United Arab Emirates
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Region
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 11.5 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in the United Arab Emirates rose 1.3% in 2025, slower than in most countries.
- The United Arab Emirates' economy grew 4.0% in 2024, faster than most economies.
- Output per person in the United Arab Emirates was US$50,274 in 2024, higher than in most countries.
- 2.2% of the United Arab Emirates' labour force had no job in 2025, a lower share than in most countries.
- The United Arab Emirates had 11.5 million people in 2025: about 0.1% of everyone on Earth, the 85th largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- The United Arab Emirates had a current account surplus of 15.7% of GDP in 2024, higher than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2008
Show the numbers
| Year | United Arab Emirates | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.3% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | −2.1% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | −1.9% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2024Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | United Arab Emirates | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4.0% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 7.5% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | −8.7% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | −1.1% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | 3.1% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | 2.9% |
GDP per person
2024GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | United Arab Emirates | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US$50,274 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$49,851 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$50,760 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$44,118 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$37,992 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$45,939 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$47,135 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$43,734 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$42,721 | US$5,982 |
| 2015 | US$44,910 | US$6,148 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | United Arab Emirates | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.2% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 2.2% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | 5.9% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.5 million |
| 2024 | 11.0 million |
| 2023 | 10.5 million |
| 2022 | 10.1 million |
| 2021 | 9.6 million |
| 2020 | 9.4 million |
| 2019 | 9.4 million |
| 2018 | 9.3 million |
| 2017 | 9.2 million |
| 2016 | 8.9 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2023
Show the numbers
| Year | United Arab Emirates | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15.7% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 13.9% | −1.2% |
No recent World Bank figure for the United Arab Emirates: government debt.
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show the United Arab Emirates since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.