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Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan has a population of 42.6M (ranked 36/197), compared with 11M in The United Arab Emirates (ranked 86/197). Afghanistan's land area is 251,827 sq mi versus 27,421 sq mi for The United Arab Emirates (ranked 40th vs. 117th).

By GDP, Afghanistan ranks 137/197 ($17.2B) and The United Arab Emirates ranks 27/197 ($552B). By GDP per capita, Afghanistan ranks 196/197 ($414), while The United Arab Emirates ranks 24/197 ($50,274).

Main facts and rankings

Afghanistan UAE
Population
45409324
11686438
Population rank 36/197 84/197
GDP
$17.2B
2023
$552B
2024
GDP rank 137/197 27/197
GDP per capita
$414
2023
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank 196/197 24/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,202
2023
$79,229
2024
Government debt
$1.44B
2023
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
8.8%
2024
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$34.8
2023
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank 185/185 36/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,869
2026
$40,522
2026
Land area 251,827 sq mi 27,421 sq mi
Population density
179 ppl/mi²
2026
424 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.84
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
18.2 years
2024
32.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
83.4 years
2026

Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates: Comparison Charts

Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP
Afghanistan

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP
Afghanistan UAE
2024 - $552,324,846,835
2023 $17,152,234,637 $522,622,191,967
2022 $14,497,243,872 $511,403,403,676
2021 $14,259,995,441 $422,441,388,700
2020 $19,955,929,052 $357,161,878,829
2019 $18,799,444,490 $433,926,208,305
2018 $18,053,222,687 $440,560,108,918
2017 $18,753,456,498 $403,365,010,211
2016 $18,116,572,395 $381,717,086,453
2015 $19,134,221,645 $381,973,042,886
2014 $20,497,128,556 $424,935,874,745
2013 $20,146,416,758 $409,632,675,289
2012 $19,907,329,778 $392,793,464,942
2011 $17,805,098,206 $368,881,143,635
2010 $15,856,668,556 $307,736,419,333
2009 $12,416,152,732 $253,547,358,747
2008 $10,109,297,048 $315,474,615,739
2007 $9,747,886,187 $257,916,133,424
2006 $6,971,758,282 $222,116,541,865
2005 $6,203,256,539 $180,617,467,965
2004 $5,224,896,719 $147,824,370,320
2003 $4,520,946,819 $124,346,358,067
2002 $3,825,701,439 $109,816,201,498
2001 $2,813,571,754 $103,311,640,572
2000 $3,521,418,060 $104,337,372,362
1999 - $84,445,473,111
1998 - $75,674,336,283
1997 - $78,839,008,445
1996 - $73,571,233,996
1995 - $65,743,666,576
1994 - $59,305,093,980
1993 - $55,625,170,253
1992 - $54,239,171,888
1991 - $51,552,165,622
1990 - $50,701,443,748
1989 - $41,464,995,914
1988 - $36,275,674,203
1987 - $36,384,908,744
1986 - $33,943,612,095
1985 - $40,603,650,232
1984 - $41,807,954,236
1983 - $42,803,323,345
1982 - $46,622,718,605
1981 - $49,333,424,135
1980 - $43,599,160,050
1979 - $31,225,659,621
1978 - $23,775,764,225
1977 - $24,871,775,165
1976 - $19,213,158,779
1975 - $14,720,728,249
1974 - $11,651,505,689
1973 - $4,231,243,616
1972 - $1,415,086,929
1971 - $939,893,600
1970 - $685,986,701

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP per capita
Afghanistan

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP per capita
Afghanistan UAE
2024 - $50,274
2023 $414 $49,851
2022 $357 $50,760
2021 $356 $44,119
2020 $511 $37,992
2019 $497 $45,939
2018 $491 $47,135
2017 $525 $43,734
2016 $522 $42,721
2015 $566 $44,910
2014 $625 $52,725
2013 $637 $53,247
2012 $651 $53,142
2011 $607 $51,922
2010 $561 $44,795
2009 $452 $37,803
2008 $382 $50,054
2007 $376 $45,855
2006 $274.2 $44,343
2005 $254.2 $38,719
2004 $221.8 $33,377
2003 $198.9 $29,660
2002 $179 $27,754
2001 $138.7 $27,745
2000 $174.9 $29,866
1999 - $25,856
1998 - $24,889
1997 - $27,983
1996 - $28,323
1995 - $27,003
1994 - $25,473
1993 - $25,033
1992 - $25,648
1991 - $25,691
1990 - $26,710
1989 - $23,167
1988 - $21,570
1987 - $23,113
1986 - $23,132
1985 - $29,468
1984 - $32,012
1983 - $34,650
1982 - $39,972
1981 - $44,854
1980 - $42,925
1979 - $34,238
1978 - $29,379
1977 - $35,020
1976 - $31,197
1975 - $27,117
1974 - $23,823
1973 - $9,696
1972 - $3,675
1971 - $2,805
1970 - $2,394

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Afghanistan vs. United Arab Emirates life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Afghanistan

