United Arab Emirates vs China
Every indicator for United Arab Emirates and China side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Arab Emirates | China | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,513,149 | 1,406,585,000 | −99.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 552 | 19,498 | −97.2% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 50,274 | 13,862 | +262.7% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.1 | 78.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 98,648 | 9,562,910 | −99.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 117 | 147 | −20.7% |
| Median age (years) | — | 39.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 100.0 | 91.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.2 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.3 | 0.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 86.0 | 66.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | — | 313,658 | — |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | — | 1.71 | — |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | — | 5.06 | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | — | 223 | — |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 63,000 | 2,535,000 | −97.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.5 | 1.8 | +203.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.02 | 0.33 | +209.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Arab Emirates relative to China; a positive value favors United Arab Emirates. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 5 of the 8 indicators, while United Arab Emirates leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in population (2025), about 122 times; they are closest on population density.
Key differences
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against United Arab Emirates's 11,513,149 — roughly 122 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against United Arab Emirates's 98,648 — roughly 97 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against United Arab Emirates's 63,000 — roughly 40 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against United Arab Emirates's 552 — roughly 35 times as much.
- United Arab Emirates's gdp per capita (50,274) is about 3.6 times China's (13,862).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Arab Emirates and China differ most?
Where are United Arab Emirates and China most alike?
On how many indicators is United Arab Emirates ahead of China?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
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United Arab Emirates profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.