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Iraq vs United Arab Emirates
Side-by-side comparison of Iraq and United Arab Emirates from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Iraq
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 94 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 Iraq scores 47.5 (97th), a gap of 30.5 points. Their trees are 15 m and 20 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Iraq has 4.1 times the population of United Arab Emirates. Iraq is 4.4 times larger than United Arab Emirates by land area. The economy of United Arab Emirates is 30% larger than that of Iraq (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Iraq 47.0 million and United Arab Emirates 11.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $79,344 in United Arab Emirates and $14,267 in Iraq (2025, international dollars). People in United Arab Emirates live on average 10.6 years longer (83.1 vs 72.4 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Iraq ranks higher in the world on 6 and United Arab Emirates on 25. Iraq is clearly stronger in land & people, natural resources and military. United Arab Emirates is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, tourism and economy.
As a nation, Iraq is the older of the two (statehood since 1932, 94 years), compared with United Arab Emirates (since 1971). Over the last five years Iraq improved faster (direction score 98 vs 90 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Iraq and United Arab Emirates.
Iraq
15.5%
173rd of 187
United Arab Emiratesbetter
2.2%
19th of 187
Government budget balanceEconomy
Iraq
-6.2%
165th of 192
United Arab Emiratesbetter
3.9%
11th of 192
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Iraq
38.0
178th of 205
United Arab Emiratesbetter
75.7
23rd of 205
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Iraq
2.20
131st of 164
United Arab Emiratesbetter
4.10
9th of 164
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Iraq
22.8
183rd of 207
United Arab Emiratesbetter
71.3
34th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
United Arab Emirates has been ahead of Iraq in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
United Arab Emirates has been ahead of Iraq in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in every year since 1995.
United Arab Emirates has been ahead of Iraq in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Iraq 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
IraqUnited Arab Emirates 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 | Iraq | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 435,05059th/216 · 2024 | 98,648110th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 434,13057th/216 · 2024 | 71,020118th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 47.0 m34th/217 · 2025 | 11.5 m85th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.10%43rd/217 · 2025 | 4.68%1st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 106.1100th/216 · 2024 | 154.773rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 69.9%90th/217 · 2025 | 86.0%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 36.0%49th/217 · 2025 | 16.0%165th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.4%181st/217 · 2025 | 1.8%216th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $254.37 bn54th/210 · 2025 | $552.32 bn30th/210 · 2024 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $670.84 bn45th/199 · 2025 | $871.70 bn39th/199 · 2024 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $573.26 bn45th/199 · 2025 | $765.77 bn37th/199 · 2024 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,410135th/210 · 2025 | $50,27432nd/210 · 2024 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $14,267124th/199 · 2025 | $79,34419th/199 · 2024 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,690122nd/201 · 2025 | $51,55028th/201 · 2024 |
| GDP growth % | -2.2%205th/210 · 2025 | 4.0%79th/210 · 2024 |
| Inflation % | 0.3%20th/180 · 2025 | 1.3%41st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 15.5%173rd/187 · 2025 | 2.2%19th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 27.4%2018 | 1.8%2013 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 52.8%93rd/189 · 2025 | 33.9%42nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.2%165th/192 · 2025 | 3.9%11th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 3.4%122nd/197 · 2025 | 0.8%175th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 45.4%9th/200 · 2025 | 44.3%10th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 4.0%162nd/192 · 2025 | 9.4%108th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 52.3%135th/200 · 2025 | 54.9%121st/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $111.20 bn46th/182 · 2024 | $558.40 bn18th/182 · 2023 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $104.52 bn49th/182 · 2024 | $481.85 bn20th/182 · 2023 |
| Exports % of GDP | 39.8%84th/183 · 2024 | 106.8%8th/183 · 2023 |
| Imports % of GDP | 37.4%110th/183 · 2024 | 92.2%14th/183 · 2023 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 77.1%103rd/183 · 2024 | 199.0%9th/183 · 2023 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 99.0%1st/170 · 2024 | 68.2%14th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 0.4%168th/171 · 2024 | 8.8%136th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%167th/171 · 2024 | 2.9%148th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%169th/171 · 2024 | 3.4%80th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | — | 9.0%73rd/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -3.8%127th/191 · 2025 | 13.3%16th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | -3.0%190th/196 · 2025 | 8.3%25th/196 · 2024 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 43.4%2nd/209 · 2021 | 17.6%30th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 42.79%2nd/197 · 2021 | 