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China vs United Arab Emirates statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population of 1.41B (ranked 2/197), compared with 11M in The United Arab Emirates (ranked 86/197). China's land area is 3,624,808 sq mi versus 27,421 sq mi for The United Arab Emirates (ranked 2nd vs. 117th).

By GDP, China ranks 2/197 ($18.7T) and The United Arab Emirates ranks 27/197 ($552B). By GDP per capita, China ranks 76/197 ($13,303), while The United Arab Emirates ranks 24/197 ($50,274).

Main facts and rankings

China UAE
Population
1402578808
11686438
Population rank 2/197 84/197
GDP
$18.7T
2024
$552B
2024
GDP rank 2/197 27/197
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank 76/197 24/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$79,229
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank 47/185 36/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$40,522
2026
Land area 3,624,808 sq mi 27,421 sq mi
Population density
387 ppl/mi²
2026
424 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
40.6 years
2024
32.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
83.4 years
2026

China and United Arab Emirates: Comparison Charts

China and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP
China

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP
China UAE
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $552,324,846,835
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $522,622,191,967
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $511,403,403,676
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $422,441,388,700
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $357,161,878,829
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $433,926,208,305
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $440,560,108,918
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $403,365,010,211
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $381,717,086,453
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $381,973,042,886
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $424,935,874,745
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $409,632,675,289
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $392,793,464,942
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $368,881,143,635
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $307,736,419,333
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $253,547,358,747
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $315,474,615,739
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $257,916,133,424
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $222,116,541,865
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $180,617,467,965
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $147,824,370,320
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $124,346,358,067
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $109,816,201,498
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $103,311,640,572
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $104,337,372,362
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $84,445,473,111
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $75,674,336,283
1997 $967,753,570,435 $78,839,008,445
1996 $868,523,936,530 $73,571,233,996
1995 $738,190,896,228 $65,743,666,576
1994 $566,929,539,493 $59,305,093,980
1993 $446,557,291,212 $55,625,170,253
1992 $428,502,354,788 $54,239,171,888
1991 $384,510,452,962 $51,552,165,622
1990 $361,560,229,446 $50,701,443,748
1989 $348,380,566,802 $41,464,995,914
1988 $312,888,888,889 $36,275,674,203
1987 $273,455,156,951 $36,384,908,744
1986 $301,310,144,928 $33,943,612,095
1985 $310,064,625,850 $40,603,650,232
1984 $260,442,857,143 $41,807,954,236
1983 $231,130,268,199 $42,803,323,345
1982 $205,480,916,031 $46,622,718,605
1981 $196,218,253,968 $49,333,424,135
1980 $191,487,500,000 $43,599,160,050
1979 $178,573,913,043 $31,225,659,621
1978 $149,788,617,886 $23,775,764,225
1977 $175,226,595,860 $24,871,775,165
1976 $154,196,810,059 $19,213,158,779
1975 $163,687,619,736 $14,720,728,249
1974 $144,418,433,058 $11,651,505,689
1973 $138,764,340,892 $4,231,243,616
1972 $113,871,930,714 $1,415,086,929
1971 $99,959,013,880 $939,893,600
1970 $92,752,930,873 $685,986,701
1969 $79,847,786,729 -
1968 $70,980,323,819 -
1967 $73,011,350,596 -
1966 $76,854,053,259 -
1965 $70,565,994,356 -
1964 $59,821,862,703 -
1963 $50,812,227,919 -
1962 $47,310,737,754 -
1961 $50,162,299,350 -
1960 $59,846,235,025 -

