Updated
Overview
Russia has 12 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 143.51 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 4.6 times the size of the United Arab Emirates', at $2.56T versus $552.32B.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $2.17T / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 6.7% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 63 | 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | — | 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 94% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 12.3 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 1.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 63 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
The United Arab Emirates is the far younger society: median age 31.6 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 9.6 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 73.4).
The United Arab Emirates is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 205 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 17,098,242 km² versus 83,600 km².
The United Arab Emirates is far more densely settled: 138 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 6.5 times as much on defence as the United Arab Emirates: $148.97B versus $22.76B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 5.6%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Russia is 205 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or the United Arab Emirates?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or the United Arab Emirates?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $22.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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