Updated
Overview
France has 6.0 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 68.72 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
France's economy is 6.1 times the size of the United Arab Emirates', at $3.37T versus $552.32B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $3.16T / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $48,986 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 1.3% | 2025 | 2.0% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $5,024 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,036 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.0 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 264 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 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
The United Arab Emirates is growing much faster: 4.0% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the United Arab Emirates: a price level of 63 versus 77 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
The United Arab Emirates is the far younger society: median age 31.6 versus 42.3 years.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Arab Emirates (100% vs 89% of the population).
Geography
By land area, France is 7.7 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 643,801 km² versus 83,600 km².
Military
France spends 2.8 times as much on defence as the United Arab Emirates: $64.68B versus $22.76B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 2.1%.
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- France is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so France is 7.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or the United Arab Emirates?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $48,986. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.37T for France versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, France or the United Arab Emirates?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $22.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
Related comparisons
Full profiles
Every comparison for France · United Arab Emirates