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Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates
Side-by-side comparison of Pakistan and United Arab Emirates from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 79 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 Pakistan scores 35.8 (143rd), a gap of 42.1 points. Their trees are 23 m and 20 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Pakistan has 22 times the population of United Arab Emirates. Pakistan is 8.1 times larger than United Arab Emirates by land area. The economy of Pakistan is 92% larger than that of United Arab Emirates (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Pakistan 255.2 million and United Arab Emirates 11.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $79,344 in United Arab Emirates and $6,573 in Pakistan (2025, international dollars). People in United Arab Emirates live on average 15.3 years longer (83.1 vs 67.8 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Pakistan ranks higher in the world on 3 and United Arab Emirates on 33. Pakistan is clearly stronger in military, land & people and natural resources. United Arab Emirates is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and tourism.
As a nation, Pakistan is the older of the two (statehood since 1947, 79 years), compared with United Arab Emirates (since 1971). Over the last five years United Arab Emirates improved faster (direction score 90 vs 60 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan
0.544
168th of 193
United Arab Emiratesbetter
0.940
15th of 193
Internet usersInfrastructure & digital
Pakistan
57.3%
143rd of 186
United Arab Emiratesbetter
100.0%
1st of 186
Government budget balanceEconomy
Pakistan
-5.4%
157th of 192
United Arab Emiratesbetter
3.9%
11th of 192
Adult literacySociety & health
Pakistan
58.9%
89th of 98
United Arab Emiratesbetter
98.8%
16th of 98
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Pakistan
2.20
131st of 164
United Arab Emiratesbetter
4.10
9th of 164
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
United Arab Emirates has been ahead of Pakistan in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
United Arab Emirates has been ahead of Pakistan in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Pakistan has been ahead of United Arab Emirates in GDP (PPP) and 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
PakistanUnited 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 | Pakistan | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 796,10035th/216 · 2024 | 98,648110th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 770,88035th/216 · 2024 | 71,020118th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 255.2 m5th/217 · 2025 | 11.5 m85th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.56%67th/217 · 2025 | 4.68%1st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 326.037th/216 · 2024 | 154.773rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 39.5%174th/217 · 2025 | 86.0%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 36.2%47th/217 · 2025 | 16.0%165th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.4%160th/217 · 2025 | 1.8%216th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $407.31 bn41st/210 · 2025 | $552.32 bn30th/210 · 2024 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.68 trn26th/199 · 2025 | $871.70 bn39th/199 · 2024 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.43 trn26th/199 · 2025 | $765.77 bn37th/199 · 2024 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,596181st/210 · 2025 | $50,27432nd/210 · 2024 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $6,573156th/199 · 2025 | $79,34419th/199 · 2024 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,500174th/201 · 2025 | $51,55028th/201 · 2024 |
| GDP growth % | 3.7%92nd/210 · 2025 | 4.0%79th/210 · 2024 |
| Inflation % | 3.5%104th/180 · 2025 | 1.3%41st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.4%100th/187 · 2025 | 2.2%19th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 55.0%2000 | 1.8%2013 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 72.8%139th/189 · 2025 | 33.9%42nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -5.4%157th/192 · 2025 | 3.9%11th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 23.0%27th/197 · 2025 | 0.8%175th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 20.1%125th/200 · 2025 | 44.3%10th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.0%66th/192 · 2025 | 9.4%108th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 50.9%140th/200 · 2025 | 54.9%121st/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $40.67 bn71st/182 · 2025 | $558.40 bn18th/182 · 2023 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $70.09 bn57th/182 · 2025 | $481.85 bn20th/182 · 2023 |
| Exports % of GDP | 10.0%176th/183 · 2025 | 106.8%8th/183 · 2023 |
| Imports % of GDP | 17.2%172nd/183 · 2025 | 92.2%14th/183 · 2023 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 27.2%179th/183 · 2025 | 199.0%9th/183 · 2023 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.4%94th/170 · 2025 | 68.2%14th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 73.2%34th/171 · 2025 | 8.8%136th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 18.2%81st/171 · 2025 | 2.9%148th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 4.6%67th/171 · 2025 | 3.4%80th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.4%127th/168 · 2024 | 9.0%73rd/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 0.5%72nd/191 · 2025 | 13.3%16th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.5%159th/196 · 2025 | 8.3%25th/196 · 2024 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.4%107th/209 · 2021 | 17.6%30th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.38%58th/197 · 2021 | 15.67%12th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.74%34th/197 · 2021 | 