Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has about 80% more people than the United Arab Emirates: 20.84 million against 11.51 million (2025).
The United Arab Emirates' economy is about 80% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $552.32B versus $306.24B.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $288.41B / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 8.8% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 13.9 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 4.0%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 1.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 63 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 29.7 (Kazakhstan) and 31.6 (the United Arab Emirates).
Life expectancy is 8.5 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 74.5).
The United Arab Emirates is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 33 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 2,724,900 km² versus 83,600 km².
The United Arab Emirates is far more densely settled: 138 people per km² against 8.
Military
The United Arab Emirates spends 19 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $22.76B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Kazakhstan is 33 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or the United Arab Emirates?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United Arab Emirates spends more: $22.76B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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