China vs United Arab Emirates
China vs United Arab Emirates: Median age
Median age in 2023: 39.1 years in China and 31.2 years in United Arab Emirates, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in China, by 7.8 years, or 1.25 times that in United Arab Emirates.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- China has been higher since 1997, when it overtook United Arab Emirates.
- In 2023, China ranked 60 and United Arab Emirates ranked 120 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts China at 60.7 years and United Arab Emirates at 34 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | China | United Arab Emirates | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39.1 | 31.2 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 38.5 | 30.9 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 38 | 30.9 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 37.5 | 30.9 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 37 | 30.8 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 36.6 | 30.8 | 29 |
| 2017 | 36.3 | 30.8 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 36 | 30.8 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 35.7 | 30.8 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 35.4 | 30.8 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 35.1 | 30.7 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 34.9 | 30.7 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 34.5 | 30.7 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 34.1 | 30.7 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 33.7 | 30.7 | 27 |
| 2008 | 33.3 | 30.6 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 32.8 | 30.6 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 32.3 | 30.4 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 31.8 | 29.9 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 31.2 | 29.3 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 30.7 | 28.7 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 30.1 | 28.1 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 29.5 | 27.7 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 29 | 27.3 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 28.4 | 27.1 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 27.8 | 27 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 27.2 | 27 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 26.7 | 27.2 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 26.1 | 27 | 24 |
| 1994 | 25.6 | 26.4 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 25.1 | 25.8 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 24.6 | 25.4 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 24.1 | 25 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 23.7 | 24.9 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 23.4 | 24.9 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 23 | 25.1 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 22.6 | 25.3 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 22.2 | 25.6 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 21.7 | 25.7 | 22 |
| 1984 | 21.4 | 25.5 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 21.2 | 25.5 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 21.2 | 25.4 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 21.1 | 25.5 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 20.9 | 25.2 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 20.6 | 24.8 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 20.2 | 24.5 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 19.8 | 24.4 | 21 |
| 1976 | 19.4 | 24.6 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 19.1 | 24.4 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 18.8 | 23.7 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 18.5 | 23.2 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 18.3 | 22.6 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 18.1 | 22.2 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 18 | 22 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 18 | 22.1 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 18.1 | 22.5 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 18.1 | 22.4 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 18.2 | 21.6 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 18.5 | 21 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 18.9 | 20.5 | 21 |
| 1963 | 19.4 | 20 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 19.9 | 19.5 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 20 | 19.1 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 19.9 | 18.6 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 19.9 | 18.2 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 19.9 | 17.8 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 20.2 | 17.4 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 20.5 | 17.1 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 20.7 | 16.9 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 21 | 16.7 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 21.3 | 16.7 | 22 |
| 1952 | 21.6 | 16.8 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 22 | 17.1 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 22.3 | 17.5 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | China | United Arab Emirates | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39.639.6–39.6 | 31.631.3–31.3 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 40.140–40.2 | 31.630.9–30.9 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 40.740.5–40.7 | 31.630.6–30.6 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 41.241.1–41.3 | 31.730.4–30.5 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 41.841.6–41.9 | 31.730.2–30.5 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 42.342.2–42.5 | 31.730.2–30.5 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 42.942.7–43.1 | 31.830.1–30.6 | 32 |
| 2031 | 43.543.3–43.7 | 31.830.1–30.8 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 44.143.8–44.3 | 31.930.1–31 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 44.744.4–44.9 | 31.930.2–31.2 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 45.345–45.5 | 3230.3–31.5 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 45.845.5–46.1 | 3230.5–31.8 | 33 |
| 2036 | 46.446.1–46.7 | 32.130.6–32.1 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 4746.6–47.3 | 32.230.8–32.3 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 47.547.2–47.8 | 32.230.9–32.5 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 48.147.7–48.4 | 32.331–32.5 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 48.648.2–49 | 32.331.1–32.5 | 34 |
| 2041 | 49.148.6–49.5 | 32.331.3–32.5 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 49.549–50 | 32.431.4–32.5 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 49.949.3–50.4 | 32.431.5–32.5 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 50.349.6–50.8 | 32.431.6–32.5 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 50.649.9–51.2 | 32.431.7–32.5 | 35 |