1.96%23rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.12%29th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.07%74th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.13%106th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%181st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 39.8%15th/206 · 2024 | 0.8%187th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 226165th/183 · 2022 | 15180th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 966,0002012 | 8.1 m26th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $765.0 m81st/175 · 2020 | $24.62 bn6th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.8%111th/168 · 2020 | — |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 6.5 m24th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 67.8169th/217 · 2024 | 83.121st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 56.0173rd/196 · 2024 | 4.839th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.16101st/174 · 2021 | 2.9959th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.6133rd/145 · 2020 | 1.991st/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 87%121st/193 · 2024 | 96%48th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 38.4%120th/153 · 2021 | 87.3%58th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 48.3%158th/173 · 2024 | 102.1%52nd/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 22.1%2018 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 7.3%155th/217 · 2025 | 2.2%216th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.5%188th/193 · 2023 | 5.0%127th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 58.9%89th/98 · 2021 | 98.8%16th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.9%136th/150 · 2024 | 63.7%57th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.544168th/193 · 2023 | 0.94015th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.547th/108 · 2024 | 26.42018 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 23.0%91st/108 · 2024 | 0.0%2018 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 95.7%151st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 45.0%116th/150 · 2024 | 98.6%36th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 98.4%12th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 57.3%143rd/186 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 77168th/210 · 2024 | 2035th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 1.5163rd/208 · 2024 | 40.823rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.20131st/164 · 2018 | 4.109th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 7,79122nd/82 · 2019 | 27979th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 7.2 m54th/161 · 2023 | 91.1 m12th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.8157th/203 · 2024 | 18.26195th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 41.6%59th/212 · 2021 | 1.0%191st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 58.4194th/200 · 2023 | 57.2193rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 4.1%184th/214 · 2024 | 4.6%182nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 389133rd/149 · 2024 | 8,8387th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 39.9152nd/205 · 2025 | 75.435th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 26.5174th/207 · 2025 | 71.334th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 41.1170th/207 · 2025 | 67.670th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 31.4199th/207 · 2025 | 80.154th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 39.7172nd/205 · 2025 | 75.723rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 37.0160th/205 · 2025 | 38.1154th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.391st/145 · 2023 | 0.723rd/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $11.87 bn31st/156 · 2025 | $22.76 bn2014 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.9%34th/156 · 2025 | 5.6%2014 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 13.8%19th/154 · 2025 | 17.0%2014 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 943,0006th/170 · 2020 | 63,00063rd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.25%53rd/168 · 2020 | 1.02%65th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 706.0 m14th/163 · 2025 | 868.0 m9th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 127.0 m22nd/65 · 2025 | 33.0 m38th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.16%89th/110 · 2023 | 1.49%29th/110 · 2021 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 48045th/137 · 2024 | 27855th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 20,51925th/197 · 2023 | 7,07553rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Pakistan or United Arab Emirates?
Pakistan has the larger population: 255.2 m (2025) compared with 11.5 m for United Arab Emirates (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Pakistan or United Arab Emirates?
Pakistan is larger: 796,100 km² (2024) compared with 98,648 km² for United Arab Emirates (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Pakistan or United Arab Emirates?
Pakistan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.68 trn 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, Pakistan or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $79,344 intl. (2024) compared with $6,573 intl. for Pakistan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Pakistan or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.1 years (2024) compared with 67.8 years for Pakistan (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Pakistan or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates spends more on the military: $22.76 bn (2014) compared with $11.87 bn for Pakistan (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Pakistan or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates: 77.9 points (8th in the world); Pakistan: 35.8 points (143rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Algeria
Egypt
Iran
IsraelSources
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). Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/pakistan-vs-united-arab-emirates. Data as of 26 October 2026.