United Arab Emirates vs Iran
Every indicator for United Arab Emirates and Iran side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Arab Emirates | Iran | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,513,149 | 92,417,681 | −87.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 552 | 363 | +52.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 50,274 | 3,924 | +1,181.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.1 | 77.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 98,648 | 1,745,150 | −94.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 117 | 53 | +120.4% |
| Median age (years) | — | 33.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 100.0 | 85.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.2 | 8.3 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.3 | 42.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 86.0 | 77.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | — | 7,892 | — |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | — | 2.01 | — |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | — | 12.55 | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | — | 85 | — |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 63,000 | 650,000 | −90.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.5 | 7.0 | −22.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.02 | 2.35 | −56.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Arab Emirates relative to Iran; a positive value favors United Arab Emirates. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Iran is higher on 5 of the 8 indicators, while United Arab Emirates leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in area, about 18 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 1,745,150 against United Arab Emirates's 98,648 — roughly 18 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: United Arab Emirates stands at 50,274 against Iran's 3,924 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 650,000 against United Arab Emirates's 63,000 — roughly 10 times as much.
- Iran's population (2025) (92,417,681) is about 8.0 times United Arab Emirates's (11,513,149).
- Iran's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.35) is about 2.3 times United Arab Emirates's (1.02).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Arab Emirates and Iran differ most?
Where are United Arab Emirates and Iran most alike?
On how many indicators is United Arab Emirates ahead of Iran?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United Arab Emirates or Iran.
United Arab Emirates profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.