Updated
Overview
Japan has 11 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 123.37 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 8.0 times the size of the United Arab Emirates', at $4.44T versus $552.32B.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $4.03T / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 2.7% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 2.5% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | — | 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 7.8 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 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 faster: 4.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.
People and society
The United Arab Emirates is the far younger society: median age 31.6 versus 49.8 years.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Arab Emirates (100% vs 86% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Japan is 4.5 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 377,930 km² versus 83,600 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 138.
Military
Japan spends 2.4 times as much on defence as the United Arab Emirates: $55.27B 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 1.4%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Japan is 4.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or the United Arab Emirates?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or the United Arab Emirates?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $22.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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