As the new year is set to begin, TRENDS considers it crucial to review and document the profiles of the important countries in the region and across the world.
The country profiles — arranged in alphabetical order as per their names — summarize recent data, presenting statistical narratives of a country that include economic, political, sociological, environmental, and other cultural factors. It also includes performance in 2022 and the estimations for 2023.
Bahrain
Bahrain is a small Arab state located in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf, with a landmass of 760 square kilometers. Climate. Summer in Bahrain is unpleasant because high temperatures are frequently accompanied by high humidity. Bahrain’s total population is expected to be around 1.85 million people in 2023. Arabic, English, and Farsi are the official languages. The majority of the people live in the northern part of the main island. Manama is the capital and largest city. Bahrain ranks first in the world in terms of quality of life, with a score of 165.19. Bahrain gained independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1971, and has had only two Prime Ministers since that time. According to Trading Economics, GDP in Bahrain is expected to reach 42.00 USD billion by the end of 2022. The most important natural resources in Bahrain are the oil, natural gas and fishing. The top import partners are the UAE and China, with most import commodities being cars, iron, and jewelry, and the UAE is also a popular export partner. The American Mission Hospital was founded in the United States and has been in operation in Bahrain for more than a century. After a 14-year high in 2022, Bahrain’s growth will slow in 2023.
China
The People’s Republic of China is located in Southeast Asia along the Pacific Ocean’s coastline and covers an area of approximately 9,600,000 km2. China’s climate ranges from subarctic to tropical, with mountains, high plateaus, sandy deserts, and dense forests on its territory. China has the world’s largest population of 1.426 billion people and is expected to experience population decline in the coming years. China also has 55 non-Han ethnic minorities, with 125 million members constituting nearly 9 percent of the country’s population. Mandarin and Cantonese are the two most well-known and widely spoken dialects of Chinese. Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China and one of the world’s most populous cities; the two major cities are Shanghai and Hong Kong. The quality-of-life index is 105.07, indicating that the country is now upper-middle-income. China was established in 1949 and has a parliamentary and presidential system. China’s GDP is 17.73 trillion USD in 2021, with a projected increase to 18266.00 USD Billion by the end of 2022. Ninety percent of China’s resources are coal and rare earth metals; China’s top exports are broadcasting equipment and computers; and the majority of imports are crude petroleum and integrated circuits. China’s main trading partners are the ASEAN countries, the European Union, Taiwan, and the United States also China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $87.3 billion in 2021. Because the United States and China have the world’s largest and second largest economies, respectively, the relationship between the two countries has been complicated and tense. With this change happening sooner than expected, the EIU has revised its forecast for China’s real GDP growth to 5.2 percent in 2023.
France
France, officially the French Republic, French France, or République Française, is a country in northwest Europe with a metropolitan area of 551,500 km2 and a current population of 65,626,710. Paris, France’s capital and by far the most important city, is one of the world’s preeminent cultural and commercial centers. Lyon, located along an ancient Rhône valley trade route linking the North Sea and the Mediterranean, is one of France’s other major cities. The quality-of-life index in France is 122.84, indicating that you can balance work and the rest of your life. In the ninth century, it became a separate country. France has played a significant role in European and global events since the 17th century. France’s GDP is expected to reach 2820.00 USD Billion by the end of 2022, and is currently USD Trillion. France is a significant European country with abundant natural resources such as uranium, coal, and others. France primarily exports aircraft, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, and food products, while importing mechanical, electronic, and computer equipment. France’s major trading partners for exports were Germany, Italy, and countries in the Middle East. France’s main regional partners remain the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which account for nearly 49 percent of French exports. Egypt and Lebanon are the next importers on the list. According to forecasts, inflation should slowly decelerate to 5.5 percent by the middle of the year 2023.
Germany
Germany’s area is approximately 137,847 square miles, and its climate is temperate and marine in the west, humid continental in the east, and humid subtropical in the southwest. For the first time, the population of Germany will exceed 84 million in the first half of 2022. Berlin is Germany’s capital and primary urban center. Berlin served as the capital of Prussia and, beginning in 1871, of a unified Germany. Germany has a quality-of-life index of 162.44, indicating that it is a wonderful place to live. It has a high standard of living, a strong economy, and a rich cultural heritage. In the third quarter of 2022, Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP) continued to increase compared to the previous quarter (seasonally and calendar adjusted), at 963.81 billion euros One of Europe’s largest countries, Germany encompasses a wide variety of landscapes: the tall, sheer mountains of the south and the main German export product is motor vehicles and Germany main imports were: computer, electronic and optical products. The People’s Republic of China is again Germany’s main trading partner and The UAE is Germany’s most important trading partner in the region, with exports from the European country totaling $8.4 billion in 2021. Germany’s main trading partner is once again the People’s Republic of China, and the UAE is Germany’s most important trading partner in the region, with exports from the European country totaling $8.4 billion in 2021. the Ifo institute also revised up its 2023 forecast: It still predicts a decline next year of 0.1 percent but this is less severe than the 0.3 percent contraction previously forecast.
