Updated
Overview
Jordan has 14% more people than Israel: 11.52 million against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is 9.9 times the size of Jordan's, at $610.78B versus $61.61B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $5,348 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Jordan | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $61.61B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $53.35B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $5,348 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.8% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.8% | 3.0% | 2025 | 1.6% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 16.5% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 42 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $495 | Higher: $3,383 | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $366 | Higher: $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.53 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 11.52 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 11.31 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.7 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.57 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 93% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 89,342 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 129.0/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 23 Mt | 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.0 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.56B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.8% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 116,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (2.8% for Jordan, 2.9% for Israel).
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.8% in Jordan and 3.0% in Israel.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Jordan: a price level of 42 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $495 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Jordan is the younger society: median age 24.7 versus 29.2 years.
Life expectancy is 5.2 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 78.0).
Geography
By land area, Jordan is 4.3 times the size of Israel: 89,342 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 129.
Military
Israel spends 18 times as much on defence as Jordan: $46.51B versus $2.56B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 4.8%.
Israel fields the larger armed forces: 178,000 personnel against 116,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Jordan bigger than Israel?
- Jordan is larger by land area. Jordan covers 89,342 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Jordan is 4.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Jordan or Israel?
- Jordan has the larger population: 11.52 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Jordan richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $5,348. Total GDP tells the same story: $61.61B for Jordan versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Jordan or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $2.56B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).