Data extracted in March 2025.
Planned article update: June 2026.
Highlights
Palestine recorded the highest population density in the European Neighbourhood South in 2023, at 900 inhabitants per square kilometre, whereas Libya’s was the lowest at 4 (2020). In the EU, the estimate was 109 in 2022.
In 2023, GDP per capita in the European Neighbourhood South region generally ranged between €3 373 in Tunisia (2021) and €4 943 in Algeria. Israel stood out with a GDP of €48 392 per capita, higher than the EU average of €38 130.
Egypt had the lowest income inequality in the European Neighbourhood South, with a Gini coefficient of disposable income of 30.0 in 2020, almost matching the EU’s 29.6 (2023). In contrast, Morocco had the highest with 46.4 (2019).
This article is part of an online publication. It presents information on 5 main topics for 9 of the 10 countries that form the European Neighbourhood Policy-South (ENP-South) region, namely, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine [1] and Tunisia, comparing them with development in the European Union (EU). This article does not contain any data on Syria, as cooperation with Syria was suspended since 2011 until recently, and no data are currently collected. Data for Lebanon do not include Palestinian refugee camps.
This article presents statistics on population density, gross domestic product (GDP), measured in € per capita; inequality of disposable income measured by the Gini coefficient, gross inland energy consumption expressed in kilogrammes of oil equivalent (kgoe) per capita and the unemployment gender gap measured as the percentage points (pp) difference between the unemployment rates of men and women. The indicators presented have been selected based on the importance of the policy areas and social issues they inform, as well as the availability of data.
Population density
The most recent data available on population density, measuring the number of inhabitants per square kilometre (km2), is illustrated in Figure 1 for the ENP-South countries, compared with the EU.
In 2023, Palestine recorded by far the highest population density among the ENP-South countries with available data, reaching 900 inhabitants per km2. This figure was more than eight times higher than the European Union’s density of 109 inhabitants per km2 (estimated, provisional). Israel ranked second, with 424 inhabitants per km2, less than half the density of Palestine, yet significantly above the levels observed in other ENP-South countries and the EU.
Jordan’s population density was closer to that of the EU, standing at 130 inhabitants per km2 in 2023. Only Palestine, Israel, and Jordan reported population densities exceeding that of the EU. Egypt’s density, based on 2019 data, was slightly below the EU average at 98 inhabitants per km2. In contrast, Morocco and Algeria had notably lower population densities, at 46 and 19 inhabitants per km2 respectively (both based on 2021 data).
Libya recorded by far the lowest population density, with only 4 inhabitants per km2. This represented less than 4% of the population density in the EU, and less than 0.5% of the one in Palestine, highlighting the large disparity in population density across the ENP-South. Data for Tunisia and Lebanon are not available.
In the ENP-South region, deserts impact population density figures and largely explain the great disparities between the countries. For example, despite an overall population density below the EU average, the overwhelming majority of the Egyptian population live very densely along the Nile River and in the Nile Delta.
Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita
GDP per capita (that is, per person) is a broad economic indicator that may be used for basic analysis of living standards. By removing the influence of population size, GDP per capita makes comparisons between countries of different sizes easier and more relevant.
As illustrated in Figure 2, Israel stood out in 2023 with by far the highest GDP per capita among the ENP-South countries, reaching €48 392. This was over one-quarter higher than the EU average of €38 130 per capita. In contrast, the other ENP-South countries for which data are available reported significantly lower figures. Algeria recorded a GDP per capita of €4 943, followed by Jordan with €4 094, Morocco with €3 607, and Tunisia with €3 373 (based on 2021 data).
No recent data were available for Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, or Palestine.
Source: Eurostat (nama_10_pc) and (enps_nama_10_pc)
GINI coefficient
The Gini coefficient of disposable equivalised income is presented in Figure 3 for the ENP-South countries. It is a measure of economic inequality, used to assess differences in the distribution of income within the population. It measures how far it is from perfect equality, with higher values of the Gini coefficient signalling greater income inequality.
The disposable income of a household is its net income after taxes and social contributions, including social benefits; “equivalised” means that the composition of each household is weighted according to the number of adults and children living in it.
