Israel and Egypt
The 1979 peace treaty is a fundamental institutional connection, while Gaza and the border add severe tensions. Egyptian mediation has its own objectives and participants. A formal diplomatic relationship does not equate to social closeness or agreement on all military operations.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07The 1979 peace treaty
The Israeli historical record recalls the signing by Begin and Sadat in Washington.
Border and cooperation have their own functions
Geography makes transit, border security and Sinai and Gaza affairs relevant.
The tensions documented in August 2026
The declaration shows a recent issue distinct from the historical treaty.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 560.11 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR |
| Goods: Israel to Egypt | 202.1 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR |
| Goods: Egypt to Israel | 358 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Israel to Egypt | 0.34 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR |
| Export share: Egypt to Israel | ||
| Investment stock: Israel in Egypt | ||
| Investment stock: Egypt in Israel |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR · Goods; full year; reporting country ISR. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Goods: Israel to Egypt
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR · Goods; full year; reporting country ISR. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Goods: Egypt to Israel
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR · Goods; full year; reporting country ISR. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Export share: Israel to Egypt
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / ISR · Goods share: ISR exports to the partner / exports by the same reporting country to the world, in the same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Israel | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 610.78 billion USD2025 · WB | 365.25 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 60,336.85 USD2025 · WB | 3,085.81 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 2.93 %2025 · WB | 4.39 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 3.25 %2026-09-01 · BoI | |
| Inflation · annual average | 3.04 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 14.07 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 1.5 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · CBS Israel | 14.5 %Urban headline CPI · 2026-08 · year-on-year · CBE / CAPMASUrban coverage; not national CPI |
| Unemployment | 3.49 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 6.78 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -5.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -6.6 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 68.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 86.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 1.4 %2025 · WB | -3.82 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 10,122,8002025 · WB | 118,365,9952025 · WB |
| Area | 22,070 km²2023 · WB | 1,001,450 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDIsrael: 2025 · World BankEgypt: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personIsrael: 2025 · World BankEgypt: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Israel: 2025 · World BankEgypt: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Israel: 2026-09-01 · Bank of Israel official interest rate · Bank of Israel · Published: 2026-09-01 · Monetary Committee decision of 1 September 2026; next decision announced for 21 October.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Israel: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World BankEgypt: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedIsrael: 2026-08 · Change in headline CPI against the same month of the previous year (%) · Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics · Published: 2026-09-15 · Column relative to August 2025: 1.5%. Not the monthly increase (0.7%) or cumulative increase since December 2025 (2.1%).Egypt: 2026-08 · CAPMAS urban headline CPI; year-on-year change · CBE / CAPMAS · Published: 2026-09-10 · Explicit urban coverage, distinct from other countries' national CPI; core inflation is not used. Official statement verified in the search index; the CBE server blocks direct access. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionIsrael: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Egypt: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Israel: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Egypt: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Israel: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Egypt: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPIsrael: 2025 · World BankEgypt: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Population
- PeopleIsrael: 2025 · World BankEgypt: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceIsrael: 2023 · Area according to the series' coverage; does not determine sovereignty or effective control · World BankEgypt: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Israel to Egypt
Egypt to Israel
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 2.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 2.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 0.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 0.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
Connections between people
Education, work, visits and community connections have their own records and procedures. Residents are not equivalent to annual arrivals, and visits may be repeated. The tables retain dates, definitions and sources to distinguish these connections from business contracts and government decisions. [2]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Israel living in Egypt | ||
| Residents from Egypt living in Israel | ||
| Study and training: Israel in Egypt | ||
| Study and training: Egypt in Israel | ||
| Academic stays: Israel in Egypt | ||
| Academic stays: Egypt in Israel | ||
| Travel: Israel to Egypt | ||
| Travel: Egypt to Israel |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
The 1979 peace treaty
The Israeli historical record recalls the signing by Begin and Sadat in Washington. The instrument ended a period of wars and established a new diplomatic architecture. Its formal obligations must be distinguished from social opinions and subsequent governmental policies. The treaty's existence does not make all security contacts a complete identity of national priorities. [1]
Border and cooperation have their own functions
Geography makes transit, border security and Sinai and Gaza affairs relevant. Historical normalization and day-to-day border management require different instruments and authorities. Goods figures do not capture all people movements or establish every crossing authorization. A peace agreement does not prove the absence of all diplomatic tension or operational controversy either. [1]
Mediation on Gaza
Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye published a joint declaration on 3 August 2026 on breaches they attribute to Israel in Gaza. The communication calls for international pressure and compliance with obligations and the ceasefire agreement. Those claims are attributed to the mediators without presenting them as an independent report verifying all incidents. [2]
The scale of the two economies
Israel recorded nominal GDP of USD 610.8 billion in 2025, compared with 365.3 in 2025 for Egypt. The reference populations were 10.12 million (2025) and 118.37 million (2025), respectively. In the same year, Israel's nominal GDP was 1.67 times Egypt's. The figures contextualize market size; they do not in themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or demographic extrapolations retain their markings in the table. A ratio is not calculated when the periods do not match. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
The tensions documented in August 2026
The declaration shows a recent issue distinct from the historical treaty. Mediation, trade and border cooperation can coexist with intense political disagreement. The 2025 values predate that communication and are not interpreted as a measure of current trust. The profile separates institutional obligations, public positions and economic activity instead of justifying a label solely through the treaty. [2]
Observed economic exchange
In 2025, goods recorded between Israel and Egypt totaled 560.1 million USD. Israel's shipments to Egypt were USD 202.1 million; shipments in the opposite direction were USD 358 million. Israel's shipments to the partner represented 0.34% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporting country. A single customs declaration is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or subsidiaries' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [3]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.
- Background to the 1979 peace treaty
Government of Israel / historical record · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Mediators' declaration on Gaza
Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs / joint declaration · Institutional source · Document: 2026-08-03 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 376; partners 0,818,400
UN Comtrade / ISR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 84; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / ISR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 85; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / ISR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 87; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / ISR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 27; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / ISR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 30; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / ISR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / ISR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / ISR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 27; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / ISR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / ISR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 85; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / ISR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 30; 2025; reporter 376; partners 818,400; X/M; annual goods.