India
The Himalayas separate Bharat Ganrajya from the rest of mainland Asia. The country is bounded to the east by the Bay of Bengal, to the west by the Arabian Sea, and to the south by the Indian Ocean. India’s climate can be broadly classified as tropical monsoon. The population of India as of 1 March 2011 was 1,210,193,422. (623.7 million males and 586.4 million females). The people of India represent all five major racial types: Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian, and Negroid. New Delhi is the capital of India, a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic governed by a Parliamentary system. The quality-of-life index in 2022 is 83.48, indicating a low quality of life but a high level of personal finance. India’s GDP is expected to reach 3386.00 USD Billion by the end of 2022, up from 3173.00 USD Billion currently. India’s major mineral resources include coal (4th largest reserves in the world), refined petroleum (India’s number one export), and mineral fuels (including oil). The United States is India’s only trade surplus partner among its top ten trading partners. Although larger than the UAE, Saudi Arabia is only India’s second-largest trading partner amongst the GCC countries. IMF projection suggest that global growth is projected to slow 2.7 percent in 2023 — the weakest growth profile since 2001, except for the global financial crisis and the acute phase of the pandemic.
Japan
Japan is an East Asian Island country located off the east coast of Asia. It has a total land area of 377,970 km2 and a total coastline of 29,751 km. Although Japan has no land borders with any other countries, its “neighbors” are traditionally regarded as Russia. Japan is mostly mountainous, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Japan’s current population is 125,527,995, with 97.8 percent of the population being Japanese, according to census data from 2018. Tokyo is Japan’s capital. It is the world’s largest city, with a population of more than 38.5 million people. The quality-of-life index in Japan is 164.88, and the country is widely regarded as having a high standard of living. Japan appears to have a long history, but it was founded in 660 BC and is a constitutional monarchy with the emperor limited to a ceremonial role. Japan’s GDP is expected to reach 5016.00 USD billion by the end of 2022, up from 4.937 currently. Coal, iron ore, zinc, lead, copper, sulfur, gold, and silver are among Japan’s natural resources; the country’s main export products are automobiles and electronics; however, Japan has few natural resources and its agricultural sector is heavily protected. Mineral fuels, machinery, and food are among Japan’s most important imports. The United States and Japan have the world’s two largest national economies and UAE is Japan’s 10th largest trading partner globally in 2021 and meets nearly 23 percent of its total crude oil requirements. The United States has the world’s highest deficit and debt. Japan is the world’s largest creditor and surplus country. Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to expand 1.5 percent in the fiscal year beginning in April 2023.
Kuwait
Kuwait, with a total area of 17,820 square kilometers, is located on the northern edge of Eastern Arabia, at the tip of the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait’s climate is dry desert, with intensely hot summers and short, cool winters. Kuwait’s current population is 4,419,95, an increase of 4.79 percent over the previous year. Kuwait City is the country’s capital, as well as its political, cultural, and economic center. The quality-of-life index in 2022 is 121.10, which is considered moderate. Kuwait gained full independence in 1961, and the ruling family presently controls the country’s political system. In 2022, the gross domestic product is expected to reach $245 billion. Other than oil, Kuwait has few natural resources, including a massive natural harbor, fisheries, and a few sparse water supplies. China is the top export partner. South Korea and India have top commodities such as crude petroleum, aircraft, and natural gas; however, the main imports are cars and broadcasting equipment, with China and the United Arab Emirates being the top import partners. The United States and Kuwait have a long history of friendship and cooperation based on shared values, democratic traditions, and institutions. Kuwait’s economy will continue to grow in 2023, but downside risks such as political gridlock and low FDI remain.
Oman
The Sultanate of Oman is the third biggest country on the Arabian Peninsula, strategically placed in the Arabian Peninsula’s south-east corner at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It has a total area of 309,500 square kilometers (about 120,000 square miles). Almost everything, the climate is tropical desert, with some summer rainfall in both the northern and southern mountain ranges. Oman’s current population is 5,412,843, with Arab, Baluchi, South Asian, and African ethnic groupings. Muscat is the nation’s capital and largest city, and Salalah, the country’s second largest city, is located on the country’s southernmost coast. Oman has a very high quality-of-life index of 179.51 in 2022. Sultan Said of Oman signed a treaty of friendship and commerce with a trade representative of the United States in 1833, paving the way for a diplomatic relationship, and the discovery and exploitation of oil in the 1920s and 1930s heralded a new era for Oman. Oman is also an active member of international and regional organizations. Oman’s most visible natural resource is crude oil, accounting for nearly 80 percent of its exports, with the top three export partners being China (46 percent), India (8 percent), and Japan (6 percent), and the top import partner being the UAE (36 percent), with cars and refined petroleum being the most commodities. Recently, the US welcomed Oman’s continued leadership in hosting the Middle East Desalination Research Centre and advancing regional peacebuilding through shared solutions to freshwater scarcity. On the basis of moderate oil price assumptions, Oman expects its fiscal deficit to reach 3 percent of GDP in 2023.