Morocco recorded the notably highest Gini coefficient in the ENP-South, at 46.4 (2019 data), pointing to substantially higher income inequality than in the rest of the region. The income inequalities in Israel, Tunisia and Palestine were at roughly the same level, with Gini coefficients of 35.8 in Israel (2022 data), 35.3 in Tunisia (2021 data) and 34.4 in Palestine (2023 data; West Bank only).
Among ENP-South countries with available data, Egypt reported the lowest income inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 30.0 in 2020, the most recent year for which data are available. Data for Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon and Libya are not available.
Within the EU, income inequalities were on average substantially lower than in most of the ENP-South, with a Gini coefficient of 29.6 in 2023.
Source: Eurostat (ilc_di12) and (enps_ilc_di12)
Gross inland energy consumption
Figure 4 presents the gross inland energy consumption in kilogrammes of oil equivalent (kgoe) per capita, measuring how much energy a country requires to meet its national demand. It covers consumption by the energy sector itself, distribution and transformation losses, final energy consumption by end users, as well as non-energy use (such as crude oil used as raw material for the petrochemical industry or as lubricants) and statistical differences. The gross inland energy consumption is presented per capita, removing the effect of differences in the size of countries and making the data more comparable.
In 2023, energy consumption patterns across the ENP-South countries showed considerable variation, with Israel standing out as the region’s highest energy consumer. Its gross inland energy consumption per capita reached 2 506 kilogrammes of oil equivalent (kgoe/capita), well above the levels observed in the rest of the region. Lebanon and Algeria followed at a substantial distance, each consuming roughly two-thirds of Israel’s level 1 670 kgoe/capita (2018 data) and 1 556 kgoe/capita (2021 data), respectively. Jordan, Tunisia, and Egypt exhibited more moderate energy consumption, ranging between 900 and 1 000 kgoe/capita. Jordan reported 976 kgoe/capita in 2018, Tunisia an estimated 929 kgoe/capita, and Egypt 914 kgoe/capita in 2023. These figures were significantly below the levels seen in the top three ENP-South countries.
At the lower end of the spectrum, Morocco and Palestine reported the least energy use per capita, with 643 kgoe in 2023 and 479 kgoe in 2022, respectively, equivalent to around one fifth of Israel’s consumption.
Data for EU and Libya are not available.
Overall, the data reflect significant differences in energy consumption across the ENP-South economies. This may be influenced by many factors, including the industrial structure and the prevalence of sectors that consume more or less energy, the level of national energy production and availability of energy imports, as well as energy policy and energy efficiency.
Unemployment gender gap
Figure 5 presents the unemployment gender gap in the ENP-South countries and the EU, measured as the difference in percentage points (pp) between the unemployment rate of women aged 25-74 and the corresponding rate of men. When the unemployment gender gap value is larger than zero, this means that the unemployment rate of women is higher than the rate of men. The unemployment gender gap is estimated by Eurostat for all ENP-South countries.
Except for Israel, the unemployment rates of women were notably higher than those of men across the ENP-South. In 2023, the highest gender gaps were found in Algeria with 11.0 pp (2019 data) and Egypt with 10.4 pp difference in the unemployment rate by sex.
Just below this level were Jordan and Tunisia, with unemployment gender gaps of 8.7 pp and 8.1 pp (2022 data), respectively. More moderate gaps were recorded in Palestine (5.6 pp; West Bank only), Morocco (4.6 pp; 2021 data) and Lebanon (3.6 pp; 2022 data, estimated), although also with higher unemployment rates for women than for men. In Israel, the unemployment rate of women was almost the same as that of men, with a gender gap of just 0.4 pp in 2023. This was even slightly lower than the unemployment gap in the EU, which stood at 0.8 pp the same year.
Data for Libya are not available.
(% of total)
Source: Eurostat (lfsa_urgan) and (enps_lfsa_gap).
Source data for tables and graphs
Data sources
The data for ENP-South countries are supplied by and under the responsibility of the national statistical authorities of each country on a voluntary basis. The data result from an annual data collection cycle that has been established by Eurostat. Cooperation with Syria is currently suspended. These statistics are available free-of-charge on Eurostat’s website, together with a range of different indicators covering most socio-economic areas.
