Income per Person (GDP per capita, PPP) in Israel: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

At MYRIAD, we examine the statistics of human lives to understand the material reality of the world. Income per person, measured as GDP per capita and adjusted for purchasing power in 2017 international dollars, is a measure of the economic resources available to support a human life. It dictates the floor of daily survival, the margin for education, health, and leisure, and the societal surplus that cushions against misfortune. Every value in this ledger represents a statistical fact about the lives actually lived across generations.

The historical arc across three centuries reveals a profound transformation. In the 1800s estimate, income per person in Israel stood at 1,423 intl-$. This climbed steadily through the decades, reaching an 1850s estimate of 1,879 intl-$ and a 1900s estimate of 2,336 intl-$. Growth accelerated through the mid-century, moving from 6,038 intl-$ in the 1950s to 15,383 intl-$ in the 1970s and 23,471 intl-$ in the 1990s. In the 2020s, income per person in Israel stands at 39,900 intl-$ — ranking #25 of 157 countries. Projections suggest this trajectory will continue upward, reaching 60,683 intl-$ in the 2050s projection and 122,055 intl-$ in the 2100s projection.

If you were born in Israel across these changing eras, your immediate command over economic goods and services would look vastly different from that of your ancestors. A life lived in the 1900s estimate unfolded against an average of 2,336 intl-$, whereas someone navigating the 2020s encounters an economy averaging 39,900 intl-$. This expanding baseline alters everything from childhood development to old age security. To see how your own span aligns with the broader tapestry of human existence, explore where do YOU rank among everyone ever born? →