Qatar
Qatar is bounded to the west by the Gulf of Bahrain, to the east by the Persian Gulf, and to the south by Saudi Arabia. It has an area of 11,586 km2. Qatar has pleasant winters and very hot and humid summers. Qatar’s current population is 2,996,002, with the majority of the population concentrated in or around the capital of Doha, and Qatar (Arab) nationals accounting for less than 15 percent of the total population. The quality-of-life index is 154.46 in 2022, indicating a high standard of living. The separation of powers is the foundation of the government system. It shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions of this constitution. Qatar’s GDP is projected to reach 195.00 USD billion by the end of 2022. Natural gas and crude petroleum are the top export commodities, with top partners Japan and South Korea, and aircraft and gas turbines are the top import commodities, with major partners the United States and France. The US and Qatar are collaborating closely on a wide range of regional and global issues. The economy is projected to grow 4.9 percent this year followed by 4.5 percent and 4.4 percent in 2023 and 2024, according to a World Bank forecast
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is located in southwestern Asia, occupying nearly four of the Arab Peninsula and covering an area of approximately 2,000,000 square kilometers. The Arabian Peninsula is a desert environment surrounded by saltwater bodies. Saudi Arabia’s population in 2022 will be 35.84 million, with a median age of 32.4 years and an ethnic composition of 90 percent Arab and 10 percent Afro-Asian. Riyadh is the capital and largest city. The country is home to Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest cities. Saudi Arabia has a lower cost of living than many other Middle Eastern destinations, with a quality-of-life index of 150. The main export partners are China and India, with the main export commodities being crude petroleum, refined petroleum, and polymers, and the main import commodities being crude petroleum, refined petroleum, and polymers, with China and the United Arab Emirates being the main importers at the same time. The United States provides technical assistance in areas such as education, trade, and economic development in collaboration with the Saudi government. The International Monetary Fund is projecting Saudi Arabia’s economy will grow 3.7 percent in 2023.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE is located in the Arabian Peninsula’s southeast and has grown rapidly since its Federation in 1971, becoming known for its modern infrastructure and became a federation of seven emirates including Abu Dhabi, Dubai. Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, has one million residents. The UAE celebrated its Golden Jubilee, 50 years since federation, in 2021. The UAE’s population will be 10.08 million in 2022, with Emiratis accounting for 11.6 percent of the population, South Asians accounting for 59.4 percent (including Indians at 38.2 percent), and the first three languages being Arabic (officially), English, and Hindi. The UAE’s quality-of-life index is 174, which is a very high index. The UAE has joined the United Nations and the Arab League, and has diplomatic ties with over 60 countries. The United Arab Emirates economy is the fifth largest in the Middle East, with a GDP of US$501 billion in 2022. UAE main imported goods are machinery, food, chemicals, and transportation equipment, and its main trade commodities are crude oil and natural gas. The UAE has strong trading relations with China and India. The UAE is a key partner for the US and plays an influential role in the Middle East. The UAE’s GDP growth will slow to 2.7 percent in 2023 but the non-oil sector will grow by 3.9 percent, according to an ICAEW report.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is an island country located north-west of mainland Europe. The UK has a total area of approximately 243,610 square kilometers (94,060 sq miles). The climate in the United Kingdom is temperate, with plenty of rain all year. London is the capital, seat of government, and largest city of the United Kingdom, and it is one of the world’s most important commercial, financial, and cultural centers. The United Kingdom has a high quality of life index of 134.66, ranking fifth among all European countries. The United Kingdom was founded in 1922 and is a constitutional monarchy with no open political decisions made by the reigning monarch. The United Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 4.2 percent in 2022 before falling by 1.4 percent in 2023. The United Kingdom is a major global trading nation, ranking second in terms of commercial services exports and imports, and ranking tenth in terms of merchandise exports and imports. In the four quarters to the end of Q2 2022, the UAE and Saudi Arabia were the UK’s 23rd and 25th largest trading partners, respectively. The Bank of England expects the recession to last for at least the whole of 2023 and the first half of 2024.
United States
The United States of America, also known as America or the USA, is a country comprised of 50 states and several overseas territories. Mountains, rivers, and plains are major physical features of the United States. Washington, the capital of the United States of America, has a land area of 9.8 million square kilometers (3.8 million square miles) and a population of 316 million people. When compared to other countries in the Better Life Index, the country’s quality of life index is 166.08, indicating that it performs well in many dimensions of well-being. The United States is a federal system founded on the Constitution, with 1.195 million active-duty military personnel. Current dollar GDP increased 6.7 percent year on year, or $414.8 billion, to $25.66 trillion in the third quarter. The United States has abundant supplies of coal, copper, and the United States is a major exporter of technology, consumer goods, information systems, and foodstuffs, and it is the world’s second-largest importer, with consumer goods, industrial supplies, and food being the main imports in 2022. The European Union was the top trading partner of the United States in 2021, followed by Canada, Mexico and China. Since 2009, the UAE has been the top export market for US goods throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Bilateral trade will total $23.03 billion in 2021, with the US exporting more than $17 billion in goods and services to the UAE. The central bank predicts a moderate US recession beginning in early 2023, with annual US GDP falling 0.2 percent.
Sources: World Population Review, Numbeo, World Bank, worldometers.info, numbeo.com, IMF and CIA
(Compiled by Wadad Mogharbel)