GCC Countries: The Six Gulf States
The GCC has six members. Their combined nominal GDP is $2.52 trillion for 2026 (IMF projection), 2.0% of the $126.88 trillion total for the 189 economies SOTW covers. Together they had 63.4 million people in 2025, 0.8% of the world's population in SOTW's data. Saudi Arabia has both the largest economy and the most people. Qatar has the highest GDP per person, $63,634 (2026 IMF projection). Oil rents range from 10.9% of GDP in Bahrain to 27.6% in Kuwait (World Bank, latest figures, 2020 to 2021).
The six member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, all founding members in 1981. Source: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat General, checked October 21, 2026.
- Members
- 6
- Checked October 21, 2026
- Combined GDP
- $2.52T
- 2026 (IMF projection), 2.0% of covered world
- Population
- 63.4 million
- 2025, 0.8% of covered world
- Highest GDP per person
- Qatar
- $63,634, 2026 (IMF projection)
All 6 GCC members
| # | Country | Member since | GDPcurrent US dollars2026 (IMF projection) | GDP per personcurrent US dollars2026 (IMF projection) | GDP per person at PPPinternational dollars (PPP)2026 (IMF projection) | Populationpeople2025 | Real GDP growthannual % change2026 (IMF projection) | Oil rents% of GDP2021 | Inflationannual % change in average consumer prices2026 (IMF projection) | Government debt% of GDP2026 (IMF projection) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabiaeconomy | 1981 | $1.34T | $36,577 | $74,295 | 37.0 million | -3.3% | 23.7% | 1.9% | 35.4% |
| 2 | United Arab Emirateseconomy | 1981 | $661.02B | $57,109 | $83,704 | 11.5 million | -3.9% | 15.7% | 4.5% | 32.8% |
| 3 | Qatareconomy | 1981 | $203.04B | $63,634 | $103,804 | 3.0 million | -15.6% | 15.3% | 3.6% | 46.4% |
| 4 | Kuwaiteconomy | 1981 | $146.91B | $28,928 | $46,552 | 4.9 million | -16.7% | 27.6%2020 | 2.2% | 26.6% |
| 5 | Omaneconomy | 1981 | $121.40B | $22,425 | $46,196 | 5.5 million | 4.1% | 23.5% | 3.2% | 31.1% |
| 6 | Bahrain | 1981 | $46.02B | $28,147 | $63,736 | 1.6 million | -11.3% | 10.9% | 2.2% | 162.8% |
Where the GCC members are
Embed this map
<a href="https://statisticsoftheworld.com/gcc-countries"><img src="https://statisticsoftheworld.com/maps/group-gcc.svg" width="960" height="500" alt="World map of the GCC members. Source: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat General."></a>
<p>Source: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat General. Map: <a href="https://statisticsoftheworld.com/gcc-countries">Statistics of the World</a></p>How much GCC economies depend on oil
Kuwait has the highest oil rents among the GCC members: 27.6% (2020).
| # | Country | Oil rents% of GDP | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuwait | 27.6% | 2020 |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | 23.7% | 2021 |
| 3 | Oman | 23.5% | 2021 |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 15.7% | 2021 |
| 5 | Qatar | 15.3% | 2021 |
| 6 | Bahrain | 10.9% | 2021 |
Richest GCC countries by GDP per person
Qatar has the highest GDP per person among the GCC members: $63,634 (2026 IMF projection). Qatar is also highest at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for price levels ($103,804).
| # | Country | GDP per personcurrent US dollars | Year | GDP per person at PPPinternational dollars (PPP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qatar | $63,634 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $103,804rank 1 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | $57,109 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $83,704rank 2 |
| 3 | Saudi Arabia | $36,577 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $74,295rank 3 |
| 4 | Kuwait | $28,928 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $46,552rank 5 |
| 5 | Bahrain | $28,147 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $63,736rank 4 |
| 6 | Oman | $22,425 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $46,196rank 6 |
GCC over time
Nominal GDP of the 6 largest economies
About these figures
- Combined figures are sums of the members’ own figures for one year, not official aggregates, and are shown only when every member has a figure for that year. Missing figures are not counted as zero.
- Growth, inflation and other rates are not added up or averaged into a group or continent rate, because an unweighted average gives a small economy the same weight as a large one.
- GDP is converted to US dollars at market exchange rates; GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) adjusts for differences in price levels, so it is the better comparison of living standards and gives a different order.
- Oil rents are the value of crude oil production less its cost, as a share of GDP. The World Bank series stops in 2021, before the 2022 oil price rise, and each cell shows its year. Natural gas rents, large in Qatar, are not included.
- IMF figures for the current year are projections from the World Economic Outlook, revised at each release, not measured values.
Sources and definitions
- GDP IMF.NGDPD
- Economic output at current prices, expressed using market exchange rates. Unit: current US dollars. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- GDP per person IMF.NGDPDPC
- Current-price economic output divided by the population. Unit: current US dollars. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- GDP per person at PPP IMF.PPPPC
- Purchasing-power-adjusted current-price economic output per person. Unit: international dollars (PPP). International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- Population SP.POP.TOTL
- Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates. Unit: people. World Bank (World Development Indicators)
- Real GDP growth IMF.NGDP_RPCH
- Annual growth in economic output after accounting for price changes. Unit: annual % change. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- Oil rents NY.GDP.PETR.RT.ZS
- Oil rents are the difference between the value of crude oil production at regional prices and total costs of production. Unit: % of GDP. World Bank (World Development Indicators)
- Inflation IMF.PCPIPCH
- Annual change in the average consumer price index. Unit: annual % change in average consumer prices. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- Government debt IMF.GGXWDG_NGDP
- General government gross debt relative to economic output. Unit: % of GDP. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
Questions
How many GCC countries are there?
6: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Source: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat General, checked October 21, 2026.
Which GCC country has the largest economy?
Saudi Arabia, with nominal GDP of $1.34 trillion (2026 IMF projection, IMF World Economic Outlook). That is 53.3% of the members' combined GDP.
What is the richest GCC country?
By GDP per person, Qatar: $63,634 (2026 IMF projection). Qatar is also first at purchasing power parity ($103,804). GDP per person measures output, not household income or wealth.
How big is the combined GCC economy?
$2.52 trillion for 2026 (IMF projection), the sum of the 6 members' IMF figures, which is 2.0% of the total for the 189 economies SOTW covers. It is a SOTW sum, not an official aggregate.
How many people live in GCC countries?
63.4 million people in 2025, the sum of the members' World Bank population estimates.