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

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

China and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP per capita
China

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP per capita
China UAE
2024 $13,303 $50,274
2023 $12,951 $49,851
2022 $12,971 $50,760
2021 $12,887 $44,119
2020 $10,627 $37,992
2019 $10,343 $45,939
2018 $10,086 $47,135
2017 $8,980 $43,734
2016 $8,255 $42,721
2015 $8,175 $44,910
2014 $7,781 $52,725
2013 $7,147 $53,247
2012 $6,405 $53,142
2011 $5,704 $51,922
2010 $4,629 $44,795
2009 $3,898 $37,803
2008 $3,523 $50,054
2007 $2,735 $45,855
2006 $2,129 $44,343
2005 $1,778 $38,719
2004 $1,531 $33,377
2003 $1,307 $29,660
2002 $1,164 $27,754
2001 $1,065 $27,745
2000 $969 $29,866
1999 $881 $25,856
1998 $835 $24,889
1997 $787 $27,983
1996 $713 $28,323
1995 $613 $27,003
1994 $476 $25,473
1993 $379 $25,033
1992 $368 $25,648
1991 $334 $25,691
1990 $319 $26,710
1989 $311 $23,167
1988 $284 $21,570
1987 $252.3 $23,113
1986 $282.4 $23,132
1985 $295 $29,468
1984 $251.2 $32,012
1983 $225.9 $34,650
1982 $203.7 $39,972
1981 $197.4 $44,854
1980 $195.1 $42,925
1979 $184.3 $34,238
1978 $156.7 $29,379
1977 $185.7 $35,020
1976 $165.7 $31,197
1975 $178.6 $27,117
1974 $160.4 $23,823
1973 $157.3 $9,696
1972 $132.1 $3,675
1971 $118.8 $2,805
1970 $113.3 $2,394
1969 $100.3 -
1968 $91.6 -
1967 $96.8 -
1966 $104.5 -
1965 $98.7 -
1964 $85.7 -
1963 $74.5 -
1962 $71.1 -
1961 $76 -
1960 $89.7 -

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

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

China vs. United Arab Emirates life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
China

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
China UAE
2026 79 83.4
2025 78.4 83.2
2024 78 83.1
2023 78 82.9
2022 78.2 80.5
2021 78.1 79.1
2020 78 81.9
2019 77.9 82.6
2018 77.7 82.4
2017 77.2 82.4
2016 77.2 82.2
2015 77 82.1
2014 76.7 82
2013 76.5 82
2012 76.2 81.9
2011 75.9 81.9
2010 75.7 81.9
2009 75.3 81.7
2008 74.8 81.6
2007 74.8 81.4
2006 74.4 81.2
2005 74.1 80.8
2004 73.7 80.3
2003 73.4 79.6
2002 73 78.7
2001 72.7 77.6
2000 72.3 76.3
1999 72 75
1998 71.6 73.7
1997 71.2 72.6
1996 70.8 71.8
1995 70.4 71.4
1994 69.8 71.2
1993 69.5 71.2
1992 69.1 71.2
1991 68.6 71.1
1990 68.2 71.1
1989 67.9 71
1988 67.6 70.8
1987 67.3 70.6
1986 66.9 70.4
1985 66.5 70.1
1984 66.1 69.8
1983 65.7 69.4
1982 65.2 69.1
1981 64.8 68.6
1980 64.2 68.2
1979 63.7 67.6
1978 63.1 67.1
1977 62.5 66.5
1976 61.2 65.8
1975 61 65.1
1974 60.2 64.4
1973 59.5 63.5
1972 58.6 62.7
1971 57.7 61.8
1970 56.8 60.8
1969 56 59.8
1968 55.2 58.7
1967 54.4 57.6
1966 53.7 56.6
1965 53 55.5
1964 52.3 54.5
1963 51.7 53.5
1962 51 52.5
1961 40.2 51.6
1960 33.4 50.7
1959 40.2 49.7
1958 48.8 48.8
1957 48.4 47.8
1956 47.8 46.9
1955 47.2 46
1954 46.8 45.2
1953 45.9 44.4
1952 45.3 43.6
1951 44.6 42.9
1950 43.8 42.1

