Updated
Overview
Egypt has 10 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 118.37 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
The United Arab Emirates' economy is about 50% larger than Egypt's, at $552.32B versus $365.25B.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $389.06B / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 28.3% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 63,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (4.4% for Egypt, 4.0% for the United Arab Emirates).
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 1.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 63 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Egypt is the younger society: median age 24.5 versus 31.6 years.
Life expectancy is 11.3 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 71.8).
The United Arab Emirates is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Arab Emirates (100% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 12 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 1,002,450 km² versus 83,600 km².
Military
The United Arab Emirates spends 9.5 times as much on defence as Egypt: $22.76B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Egypt is 12 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or the United Arab Emirates?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United Arab Emirates spends more: $22.76B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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