Muscat, February 01 (QNA) - The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states vividly ranked ninth globally in terms of nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2024, with a total of almost USD 2.3 trillion, GCC Statistical Centre (GCC‑Stat) revealed in data on Sunday.

In its publication, "Statistics of the GCC at a Glance -2024", which encompasses a wide diversity of indicators, GCC‑Stat highlighted the resilience and robustness of the Gulf economies, advancing across numerous global benchmarks, alongside notable improvements in demographic, social, energy, and tourism sectors.

The data further indicated the continued upsurge of per‑capita GDP for GCC states, reflecting persistent economic strength relative to the global average during 2016-2024.

In the field of foreign trade, the center demonstrated that the GCC achieved preeminent global standings, ranking among the largest exporting and importing countries in 2024, with a trade surplus of USD 109.7 billion, a figure reflecting the strength of the export base and the flexibility of supply chains across the Gulf.

Regarding public finances, government revenues reached roughly USD 659.3 billion, versus government expenditures of USD 670.2 billion in 2024, resulting in a limited budget deficit, which underscores the efficiency of Gulf states in managing fiscal policies despite global economic fluctuations.

On demographics, GCC‑Stat reported that the total population of GCC states reached almost 61.5 million in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 3.3% between 2020 and 2024, and males comprising 62.7% of the total population.

Vital indicators revealed a decline in mortality rates and an improvement in natural population increase, alongside relative stability in marriage and divorce rates.

In the healthcare sector, GCC states came to record highs in terms of hospitals, physicians, and hospital beds per 10,000 population compared with the global average, reflecting the sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and improved quality of services.

In the energy sector, the GCC occupied leading global positions in crude oil and natural gas production and reserves in 2024, with average crude oil production at almost 16.1 million barrels per day, alongside notable growth in electricity production and consumption.

The GCC states continue to invest in education by increasing the number of schools and teachers across all levels, while maintaining reliance on desalination and water reuse as primary sources to meet rising demand, GCC‑Stat underlined.

In tourism, the number of visitors to GCC states increased, followed by an upsurge in the number of hotels, reflecting the recovery of the tourism sector and its role in supporting economic diversification, the data revealed.

Regarding the Human Development Index (HDI) for 2025, the center noted that GCC states ranked among the top globally, highlighting improvements in living standards, education, and health for their populations.

Oman-based GCC‑Stat was established as the official authority for data and statistics of the GCC member states, and it continues to play a central role in advancing statistical work and information systems for national statistical offices and planning agencies. (QNA)