Algeria vs United Arab Emirates
Side-by-side comparison of Algeria and United Arab Emirates from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Algeria
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 64 years
United Arab Emirates
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 55 years
In short
United Arab Emirates scores 77.9 in the NationsTree Index (8th in the world) and Algeria scores 57.0 (63rd), a gap of 20.9 points. Their trees are 18 m and 20 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Algeria has 4.1 times the population of United Arab Emirates. Algeria is 24 times larger than United Arab Emirates by land area. Algeria and United Arab Emirates have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Algeria 47.4 million and United Arab Emirates 11.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $79,344 in United Arab Emirates and $18,586 in Algeria (2025, international dollars). People in United Arab Emirates live on average 6.6 years longer (83.1 vs 76.5 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Algeria ranks higher in the world on 4 and United Arab Emirates on 28. Algeria is clearly stronger in military, land & people and natural resources. United Arab Emirates is clearly stronger in tourism, trade and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Algeria is the older of the two (statehood since 1962, 64 years), compared with United Arab Emirates (since 1971). Over the last five years Algeria improved faster (direction score 92 vs 90 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Algeria and United Arab Emirates.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
United Arab Emirates overtook Algeria in GDP (PPP) in 1994 and has stayed ahead since.
United Arab Emirates has been ahead of Algeria in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
United Arab Emirates has been ahead of Algeria in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Algeria has been ahead of United Arab Emirates in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | ||
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 2,381,74010th/216 · 2024 | 98,648110th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,381,74010th/216 · 2024 | 71,020118th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 47.4 m33rd/217 · 2025 | 11.5 m85th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.32%78th/217 · 2025 | 4.68%1st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 19.7187th/216 · 2024 | 154.773rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 75.8%71st/217 · 2025 | 86.0%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 29.9%71st/217 · 2025 | 16.0%165th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.8%128th/217 · 2025 | 1.8%216th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $287.03 bn51st/210 · 2025 | $552.32 bn30th/210 · 2024 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $881.65 bn38th/199 · 2025 | $871.70 bn39th/199 · 2024 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $753.40 bn39th/199 · 2025 | $765.77 bn37th/199 · 2024 |
| GDP per person USD | $6,051129th/210 · 2025 | $50,27432nd/210 · 2024 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $18,586112th/199 · 2025 | $79,34419th/199 · 2024 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,850121st/201 · 2025 | $51,55028th/201 · 2024 |
| GDP growth % | 3.8%83rd/210 · 2025 | 4.0%79th/210 · 2024 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%45th/180 · 2025 | 1.3%41st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 11.6%159th/187 · 2025 | 2.2%19th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 1.8%2013 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 52.1%90th/189 · 2025 | 33.9%42nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -10.5%182nd/192 · 2025 | 3.9%11th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 14.5%54th/197 · 2025 | 0.8%175th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 34.8%33rd/200 · 2025 | 44.3%10th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.5%106th/192 · 2024 | 9.4%108th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 45.7%166th/200 · 2025 | 54.9%121st/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $48.32 bn67th/182 · 2025 | $558.40 bn18th/182 · 2023 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $63.56 bn61st/182 · 2025 | $481.85 bn20th/182 · 2023 |
| Exports % of GDP | 16.8%156th/183 · 2025 | 106.8%8th/183 · 2023 |
| Imports % of GDP | 22.1%161st/183 · 2025 | 92.2%14th/183 · 2023 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 39.0%163rd/183 · 2025 | 199.0%9th/183 · 2023 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 93.1%2nd/170 · 2024 | 68.2%14th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 5.8%148th/171 · 2024 | 8.8%136th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%165th/171 · 2024 | 2.9%148th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%156th/171 · 2024 | 3.4%80th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.0%2017 | 9.0%73rd/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -8.9%169th/191 · 2025 | 13.3%16th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.5%155th/196 · 2025 | 8.3%25th/196 · 2024 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 22.6%20th/209 · 2021 | 17.6%30th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 14.46%17th/197 · 2021 | 15.67%12th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 8.00%8th/197 · 2021 | 1.96%23rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%88th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.13%105th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%181st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 3.2%155th/206 · 2024 | 0.8%187th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 247164th/183 · 2022 | 15180th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 591,000116th/194 · 2020 | 8.1 m26th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $50.0 m154th/175 · 2020 | $24.62 bn6th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.2%165th/168 · 2020 | — |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.4 m60th/107 · 2020 | 6.5 m24th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.593rd/217 · 2024 | 83.121st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 21.6126th/196 · 2024 | 4.839th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.6689th/174 · 2022 | 2.9959th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.62017 | 1.991st/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 96%48th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 45.1%2019 | 87.3%58th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 105.2%40th/173 · 2024 | 102.1%52nd/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%126th/217 · 2025 | 2.2%216th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%145th/193 · 2023 | 5.0%127th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 75.1%2008 | 98.8%16th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 54.4%71st/150 · 2024 | 63.7%57th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.76396th/193 · 2023 | 0.94015th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 27.62011 | 26.42018 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%2011 | 0.0%2018 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 69.0%89th/150 · 2024 | 98.6%36th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.5%71st/144 · 2024 | 98.4%12th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 77.4%106th/186 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 115105th/210 · 2024 | 2035th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 13.3105th/208 · 2024 | 40.823rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.10142nd/164 · 2022 | 4.109th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 4,00133rd/82 · 2021 | 27979th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 7.2 m53rd/161 · 2023 | 91.1 m12th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.98132nd/203 · 2024 | 18.26195th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.1%202nd/212 · 2021 | 1.0%191st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 16.595th/200 · 2023 | 57.2193rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 0.7%201st/214 · 2024 | 4.6%182nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,54672nd/149 · 2024 | 8,8387th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 48.4123rd/205 · 2025 | 75.435th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 37.3136th/207 · 2025 | 71.334th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 47.9145th/207 · 2025 | 67.670th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 54.0166th/207 · 2025 | 80.154th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.9163rd/205 · 2025 | 75.723rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 37.8157th/205 · 2025 | 38.1154th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.250th/145 · 2023 | 0.723rd/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $25.44 bn20th/156 · 2025 | $22.76 bn2014 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 8.8%2nd/156 · 2025 | 5.6%2014 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 24.6%4th/154 · 2025 | 17.0%2014 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 326,00021st/170 · 2020 | 63,00063rd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.81%18th/168 · 2020 | 1.02%65th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 108.0 m47th/163 · 2025 | 868.0 m9th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 33.0 m38th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.44%62nd/110 · 2024 | 1.49%29th/110 · 2021 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1,08430th/137 · 2024 | 27855th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 7,67752nd/197 · 2023 | 7,07553rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Algeria or United Arab Emirates?
Algeria has the larger population: 47.4 m (2025) compared with 11.5 m for United Arab Emirates (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Algeria or United Arab Emirates?
Algeria is larger: 2,381,740 km² (2024) compared with 98,648 km² for United Arab Emirates (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Algeria or United Arab Emirates?
Algeria has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $881.65 bn intl. (2025) compared with $871.70 bn intl. for United Arab Emirates (2024). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Algeria or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $79,344 intl. (2024) compared with $18,586 intl. for Algeria (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Algeria or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.1 years (2024) compared with 76.5 years for Algeria (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Algeria or United Arab Emirates?
Algeria spends more on the military: $25.44 bn (2025) compared with $22.76 bn for United Arab Emirates (2014). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Algeria or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates: 77.9 points (8th in the world); Algeria: 57.0 points (63rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Sources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Algeria vs United Arab Emirates — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/algeria-vs-united-arab-emirates. Data as of 26 October 2026.