GDP Per Capita (in U.S. dollars)
Country GDP per Capita
United Arab Emirates $43,100
Kuwait $32,370
Iran $6,900
Jordan $4,280
Sudan $595
Why might there be such a drastic difference in the per capita GDP of these selected countries of Southwest Asia (the Middle East) and North Africa?
Responses
A access to waterwaysaccess to waterways
B access to oil fieldsaccess to oil fields
C environmental disastersenvironmental disasters
D foreign invasionforeign invasion
E lack of urban areas
The correct answer to this question is B: Access to oil fields.
The countries with higher per capita GDP, such as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, are rich in oil reserves and have heavily invested in oil extraction and exportation. On the other hand, countries like Sudan and Jordan do not have significant oil reserves and have economies based on agriculture and other industries. Iran, although it has oil, has faced economic sanctions and political instability, affecting its GDP. Therefore, the access to oil fields is the main reason for the drastic difference in per capita GDP in these selected countries of Southwest Asia and North Africa.
The most likely reason for the drastic difference in per capita GDP among these selected countries of Southwest Asia (the Middle East) and North Africa is B) access to oil fields.
Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have a high per capita GDP due to their significant reserves and production of oil. Oil exports play a major role in their economies and contribute to their high incomes. These countries have been able to leverage their oil resources to develop infrastructure, invest in education and healthcare, and attract foreign investments.
On the other hand, countries like Iran, Jordan, and Sudan have lower per capita GDP due to a lack of substantial oil reserves or limited access to oil fields. Without the revenue generated from oil exports, these countries face challenges in financing their development and improving the living standards of their citizens.
While other factors such as access to waterways, environmental disasters, foreign invasion, and lack of urban areas can also contribute to differences in economic development, the presence or absence of significant oil resources is likely the primary driver of the drastic differences in per capita GDP among these selected countries in this region.