Updated
Overview
Malaysia has 3.1 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 35.98 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
The United Arab Emirates' economy is 17% larger than Malaysia's, at $552.32B versus $472.19B.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Malaysia | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $472.19B | Higher: $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $421.97B / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $13,125 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.2% | 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.4% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 1.8% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $698 | — | 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $328 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.57 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.98 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 34.91 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.0 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.8 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 98% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 330,803 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 108.8/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 290 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.2 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.31B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 136,000 | 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
Malaysia is growing faster: 5.2% annual GDP growth versus 4.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Malaysia and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 63 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 31.0 (Malaysia) and 31.6 (the United Arab Emirates).
Life expectancy is 6.2 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 76.8).
Geography
By land area, Malaysia is 4.0 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 330,803 km² versus 83,600 km².
Military
The United Arab Emirates spends 5.3 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $22.76B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Malaysia fields the larger armed forces: 136,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Malaysia bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Malaysia is larger by land area. Malaysia covers 330,803 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Malaysia is 4.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates?
- Malaysia has the larger population: 35.98 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Malaysia richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $472.19B for Malaysia versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United Arab Emirates spends more: $22.76B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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