Updated
Overview
The United Arab Emirates has about 55% more people than Hong Kong: 11.51 million against 7.50 million (2025).
The United Arab Emirates' economy is 29% larger than Hong Kong's, at $552.32B versus $427.31B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Arab Emirates | Hong Kong | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $552.32B | $427.31B | 2024 / 2025 | $537.08B / $407.11B |
| GDP per capita | $50,274 | Higher: $56,983 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.0% | 3.5% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.3% | 1.4% | 2025 | 1.7% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 63 | 71 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $888 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.17 | $3.25 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 11.51 million | 7.50 million | 2025 | 10.09 million / 7.31 million |
| Population growth | 4.7% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.6 yrs | 47.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 0.73 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.1 yrs | Higher: 85.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 83,600 km² | 1,104 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 137.7/km² | 6792.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 222 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.1 t | Lower: 4.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $22.76B | — | 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 5.6% | — | 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 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 3.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates and 1.4% in Hong Kong.
People and society
The United Arab Emirates is the far younger society: median age 31.6 versus 47.4 years.
Life expectancy is 2.3 years longer in Hong Kong (85.4 vs 83.1).
Hong Kong is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 86%.
Geography
By land area, the United Arab Emirates is 76 times the size of Hong Kong: 83,600 km² versus 1,104 km².
Hong Kong is far more densely settled: 6792 people per km² against 138.
Frequently asked
- Is the United Arab Emirates bigger than Hong Kong?
- The United Arab Emirates is larger by land area. The United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km² while Hong Kong covers 1,104 km², so the United Arab Emirates is 76 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Arab Emirates or Hong Kong?
- The United Arab Emirates has the larger population: 11.51 million versus 7.50 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Arab Emirates richer than Hong Kong?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Hong Kong is richer: $56,983 against $50,274. Total GDP tells a different story: $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates versus $427.31B for Hong Kong.
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