15.67%12th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.66%35th/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%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%164th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%181st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.3%93rd/206 · 2024 | 0.8%187th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 799139th/183 · 2022 | 15180th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 892,0002013 | 8.1 m26th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $955.0 m78th/175 · 2020 | $24.62 bn6th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.9%130th/168 · 2020 | — |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 6.5 m24th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.4132nd/217 · 2024 | 83.121st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 21.8127th/196 · 2024 | 4.839th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.02104th/174 · 2022 | 2.9959th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.12018 | 1.991st/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 90%104th/193 · 2024 | 96%48th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 32.1%130th/153 · 2021 | 87.3%58th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 50.6%2007 | 102.1%52nd/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 83.6%2012 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.7%183rd/217 · 2025 | 2.2%216th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.5%117th/193 · 2023 | 5.0%127th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 84.1%63rd/98 · 2021 | 98.8%16th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 15.6%2005 | 63.7%57th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.695126th/193 · 2023 | 0.94015th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 29.821st/108 · 2023 | 26.42018 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.5%36th/108 · 2023 | 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 | 59.8%101st/150 · 2024 | 98.6%36th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 50.9%82nd/144 · 2024 | 98.4%12th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 81.5%99th/186 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 100137th/210 · 2024 | 2035th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 17.693rd/208 · 2024 | 40.823rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 | 4.109th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 2,3702014 | 27979th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 3.8 m68th/161 · 2023 | 91.1 m12th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 5.18154th/203 · 2024 | 18.26195th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 1.1%187th/212 · 2021 | 1.0%191st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 49.5188th/200 · 2023 | 57.2193rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 1.6%191st/214 · 2024 | 4.6%182nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,54073rd/149 · 2024 | 8,8387th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 31.5180th/205 · 2025 | 75.435th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 22.8183rd/207 · 2025 | 71.334th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 35.7188th/207 · 2025 | 67.670th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 32.9197th/207 · 2025 | 80.154th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 38.0178th/205 · 2025 | 75.723rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 42.6143rd/205 · 2025 | 38.1154th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 9.52013 | 0.723rd/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $6.45 bn40th/156 · 2025 | $22.76 bn2014 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.4%43rd/156 · 2025 | 5.6%2014 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.5%71st/154 · 2025 | 17.0%2014 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 459,00015th/170 · 2020 | 63,00063rd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 4.40%6th/168 · 2020 | 1.02%65th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 55.0 m63rd/163 · 2025 | 868.0 m9th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 33.0 m38th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.04%108th/110 · 2021 | 1.49%29th/110 · 2021 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 55642nd/137 · 2024 | 27855th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 16,72429th/197 · 2023 | 7,07553rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Iraq or United Arab Emirates?
Iraq has the larger population: 47.0 m (2025) compared with 11.5 m for United Arab Emirates (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Iraq or United Arab Emirates?
Iraq is larger: 435,050 km² (2024) compared with 98,648 km² for United Arab Emirates (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Iraq or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $871.70 bn intl. (2024) compared with $670.84 bn intl. for Iraq (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Iraq or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $79,344 intl. (2024) compared with $14,267 intl. for Iraq (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Iraq or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.1 years (2024) compared with 72.4 years for Iraq (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Iraq or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates spends more on the military: $22.76 bn (2014) compared with $6.45 bn for Iraq (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Iraq or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates: 77.9 points (8th in the world); Iraq: 47.5 points (97th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Algeria
Israel
Morocco
PakistanSources
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). Iraq vs United Arab Emirates — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/iraq-vs-united-arab-emirates. Data as of 26 October 2026.