Updated
Overview
Egypt has 12 times the population of Israel: 118.37 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is about 65% larger than Egypt's, at $610.78B versus $365.25B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $389.06B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 28.3% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $3,383 | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 178,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Egypt is growing faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 2.9%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 3.0%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the younger society: median age 24.5 versus 29.2 years.
Life expectancy is 11.4 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 71.8).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in Israel (88% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 48 times the size of Israel: 1,002,450 km² versus 20,770 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 118.
Military
Israel spends 19 times as much on defence as Egypt: $46.51B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Israel?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Egypt is 48 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Israel?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).