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

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

China and United Arab Emirates population clocks and comparison

Population
China

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Population
China UAE
2024 1,408,975,000 10,986,400
2023 1,410,710,000 10,483,751
2022 1,412,175,000 10,074,977
2021 1,412,360,000 9,575,152
2020 1,411,100,000 9,401,038
2019 1,407,745,000 9,445,785
2018 1,402,760,000 9,346,701
2017 1,396,215,000 9,223,225
2016 1,387,790,000 8,935,095
2015 1,379,860,000 8,505,237
2014 1,371,860,000 8,059,440
2013 1,363,240,000 7,693,031
2012 1,354,190,000 7,391,448
2011 1,345,035,000 7,104,538
2010 1,337,705,000 6,869,838
2009 1,331,260,000 6,707,058
2008 1,324,655,000 6,302,664
2007 1,317,885,000 5,624,635
2006 1,311,020,000 5,009,100
2005 1,303,720,000 4,664,790
2004 1,296,075,000 4,428,967
2003 1,288,400,000 4,192,457
2002 1,280,400,000 3,956,826
2001 1,271,850,000 3,723,590
2000 1,262,645,000 3,493,575
1999 1,252,735,000 3,266,009
1998 1,241,935,000 3,040,421
1997 1,230,075,000 2,817,410
1996 1,217,550,000 2,597,564
1995 1,204,855,000 2,434,662
1994 1,191,835,000 2,328,188
1993 1,178,440,000 2,222,093
1992 1,164,970,000 2,114,730
1991 1,150,780,000 2,006,626
1990 1,135,185,000 1,898,220
1989 1,118,650,000 1,789,851
1988 1,101,630,000 1,681,788
1987 1,084,035,000 1,574,244
1986 1,066,790,000 1,467,383
1985 1,051,040,000 1,377,911
1984 1,036,825,000 1,305,996
1983 1,023,310,000 1,235,305
1982 1,008,630,000 1,166,370
1981 993,885,000 1,099,855
1980 981,235,000 1,015,700
1979 969,005,000 912,010
1978 956,165,000 809,274
1977 943,455,000 710,209
1976 930,685,000 615,866
1975 916,395,000 542,856
1974 900,350,000 489,087
1973 881,940,000 436,399
1972 862,030,000 385,014
1971 841,105,000 335,027
1970 818,315,000 286,536
1969 796,025,000 239,660
1968 774,510,000 199,416
1967 754,550,000 179,700
1966 735,400,000 173,976
1965 715,185,000 167,103
1964 698,355,000 159,692
1963 682,335,000 152,211
1962 665,770,000 144,946
1961 660,330,000 137,989
1960 667,070,000 131,334

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

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

Fertility rates in China and United Arab Emirates

Fertility rate
China

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Fertility rate
China UAE
2023 1 1.2
2022 1.03 1.15
2021 1.12 1.16
2020 1.24 1.29
2019 1.5 1.25
2018 1.54 1.29
2017 1.8 1.35
2016 1.77 1.37
2015 1.67 1.42
2014 1.77 1.48
2013 1.71 1.53
2012 1.8 1.53
2011 1.67 1.54
2010 1.69 1.57
2009 1.71 1.58
2008 1.7 1.52
2007 1.67 1.79
2006 1.64 1.96
2005 1.62 2.23
2004 1.61 2.38
2003 1.57 2.49
2002 1.57 2.54
2001 1.56 2.62
2000 1.63 2.73
1999 1.53 2.79
1998 1.52 2.77
1997 1.53 2.83
1996 1.55 3.06
1995 1.59 3.28
1994 1.63 3.76
1993 1.69 3.82
1992 1.78 4.09
1991 1.93 4.25
1990 2.51 4.51
1989 2.52 4.65
1988 2.54 4.77
1987 2.76 4.88
1986 2.72 5
1985 2.63 5.13
1984 2.61 5.3
1983 2.56 5.48
1982 2.97 5.66
1981 2.79 5.81
1980 2.74 5.95
1979 2.75 6.06
1978 2.72 6.15
1977 2.84 6.22
1976 3.24 6.29
1975 3.57 6.35
1974 4.17 6.41
1973 4.73 6.46
1972 5.11 6.5
1971 5.52 6.52
1970 6.09 6.52
1969 6.18 6.52
1968 6.51 6.53
1967 5.81 6.51
1966 6.31 6.5
1965 6.61 6.5
1964 6.67 6.49
1963 7.51 6.5
1962 6.09 6.49
1961 3.86 6.49
1960 4.45 6.5

