Updated
Overview
The United Arab Emirates has 14% more people than Israel: 11.51 million against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is 11% larger than the United Arab Emirates', at $610.78B versus $552.32B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $50,274 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Arab Emirates | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $552.32B | Higher: $610.78B | 2024 / 2025 | $537.08B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $50,274 | Higher: $60,337 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.0% | 2.9% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.3% | 3.0% | 2025 | 1.7% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 63 | 101 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $3,383 | — / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $1,589 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.17 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 11.51 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 10.09 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | 4.7% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 31.6 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.1 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 83,600 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 137.7/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 222 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.1 t | Lower: 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $22.76B | $46.51B | 2014 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 5.6% | 8.8% | 2014 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 63,000 | 178,000 | 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 2.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates and 3.0% in Israel.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the United Arab Emirates: a price level of 63 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Israel is the younger society: median age 29.2 versus 31.6 years.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Arab Emirates (100% vs 88% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the United Arab Emirates is 4.0 times the size of Israel: 83,600 km² versus 20,770 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 138.
Military
Israel spends 2.0 times as much on defence as the United Arab Emirates: $46.51B versus $22.76B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 5.6%.
Israel fields the larger armed forces: 178,000 personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Arab Emirates bigger than Israel?
- The United Arab Emirates is larger by land area. The United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so the United Arab Emirates is 4.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Arab Emirates or Israel?
- The United Arab Emirates has the larger population: 11.51 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Arab Emirates richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $50,274. Total GDP tells the same story: $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Arab Emirates or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $22.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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