Updated
Overview
The United States has 30 times the population of the United Arab Emirates: 341.78 million people against 11.51 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 56 times the size of the United Arab Emirates', at $30.77T versus $552.32B.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $50,274 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | United Arab Emirates | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $552.32B | 2025 / 2024 | $29.18T / $537.08B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $50,274 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.2% | Higher: 4.0% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 1.3% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 63 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $6,273 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,257 | — | 2026 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $5.17 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 11.51 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 10.09 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 31.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 83,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 137.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 222 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 14.2 t | 20.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $22.76B | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 5.6% | 2024 / 2014 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 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 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the United Arab Emirates: a price level of 63 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
The United Arab Emirates is the younger society: median age 31.6 versus 38.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.2 years longer in the United Arab Emirates (83.1 vs 78.9).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 118 times the size of the United Arab Emirates: 9,833,517 km² versus 83,600 km².
The United Arab Emirates is far more densely settled: 138 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 44 times as much on defence as the United Arab Emirates: $997.31B versus $22.76B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Arab Emirates carries the heavier military burden: 5.6% of GDP versus 3.4%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 63,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than the United Arab Emirates?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while the United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², so the United States is 118 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 11.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than the United Arab Emirates?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $50,274. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $552.32B for the United Arab Emirates.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or the United Arab Emirates?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $22.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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