $9,648,000,000 | $315,474,615,739 | $304,301,112,625 |
| 2009 | $8,085,700,000 | $10,477,100,000 | $253,547,358,747 | $288,346,842,937 |
| 2010 | $9,681,500,000 | $11,082,400,000 | $300,189,052,689 | $292,968,610,444 |
| 2011 | $11,186,100,000 | $12,146,400,000 | $360,832,739,551 | $311,179,896,154 |
| 2012 | $12,208,400,000 | $12,886,900,000 | $384,610,125,391 | $316,857,313,566 |
| 2013 | $13,515,500,000 | $13,492,400,000 | $400,218,529,748 | $332,876,224,084 |
| 2014 | $13,989,700,000 | $13,471,100,000 | $414,105,366,753 | $346,742,821,790 |
| 2015 | $13,972,400,000 | $13,972,400,000 | $370,275,469,571 | $370,275,469,571 |
| 2016 | $15,405,400,000 | $15,211,000,000 | $369,255,326,236 | $390,868,305,597 |
| 2017 | $16,128,000,000 | $15,426,900,000 | $390,516,804,030 | $393,741,456,224 |
| 2018 | $16,276,600,000 | $15,616,200,000 | $427,049,432,158 | $398,914,879,875 |
| 2019 | $17,133,500,000 | $15,829,000,000 | $417,989,721,743 | $403,336,245,504 |
| 2020 | $15,531,700,000 | $14,037,400,000 | $349,473,015,330 | $383,342,656,333 |
| 2021 | $18,109,000,000 | $15,021,700,000 | $415,178,792,757 | $400,036,290,964 |
| 2022 | $19,165,500,000 | $15,635,000,000 | $502,731,935,194 | $430,077,804,445 |
| 2023 | $17,847,900,000 | $14,922,700,000 | $514,130,432,648 | $445,641,058,044 |
| 2024 | $13,711,100,000 | $10,959,600,000 | $537,078,829,135 | $462,404,360,915 |
Economic indicators
|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$13.7B
2024 |
$537B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
146/197
2024 |
29/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
-23.2%
2023-2024 |
4.46%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$2,592
2024 |
$49,378
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
147/197
2024 |
24/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$4,371
2024 |
$77,959
2024 |
| Government debt | n/a |
$172B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | n/a |
32.8%
2025 |
| Government debt per person | n/a |
$15,857
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | n/a |
39/185
2024 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$7,705
2025 |
$40,921
2025 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$4.08B
2024 |
$1.05T
2024 |
| Number of millionaires | n/a |
202,201
2024 |
| Number of billionaires | n/a |
6
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
27.1%
2023 |
20.5%
2018 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.5%
2023 |
2.8%
2018 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
20%
2025 |
24%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
53.7%
2023-2024 |
1.6%
2024-2025 |
| Central bank interest rate | n/a |
4.15%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
31.4%
2024 |
1.88%
2024 |
| Population |
5459557
|
11372700
|
GDP per capita in Palestine vs United Arab Emirates
Palestine's GDP per capita is $2,592, ranking 147/197, compared to $49,378 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 24/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Palestine ranks 163rd at $4,371, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $77,959.
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 1970 | - | - | $2,394 | - |
| 1971 | - | - | $2,805 | - |
| 1972 | - | - | $3,675 | - |
| 1973 | - | - | $9,696 | - |
| 1974 | - | - | $23,823 | - |
| 1975 | - | - | $27,117 | - |
| 1976 | - | - | $31,197 | - |
| 1977 | - | - | $35,020 | - |
| 1978 | - | - | $29,379 | - |
| 1979 | - | - | $34,238 | - |
| 1980 | - | - | $42,925 | - |
| 1981 | - | - | $44,854 | - |
| 1982 | - | - | $39,972 | - |
| 1983 | - | - | $34,650 | - |
| 1984 | - | - | $32,012 | - |
| 1985 | - | - | $29,468 | - |
| 1986 | - | - | $23,132 | - |
| 1987 | - | - | $23,113 | - |
| 1988 | - | - | $21,570 | - |
| 1989 | - | - | $23,167 | - |
| 1990 | - | - | $26,710 | $86,949 |
| 1991 | - | - | $25,691 | $85,765 |
| 1992 | - | - | $25,648 | $86,019 |
| 1993 | - | - | $25,033 | $84,860 |
| 1994 | $1,202 | $2,201 | $25,473 | $88,427 |
| 1995 | $1,327 | $2,302 | $27,003 | $92,107 |
| 1996 | $1,317 | $2,269 | $28,323 | $93,009 |
| 1997 | $1,389 | $2,530 | $27,983 | $94,374 |
| 1998 | $1,465 | $2,852 | $24,889 | $88,693 |
| 1999 | $1,499 | $3,052 | $25,856 | $86,165 |
| 2000 | $1,476 | $2,783 | $29,866 | $91,318 |
| 2001 | $1,336 | $2,515 | $27,745 | $88,832 |
| 2002 | $1,156 | $2,179 | $27,754 | $86,960 |
| 2003 | $1,258 | $2,469 | $29,660 | $91,059 |
| 2004 | $1,422 | $3,014 | $33,377 | $96,982 |
| 2005 | $1,544 | $3,372 | $38,719 | $99,577 |
| 2006 | $1,570 | $3,354 | $44,343 | $104,995 |
| 2007 | $1,664 | $3,486 | $45,855 | $99,097 |
| 2008 | $2,035 | $3,713 | $50,054 | $93,017 |
| 2009 | $2,192 | $3,950 | $37,803 | $83,337 |
| 2010 | $2,557 | $4,121 | $43,697 | $83,671 |
| 2011 | $2,881 | $4,495 | $50,789 | $87,709 |
| 2012 | $3,067 | $5,215 | $52,034 | $87,340 |
| 2013 | $3,315 | $5,288 | $52,024 | $85,515 |
| 2014 | $3,352 | $5,382 | $51,381 | $85,248 |
| 2015 | $3,272 | $5,770 | $43,535 | $71,720 |
| 2016 | $3,528 | $6,062 | $41,326 | $67,702 |
| 2017 | $3,620 | $6,107 | $42,341 | $68,043 |
| 2018 | $3,562 | $6,216 | $45,690 | $75,071 |
| 2019 | $3,657 | $6,508 | $44,251 | $76,885 |
| 2020 | $3,234 | $5,956 | $37,174 | $65,353 |
| 2021 | $3,679 | $5,663 | $43,360 | $67,401 |
| 2022 | $3,800 | $6,163 | $49,899 | $73,778 |
| 2023 | $3,455 | $5,950 | $49,041 | $76,110 |
| 2024 | $2,592 | $4,371 | $49,378 | $77,959 |
Inflation comparison by year
Over the past 28 years, Palestine has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.9%, compared with 2.75% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2024, inflation was 53.7% in Palestine and 1.6% in the United Arab Emirates.