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Afghanistan UAE
2026 66.8 83.4
2025 66.5 83.2
2024 66.3 83.1
2023 66 82.9
2022 65.6 80.5
2021 60.4 79.1
2020 61.5 81.9
2019 62.9 82.6
2018 62.4 82.4
2017 62.4 82.4
2016 62.6 82.2
2015 62.3 82.1
2014 62.3 82
2013 62.2 82
2012 61.7 81.9
2011 61.3 81.9
2010 60.7 81.9
2009 60.2 81.7
2008 59.7 81.6
2007 59 81.4
2006 58.6 81.2
2005 58.2 80.8
2004 57.8 80.3
2003 57.2 79.6
2002 56.2 78.7
2001 55.5 77.6
2000 55 76.3
1999 54.5 75
1998 52.5 73.7
1997 53.2 72.6
1996 52.8 71.8
1995 52.1 71.4
1994 51 71.2
1993 51 71.2
1992 46.6 71.2
1991 45.5 71.1
1990 45.1 71.1
1989 44.5 71
1988 43.2 70.8
1987 38.8 70.6
1986 38.4 70.4
1985 32.1 70.1
1984 31.5 69.8
1983 36.5 69.4
1982 36.1 69.1
1981 39.4 68.6
1980 39.3 68.2
1979 38.8 67.6
1978 40.1 67.1
1977 41.1 66.5
1976 40.5 65.8
1975 40 65.1
1974 39.5 64.4
1973 39 63.5
1972 38.4 62.7
1971 37.9 61.8
1970 37.5 60.8
1969 37 59.8
1968 36.5 58.7
1967 36 57.6
1966 35.6 56.6
1965 35.1 55.5
1964 34.7 54.5
1963 34.2 53.5
1962 33.8 52.5
1961 33.3 51.6
1960 32.8 50.7
1959 32.3 49.7
1958 31.8 48.8
1957 31.3 47.8
1956 30.8 46.9
1955 30.4 46
1954 29.7 45.2
1953 29.5 44.4
1952 29 43.6
1951 28.6 42.9
1950 28.2 42.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates population clocks and comparison

Population
Afghanistan

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan UAE
2024 42,647,492 10,986,400
2023 41,454,761 10,483,751
2022 40,578,842 10,074,977
2021 40,000,412 9,575,152
2020 39,068,979 9,401,038
2019 37,856,121 9,445,785
2018 36,743,039 9,346,701
2017 35,688,935 9,223,225
2016 34,700,612 8,935,095
2015 33,831,764 8,505,237
2014 32,792,523 8,059,440
2013 31,622,704 7,693,031
2012 30,560,034 7,391,448
2011 29,347,708 7,104,538
2010 28,284,089 6,869,838
2009 27,466,101 6,707,058
2008 26,482,622 6,302,664
2007 25,909,852 5,624,635
2006 25,424,094 5,009,100
2005 24,404,567 4,664,790
2004 23,560,654 4,428,967
2003 22,733,049 4,192,457
2002 21,378,117 3,956,826
2001 20,284,307 3,723,590
2000 20,130,327 3,493,575
1999 19,887,785 3,266,009
1998 19,159,996 3,040,421
1997 18,452,091 2,817,410
1996 17,763,266 2,597,564
1995 17,065,836 2,434,662
1994 16,250,794 2,328,188
1993 14,943,172 2,222,093
1992 13,278,974 2,114,730
1991 12,238,879 2,006,626
1990 12,045,660 1,898,220
1989 11,874,088 1,789,851
1988 11,523,298 1,681,788
1987 11,387,818 1,574,244
1986 11,420,074 1,467,383
1985 11,426,852 1,377,911
1984 11,190,221 1,305,996
1983 10,917,982 1,235,305
1982 10,991,378 1,166,370
1981 11,937,581 1,099,855
1980 13,169,311 1,015,700
1979 13,655,567 912,010
1978 13,611,441 809,274
1977 13,340,756 710,209
1976 13,059,851 615,866
1975 12,773,954 542,856
1974 12,469,127 489,087
1973 12,157,999 436,399
1972 11,853,696 385,014
1971 11,567,667 335,027
1970 11,290,128 286,536
1969 11,017,409 239,660
1968 10,756,922 199,416
1967 10,505,959 179,700
1966 10,266,395 173,976
1965 10,036,008 167,103
1964 9,814,318 159,692
1963 9,604,487 152,211
1962 9,404,406 144,946
1961 9,214,083 137,989
1960 9,035,043 131,334

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Fertility rates in Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates

