Updated
Overview
Germany has 7.3 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 83.49 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 9.1 times the size of the United Arab Emirates', at $5.05T versus $552.32B.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $50,274 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $4.66T / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.2% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 2.3% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 3.7% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $4,647 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,442 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 80.8 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 572 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.8 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 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 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.2% in Germany 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 80 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
The United Arab Emirates is the far younger society: median age 31.6 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 2.3 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 80.8).
Geography
By land area, Germany is 4.3 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 357,114 km² versus 83,600 km².
Military
Germany spends 3.9 times as much on defence as the United Arab Emirates: $88.46B 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 1.9%.
Germany fields the larger armed forces: 183,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Germany is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Germany is 4.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or the United Arab Emirates?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $50,274. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or the United Arab Emirates?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $22.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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