| 2046 | 5150.2–51.6 | 32.531.9–32.6 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 51.350.5–51.9 | 32.532–32.7 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 51.650.7–52.3 | 32.532.2–32.7 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 51.951–52.6 | 32.632.3–32.7 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 52.151.2–52.9 | 32.632.5–32.8 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 52.451.4–53.2 | 32.632.6–32.8 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 52.751.6–53.5 | 32.632.7–32.8 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 52.951.8–53.8 | 32.632.8–32.9 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 53.252.1–54.1 | 32.632.7–33 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 53.452.3–54.4 | 32.732.7–33.1 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 53.752.5–54.7 | 32.732.8–33.3 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 53.952.8–55 | 32.732.8–33.5 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 54.253–55.2 | 32.732.8–33.7 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 54.453.2–55.5 | 32.732.8–33.8 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 54.753.4–55.8 | 32.732.9–34 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 54.953.6–56.1 | 32.732.9–34.2 | 38 |
| 2062 | 55.253.8–56.4 | 32.832.8–34.4 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 55.554.1–56.8 | 32.832.8–34.5 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 55.854.4–57.1 | 32.832.8–34.7 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 56.154.7–57.5 | 32.933–34.9 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 56.454.9–57.9 | 32.933.1–35.1 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 56.755.2–58.3 | 3333.3–35.3 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 57.155.5–58.7 | 3333.5–35.5 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 57.455.7–59.1 | 33.133.7–35.8 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 57.756–59.5 | 33.134–35.9 | 39 |
| 2071 | 58.156.3–60 | 33.234.2–36.1 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 58.556.6–60.4 | 33.334.4–36.3 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 58.956.9–60.9 | 33.334.7–36.5 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 59.257.2–61.3 | 33.434.9–36.7 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 59.657.5–61.8 | 33.435.1–36.9 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 6057.7–62.3 | 33.535.3–37 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 60.357.9–62.7 | 33.535.4–37.2 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 60.758.1–63.2 | 33.535.6–37.4 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 61.158.1–63.7 | 33.635.8–37.6 | 40 |
| 2080 | 61.457.9–64.2 | 33.636–37.8 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 61.757.6–64.7 | 33.736.2–38 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 6257.2–65.2 | 33.736.3–38.2 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 62.257.1–65.7 | 33.736.4–38.4 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 62.256.9–66.3 | 33.736.6–38.5 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 62.256.7–66.8 | 33.736.7–38.7 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 6256.6–67.3 | 33.836.7–38.8 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 61.956.4–67.8 | 33.836.5–38.9 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 61.756.3–68.2 | 33.836.3–39 | 41 |
| 2089 | 61.656.2–68.6 | 33.836.1–39.1 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 61.456.1–69 | 33.836–39.2 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 61.356.1–69.3 | 33.835.9–39.2 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 61.256–69.6 | 33.835.6–39.3 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 61.156–69.7 | 33.835–39.4 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 6156–69.8 | 33.934.5–39.4 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 60.956–69.8 | 33.934.3–39.5 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 60.856.1–69.7 | 33.939.5–62.2 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 60.856.2–69.6 | 33.939.5–65.2 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 60.756.3–69.5 | 33.939.6–70.2 | 42 |
| 2099 | 60.756.4–69.3 | 33.939.6–81.6 | 42 |
| 2100 | 60.756.5–69.1 | 3439.6–61.2 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
China vs United Arab Emirates
Health
- Life expectancyChina: 78 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 82.9 years in 2023
- Child mortalityChina: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024United Arab Emirates: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityChina: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Arab Emirates: 4.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionChina: 3.31% in 2017United Arab Emirates: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateChina: 7.2 per 100,000 people in 2017United Arab Emirates: 5.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationChina: 1.42 billion people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 10.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthChina: -0.24% a year in 2023United Arab Emirates: 3.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateChina: 1 births per woman in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.2 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationChina: 66.3% in 2025United Arab Emirates: 86% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overChina: 14.3% in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateChina: -0.4 per 1,000 people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 28.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personChina: $13,790 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $41,610 in 2024
- GDP growthChina: 5% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 6.2% a year in 2025
- InflationChina: 0.1% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 1.3% a year in 2025
- Government debtChina: 98.6% of GDP in 2025United Arab Emirates: 33.9% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingChina: 1.73% of GDP in 2025United Arab Emirates: 5.64% of GDP in 2014
- Military spending in US dollarsChina: $335B in 2025United Arab Emirates: $27.8B in 2014
- Military spending per personChina: $237 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $2,840 in 2014
- Military share of state spendingChina: 5.1% of government spending in 2025United Arab Emirates: 17% of government spending in 2014
- Armed forces personnelChina: 2.54 million people in 2020United Arab Emirates: 63,000 people in 2020
- National powerChina: 23.41% of world capability in 2022United Arab Emirates: 0.47% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersChina: 0.33% of the labour force in 2020United Arab Emirates: 1.02% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsChina: 207 million TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 868 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsChina: 880 million TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 33 million TIV in 2025