Fertility rate
Afghanistan

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Fertility rate
Afghanistan UAE
2023 4.84 1.2
2022 4.93 1.15
2021 5.04 1.16
2020 5.15 1.29
2019 5.24 1.25
2018 5.33 1.29
2017 5.43 1.35
2016 5.54 1.37
2015 5.65 1.42
2014 5.77 1.48
2013 5.88 1.53
2012 5.99 1.53
2011 6.09 1.54
2010 6.2 1.57
2009 6.3 1.58
2008 6.39 1.52
2007 6.51 1.79
2006 6.69 1.96
2005 6.86 2.23
2004 7.02 2.38
2003 7.17 2.49
2002 7.32 2.54
2001 7.45 2.62
2000 7.57 2.73
1999 7.64 2.79
1998 7.69 2.77
1997 7.73 2.83
1996 7.76 3.06
1995 7.77 3.28
1994 7.77 3.76
1993 7.76 3.82
1992 7.7 4.09
1991 7.63 4.25
1990 7.58 4.51
1989 7.56 4.65
1988 7.55 4.77
1987 7.55 4.88
1986 7.55 5
1985 7.55 5.13
1984 7.55 5.3
1983 7.57 5.48
1982 7.6 5.66
1981 7.62 5.81
1980 7.64 5.95
1979 7.61 6.06
1978 7.6 6.15
1977 7.59 6.22
1976 7.56 6.29
1975 7.54 6.35
1974 7.53 6.41
1973 7.49 6.46
1972 7.45 6.5
1971 7.43 6.52
1970 7.4 6.52
1969 7.39 6.52
1968 7.36 6.53
1967 7.34 6.51
1966 7.32 6.5
1965 7.31 6.5
1964 7.3 6.49
1963 7.3 6.5
1962 7.29 6.49
1961 7.28 6.49
1960 7.28 6.5

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates demographics compared

Median age
Afghanistan

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Median age, years
Afghanistan UAE
2024 18.2 32.6
2023 18 32.2
2022 17.8 31.9
2021 17.6 31.9
2020 17.5 31.8
2019 17.3 31.8
2018 17.1 31.8
2017 17 31.8
2016 16.8 31.8
2015 16.6 31.8
2014 16.4 31.8
2013 16.2 31.7
2012 16 31.7
2011 15.9 31.7
2010 15.7 31.7
2009 15.5 31.6
2008 15.3 31.6
2007 15.2 31.6
2006 15.1 31.4
2005 15 30.9
2004 14.9 30.3
2003 14.9 29.6
2002 14.9 29.1
2001 14.9 28.6
2000 15 28.2
1999 15.1 28
1998 15.2 27.9
1997 15.3 27.9
1996 15.5 28.1
1995 15.6 28
1994 15.7 27.4
1993 15.8 26.8
1992 15.9 26.4
1991 16 26
1990 16.1 25.8
1989 16.1 25.8
1988 16.2 25.9
1987 16.3 26.1
1986 16.3 26.5
1985 16.4 26.6
1984 16.5 26.4
1983 16.6 26.4
1982 16.7 26.4
1981 16.8 26.4
1980 16.9 26.2
1979 17 25.8
1978 17.2 25.5
1977 17.3 25.4
1976 17.4 25.6
1975 17.5 25.4
1974 17.6 24.7
1973 17.7 24.1
1972 17.8 23.6
1971 17.9 23.2
1970 18.1 23
1969 18.2 23.1
1968 18.3 23.5
1967 18.4 23.3
1966 18.5 22.6
1965 18.6 22
1964 18.6 21.5
1963 18.7 21
1962 18.8 20.6
1961 18.9 20.1
1960 18.9 19.6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Afghanistan UAE
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2023
$566B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.4%
2024
21.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.34%
2017
3.89%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.83%
2021
5.64%
2014
Armed forces personnel
165,000
2020
63,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.54%
2024
+6.41%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
1.88%
2024
Services, % of GDP
46.4%
2023
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
13.4%
2023
44.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
53
2021
71.9
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.8%
2018
Number of millionaires n/a
339,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
3.89%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
154
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.05T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
$238B
2024
Personal remittances received
$320M
2024
$1.8B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
8,084,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
5.08%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
9.65%
2021
85.7%
2021

Energy

Afghanistan UAE
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
8,336 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$9.01
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
12.1 megatons
2024
200.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.28 tons
2024
18.3 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
92.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
20%
2022
1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
7.24%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
-171.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
14,688 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
78.2%
2021
4.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
71.7%
2021
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
13.3%
2022
Electricity access
85.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Afghanistan UAE
% of world population
0.52%
2024
0.14%
2024
Annual migration change
-74,404
2025
+158,634
2025
Urban population
25.7%
2024
85.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.5:49.5
2024
63.9:36.1
2024
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.12 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
15.5
2026
84
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
16
2025
69
2025
Higher education index
20
2026
66
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.02
2021
0.75
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.9
2019
8.9
2019
Visa free countries
36
2025
181
2025
Adult literacy rate
37.3%
2021
98.8%
2024
English speaking
6%
2023
65%
2025
People using the Internet
17.7%
2023
100%
2024

Health

Afghanistan UAE
Government health expenditure per capita
$59.1
2023
$2,402
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$45.6
2023
$232.1
2023
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
83.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
21.2%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.32
2023
2.99
2023
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
521
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
55.5
2023
5
2023
Obesity rate
19.6%
2022
32.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.7%
2024
20.7%
2024
Air quality index
3
2026
11
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
22.7%
2022
9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.01 liters
2020
2.08 liters
2020

Territory

Afghanistan UAE
% of world land
0.44%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
5,905 sq mi
2024
2,496 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
147,167 sq mi
2026
1,512 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,666 sq mi
2026
1,225 sq mi
2026
Roads length
21,688 mi
2021
2,535 mi
2008

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2021–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.