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

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

China and United Arab Emirates demographics compared

Median age
China

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Median age, years
China UAE
2024 40.6 32.6
2023 40.1 32.2
2022 39.6 31.9
2021 39 31.9
2020 38.5 31.8
2019 38.1 31.8
2018 37.7 31.8
2017 37.4 31.8
2016 37.1 31.8
2015 36.7 31.8
2014 36.3 31.8
2013 36 31.7
2012 35.7 31.7
2011 35.5 31.7
2010 35.1 31.7
2009 34.7 31.6
2008 34.2 31.6
2007 33.7 31.6
2006 33.1 31.4
2005 32.6 30.9
2004 32.1 30.3
2003 31.6 29.6
2002 31.1 29.1
2001 30.5 28.6
2000 30 28.2
1999 29.4 28
1998 28.8 27.9
1997 28.3 27.9
1996 27.8 28.1
1995 27.2 28
1994 26.6 27.4
1993 26.1 26.8
1992 25.6 26.4
1991 25.1 26
1990 24.7 25.8
1989 24.4 25.8
1988 23.9 25.9
1987 23.6 26.1
1986 23.4 26.5
1985 23.2 26.6
1984 23 26.4
1983 22.6 26.4
1982 22.1 26.4
1981 21.8 26.4
1980 21.6 26.2
1979 21.4 25.8
1978 21.2 25.5
1977 20.8 25.4
1976 20.4 25.6
1975 20.1 25.4
1974 19.7 24.7
1973 19.5 24.1
1972 19.3 23.6
1971 19.2 23.2
1970 19.1 23
1969 19.1 23.1
1968 19.2 23.5
1967 19.2 23.3
1966 19.3 22.6
1965 19.6 22
1964 19.9 21.5
1963 20.4 21
1962 21 20.6
1961 21.1 20.1
1960 20.9 19.6

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

China UAE
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$566B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
21.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4%
2023
3.89%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.71%
2024
5.64%
2014
Armed forces personnel
2,535,000
2020
63,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.34%
2024
+6.41%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
1.88%
2024
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
44.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
48.3
2026
71.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.8%
2018
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
339,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.57%
2025
3.89%
2025
Number of billionaires
450
2025
6
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
11,231
2024
154
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$1.05T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$238B
2024
Personal remittances received
$31.4B
2024
$1.8B
2024
International tourist arrivals
30,402,000
2020
8,084,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.59%
2004
n/a
Banked people share
89.4%
2024
85.7%
2021

Energy

China UAE
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,851 kg
2023
8,336 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.83
2023
$9.01
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
13,125 megatons
2024
200.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.32 tons
2024
18.3 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
86.7%
2022
92.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
15.2%
2021
1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.76%
2023
7.24%
2022
Net energy imports use share
24%
2023
-171.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
6,524 kWh
2023
14,688 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
28.4%
2021
4.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
13.5%
2023
0%
2021
Nuclear share
4.55%
2023
13.3%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

China UAE
% of world population
17.3%
2024
0.14%
2024
Annual migration change
-268,126
2025
+158,634
2025
Urban population
65.9%
2024
85.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2024
63.9:36.1
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
52.3
2026
84
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
43
2025
69
2025
Higher education index
87
2026
66
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.5
2020
0.75
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.4
2019
8.9
2019
Visa free countries
92
2025
181
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.7%
2020
98.8%
2024
English speaking
0.7%
2023
65%
2025
People using the Internet
92%
2024
100%
2024

Health

China UAE
Government health expenditure per capita
$763
2023
$2,402
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$245.6
2023
$232.1
2023
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
83.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.005%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.11
2022
2.99
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.2
2023
5
2023
Obesity rate
8.37%
2022
32.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.9%
2024
20.7%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
11
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
23.4%
2022
9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.58 liters
2020
2.08 liters
2020

Territory

China UAE
% of world land
6.3%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
2,573 sq mi
2024
2,496 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,009,326 sq mi
2026
1,512 sq mi
2026
Forest area
871,112 sq mi
2026
1,225 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,411,576 mi
2024
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) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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