Updated
Overview
Spain has 4.3 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 49.36 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
Spain's economy is 3.5 times the size of the United Arab Emirates', at $1.91T versus $552.32B.
Per person, the United Arab Emirates is the wealthier of the two: $50,274 against $38,627 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Spain | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.91T | $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $1.72T / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | $38,627 | Higher: $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.8% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.7% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 | 2.8% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 10.4% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,574 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,561 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 49.36 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 47.28 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.9 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 505,992 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 97.5/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 220 Mt | 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.6 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.62B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 199,000 | 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 2.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.7% in Spain 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 45.9 years.
Geography
By land area, Spain is 6.1 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 505,992 km² versus 83,600 km².
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $24.62B (Spain) and $22.76B (the United Arab Emirates).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Spain bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- Spain is larger by land area. Spain covers 505,992 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so Spain is 6.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Spain or the United Arab Emirates?
- Spain has the larger population: 49.36 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Spain richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Arab Emirates is richer: $50,274 against $38,627. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.91T for Spain versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, Spain or the United Arab Emirates?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $22.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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