The geographically accurate cartogram above represents the borders of the nations in the region based on their per capita GDP. Qatar becomes the largest state in the region by far and is nearly double the size of the second largest state.

Findings

Bahrain gains the most territory in both absolute and relative terms as it grows by 55,183%.

Saudi Arabia cedes the most territory.

Iraq gains the most territory and becomes the largest state in the region.

Yemen loses the most land percentage-wise.

Caveats

The borders represent the area of the country if it were based on per capita GDP. The location of the states on the map is irrelevant.

Details

Several countries grow to more than twice their size including (in descending order of growth) Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE.

The only countries to give up more than half of their territory are Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Data

State Per Capita GDP Existing Area (sq km) Projected Area (based on per capita GDP) Percent Change in Area Qatar 127,660 11,545 995,810 8,525 Kuwait 71,887 17,365 535,791 2,985 United Arab Emirates 67,871 70,753 513,544 626 Saudi Arabia 55,158 1,925,523 412,985 -79 Bahrain 50,704 685 378,690 55,183 Oman 46,698 308,946 365,683 18 Iraq 17,944 436,994 122,113 -72 Yemen 2,375 453,501 19,320 -96

Sources

"Report for Selected Country Groups and Subjects (PPP Valuation of Country GDP)." http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2017/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=43&pr.y=5&sy=2016&ey=2016&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C672%2C914%2C946%2C612%2C137%2C614%2C546%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C836%2C918%2C558%2C748%2C138%2C618%2C196%2C624%2C278%2C522%2C692%2C622%2C694%2C156%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C565%2C924%2C283%2C233%2C853%2C632%2C288%2C636%2C293%2C634%2C566%2C238%2C964%2C662%2C182%2C960%2C359%2C423%2C453%2C935%2C968%2C128%2C922%2C611%2C714%2C321%2C862%2C243%2C135%2C248%2C716%2C469%2C456%2C253%2C722%2C642%2C942%2C643%2C718%2C939%2C724%2C644%2C576%2C819%2C936%2C172%2C961%2C132%2C813%2C646%2C199%2C648%2C733%2C915%2C184%2C134%2C524%2C652%2C361%2C174%2C362%2C328%2C364%2C258%2C732%2C656%2C366%2C654%2C734%2C336%2C144%2C263%2C146%2C268%2C463%2C532%2C528%2C944%2C923%2C176%2C738%2C534%2C578%2C536%2C537%2C429%2C742%2C433%2C866%2C178%2C369%2C436%2C744%2C136%2C186%2C343%2C925%2C158%2C869%2C439%2C746%2C916%2C926%2C664%2C466%2C826%2C112%2C542%2C111%2C967%2C298%2C443%2C927%2C917%2C846%2C544%2C299%2C941%2C582%2C446%2C474%2C666%2C754%2C668%2C698&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a=. International Monetary Fund.