The results certainly inspire pride in the heart of every Israeli citizen. We are only second to the gas station named “Qatar”, a country that without its oil would be nothing more than a rest stop for any occasional camel rider.

This is what the news site reports:

In our difficult neighborhood, the Middle East, the average GDP per capita is $13.7K, but the gaps between the countries are enormous.

Most countries in the Middle East benefit from natural resources, mainly energy. About 50% of the global crude oil reserves are in the region, making some of the countries the richest in the world.

Qatar – The small emirate has one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world, at $71.6K. Qatar provides its citizens with free water and electricity, and is also investing in infrastructure and developing industries, with the aim of diversifying the economy in the long term.

Israel – With a GDP of $53.1K per capita, the bulk of the Israeli economy comes from the services and manufacturing sectors. With the discovery of gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea in the last decade, it has also developed a thriving energy industry.

United Arab Emirates – About 80% of government revenue comes from the energy industry, but the Emirates are also making great efforts to diversify the economy, especially with large investments in technology and renewable energy. The Emirates also provide a generous level of welfare and low taxation.

Who is in last place?

Yemen has a GDP per capita of $465, and the country suffers from an ongoing humanitarian crisis, terrorism, and civil war.

In second to last place, with an annual income of $3,500 per capita, it is the country whose vast majority of residents are abject poor living on $2 a day, but it is also the country that buys billions of dollars worth of weapons for its army every year in order to defend itself against imagined enemies.

This is what happens when the leader’s hobby is a clearly unadvanced army with shiny weapons systems.

Ohhhh… I forgot to mention, we are talking about our close friend – Egypt.

Photo: Market in Qatar - Reuters