Updated
Overview
Peru has 3.0 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 34.58 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
The United Arab Emirates' economy is about 65% larger than Peru's, at $552.32B versus $334.85B.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $334.85B | Higher: $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $289.22B / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $9,684 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.4% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.5% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 2.0% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $563 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $273 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 82% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 70 Mt | 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 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 3.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Peru and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Peru: a price level of 51 versus 63 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 30.2 (Peru) and 31.6 (the United Arab Emirates).
Life expectancy is 5.1 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in the United Arab Emirates (100% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Peru is 15 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 1,285,216 km² versus 83,600 km².
The United Arab Emirates is far more densely settled: 138 people per km² against 27.
Military
The United Arab Emirates spends 8.9 times as much on defence as Peru: $22.76B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Peru is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Peru is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or the United Arab Emirates?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United Arab Emirates spends more: $22.76B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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