| Year | Inflation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
| 1996 | - | 3% | |
| 1997 | 7.09% | 3% | |
| 1998 | 5.58% | 2% | |
| 1999 | 5.54% | 2.1% | |
| 2000 | 2.8% | 1.3% | |
| 2001 | 1.22% | 2.8% | |
| 2002 | 5.71% | 2.9% | |
| 2003 | 4.4% | 3.1% | |
| 2004 | 3% | 5% | |
| 2005 | 4.11% | 6.2% | |
| 2006 | 3.84% | 9.3% | |
| 2007 | 1.86% | 11.1% | |
| 2008 | 9.89% | 12.3% | |
| 2009 | 2.75% | -4.7% | |
| 2010 | 3.75% | 0.9% | |
| 2011 | 2.88% | 0.9% | |
| 2012 | 2.78% | 0.7% | |
| 2013 | 1.72% | 1.1% | |
| 2014 | 1.73% | 2.3% | |
| 2015 | 1.43% | 4.1% | |
| 2016 | -0.22% | 1.6% | |
| 2017 | 0.21% | 2% | |
| 2018 | -0.2% | 3.1% | |
| 2019 | 1.58% | -1.9% | |
| 2020 | -0.74% | -2.1% | |
| 2021 | 1.24% | -0.1% | |
| 2022 | 3.74% | 4.8% | |
| 2023 | 5.87% | 1.6% | |
| 2024 | 53.7% | 1.7% | |
| 2025 | - | 1.6% | |
Top exports between countries
|
Palestine
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Raw agricultural goods | $11.5M |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $9.76M |
| Machinery & equipment | $1.85M |
| Raw materials & minerals | $802K |
| Chemicals & pharma | $298K |
| Metals | $61K |
| Animal & marine products | $47K |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $15K |
| Wood & paper products | $6K |
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Chemicals & pharma | $74.6M |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $27.9M |
| Machinery & equipment | $11.8M |
| Animal & marine products | $4.85M |
| Raw materials & minerals | $4.84M |
| Metals | $4.14M |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $3.5M |
| Raw agricultural goods | $2.19M |
| Wood & paper products | $1.82M |
| Precious metals & jewellery | $647K |
Balance of trade
|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
Current account balance
|
-$2.9B
2024 |
n/a |
| Current account balance ranking |
152/189
2024 |
n/a |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-21.1%
2024 |
n/a |
| Goods imports |
$6.87B
2024 |
n/a |
| Goods exports |
$2.37B
2024 |
n/a |
| Service imports |
$1.39B
2024 |
n/a |
| Service exports |
$514M
2024 |
n/a |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
60.3%
2024 |
93.7%
2023 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
21%
2024 |
108.6%
2023 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 30 | 71.6 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 192/197 | 29/197 |
| Property rights | n/a | 65.4 |
| Government integrity | n/a | 65.9 |
| Judicial effectiveness | n/a | 35.2 |
| Tax burden | n/a | 96.9 |
| Government spending | n/a | 82.3 |
| Fiscal health | n/a | 97.9 |
| Business freedom | n/a | 84.2 |
| Labor freedom | n/a | 62.1 |
| Monetary freedom | n/a | 80.5 |
| Trade freedom | n/a | 78.4 |
| Investment freedom | n/a | 50 |
| Financial freedom | n/a | 60 |
More economic indicators
|
Palestine
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
58.3%
2022 |
51.6%
2023 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
17.4%
2022 |
47.7%
2023 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
5.75%
2022 |
0.7%
2023 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$16.3B
2024 |
$538B
2024 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$5,310
2024 |
$78,110
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.33B
2024 |
$238B
2024 |
| Total reserves ranking |
138/177
2024 |
14/177
2024 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$151M
2024 |
n/a |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$162M
2024 |
$45.6B
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$10.7M
2024 |
$23.4B
2024 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
29.2%
2016 |
19.5%
2020 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
23.5%
2024 |
27.1%
2023 |
GDP per capita map
GDP per capita
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Economy comparisons
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.