Eurostat collects data from EU countries and other countries participating in its demography data collection exercise, including the ENP-South countries. The recommended definition is the 'usual resident population' and represents the number of inhabitants on 1 January of the year in question (or, in some cases, on 31 December of the previous year).
The European system of national and regional accounts (ESA 2010) provides the methodology for national accounts in the EU. In the ENP-South countries the national accounts data presented in this article were generally collected according to the 2008 System for National Accounts (2008 SNA). ESA 2010 is consistent with the 2008 SNA.
EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) collects harmonised data on income, poverty, social inclusion and living conditions in the EU and a number of other European countries. In the ENP-South countries, statistics on income and living conditions are collected through household surveys such as income and living conditions surveys, household budget surveys, labour force surveys or similar, based on internationally agreed methodologies and recommendations.
In the ENP-South countries, data are typically taken from a collection of sources on energy consumption, comprising household surveys as well as business surveys and energy statistics data collections. The international standard for definitions and methodology is the International Recommendations for Energy Statistics (IRES), published by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). For the EU, data on energy quantities are generally calculated according to the [new methodology for energy balances].
For the EU, unemployment data are provided through the European Union labour force survey (EU-LFS). In the ENP-South, labour force surveys are generally carried out in accordance with international standards defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Context
EU cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood takes place in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The ENP was launched in 2004 and reflects the EU's desire to build on common interests with partner countries and its commitment to work jointly in key priority areas.
The Joint Communication on Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – A new Agenda for the Mediterranean, accompanied by an Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern neighbours, of 9 February 2021 further guides cooperation with the ENP-South countries.
In cooperation with its ENP partners, Eurostat has the responsibility to promote and implement the use of European and internationally recognised standards and methodology for the production of statistics, necessary for designing and monitoring policies in various areas. Eurostat manages and coordinates EU efforts to increase the capacity of the ENP countries to develop, produce and disseminate good quality data according to European and international standards. Additional information on the policy context of the ENP is provided on the website of Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA).
The EU has been supporting statistical capacity building in the region for a number of years, among others by providing technical assistance to national statistical authorities and by sharing best practice and transferring know-how. A key tool for this statistical cooperation is the MEDSTAT programme, a multiannual regional cooperation programme for statistics addressing common issues and requirements.
Footnotes
- This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue. ↑
Explore further
Other articles
- All articles on non-EU countries
- European Neighbourhood Policy countries — statistical overview — online publication
- Statistical cooperation — online publication
Database
- Population and social conditions (enps_pop)
- Population and demographic indicators (enps_demo)
- Population (enps_demo_pop)
- Labour market (enps_labour)
- Unemployment (enps_lfsa_unemp)
- Living conditions (enps_livcon)
- Income distribution (enps_incom)
- Population and demographic indicators (enps_demo)
- Economy and finance (enps_ecf)
- National accounts (enps_na)
- GDP, main aggregates and economic indicators (enps_nama_gdp)
- Environment and energy (enps_envnrg)
- Energy (enps_nrg)
- National accounts (enps_na)
- Main population indicators (demo_ind)
- GDP and components (nama_10_ma)
- Inequality (ilc_ie)
- Income inequality (ilc_iei)
Thematic section
Publications
Methodology
- Southern European Neighbourhood Policy countries (ENP-South) (ESMS metadata file — enps_esms)
External links
- European External Action Service (EEAS): European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP); Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood - A new agenda for the Mediterranean
- 'Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA):' Southern Neighbourhood and https://north-africa-middle-east-gulf.ec.europa.eu/what-we-do/regional-cooperation-southern-neighbourhood-partners_en Regional cooperation with Southern Neighbourhood partners]
- Joint Communication JOIN(2021) 2 final: Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – A new Agenda for the Mediterranean
- Joint Staff Working Document SWD(2021) 23 final: Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighbours, accompanying the document JOIN(2021) 2 final
- EU Neighbours South: MEDSTAT V: Euro Mediterranean Statistical Cooperation 2022 – 2025