South Africa vs United Arab Emirates
South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: GDP per person
GDP per person: $5,713 in South Africa in 2025 and $41,610 in United Arab Emirates in 2024, by World Bank estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in United Arab Emirates, by $35,895, or 7.28 times that in South Africa.
US dollars at 2015 prices · World Bank
What the numbers say
- United Arab Emirates has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1970.
- The world as a whole: $11,890 in 2024.
Every year
US dollars at 2015 prices · World Bank
| Year | South Africa | United Arab Emirates | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,713 | – | $12,130 |
| 2024 | $5,715 | $41,610 | $11,890 |
| 2023 | $5,757 | $41,930 | $11,670 |
| 2022 | $5,787 | $41,830 | $11,450 |
| 2021 | $5,751 | $40,940 | $11,170 |
| 2020 | $5,570 | $39,880 | $10,580 |
| 2019 | $6,033 | $43,470 | $11,000 |
| 2018 | $6,117 | $43,380 | $10,820 |
| 2017 | $6,126 | $43,290 | $10,590 |
| 2016 | $6,095 | $45,170 | $10,360 |
| 2015 | $6,112 | $44,910 | $10,190 |
| 2014 | $6,155 | $44,260 | $10,000 |
| 2013 | $6,171 | $44,310 | $9,811 |
| 2012 | $6,122 | $43,960 | $9,654 |
| 2011 | $6,067 | $43,690 | $9,515 |
| 2010 | $5,954 | $42,330 | $9,322 |
| 2009 | $5,847 | $42,670 | $9,028 |
| 2008 | $6,010 | $47,920 | $9,266 |
| 2007 | $5,891 | $52,040 | $9,191 |
| 2006 | $5,651 | $56,630 | $8,913 |
| 2005 | $5,406 | $55,360 | $8,639 |
| 2004 | $5,187 | $55,610 | $8,409 |
| 2003 | $5,012 | $53,620 | $8,151 |
| 2002 | $4,917 | $52,220 | $8,011 |
| 2001 | $4,786 | $54,170 | $7,932 |
| 2000 | $4,701 | $56,940 | $7,880 |
| 1999 | $4,553 | $54,940 | $7,639 |
| 1998 | $4,495 | $57,360 | $7,479 |
| 1997 | $4,527 | $61,720 | $7,382 |
| 1996 | $4,466 | $61,870 | $7,203 |
| 1995 | $4,337 | $62,390 | $7,058 |
| 1994 | $4,258 | $61,160 | $6,944 |
| 1993 | $4,194 | $59,940 | $6,819 |
| 1992 | $4,226 | $62,200 | $6,801 |
| 1991 | $4,396 | $63,430 | $6,773 |
| 1990 | $4,544 | $66,480 | $6,804 |
| 1989 | $4,687 | $59,590 | $6,741 |
| 1988 | $4,714 | $56,450 | $6,620 |
| 1987 | $4,664 | $61,930 | $6,446 |
| 1986 | $4,713 | $64,260 | $6,326 |
| 1985 | $4,865 | $80,470 | $6,233 |
| 1984 | $5,092 | $88,070 | $6,120 |
| 1983 | $5,015 | $89,520 | $5,947 |
| 1982 | $5,291 | $99,530 | $5,903 |
| 1981 | $5,499 | $113,200 | $5,986 |
| 1980 | $5,400 | $117,100 | $5,980 |
| 1979 | $5,221 | $105,300 | $5,978 |
| 1978 | $5,168 | $98,090 | $5,843 |
| 1977 | $5,156 | $113,600 | $5,710 |
| 1976 | $5,302 | $107,900 | $5,591 |
| 1975 | $5,328 | $105,000 | $5,410 |
| 1974 | $5,386 | $109,700 | $5,467 |
| 1973 | $5,221 | $107,400 | $5,465 |
| 1972 | $5,137 | $68,920 | $5,236 |
| 1971 | $5,201 | $56,950 | $5,061 |
| 1970 | $5,136 | $48,740 | $4,964 |
| 1969 | $5,030 | – | $4,885 |
| 1968 | $4,954 | – | $4,707 |
| 1967 | $4,907 | – | $4,535 |
| 1966 | $4,722 | – | $4,461 |
| 1965 | $4,664 | – | $4,321 |
| 1964 | $4,532 | – | $4,176 |
| 1963 | $4,329 | – | $3,999 |
| 1962 | $4,156 | – | $3,889 |
| 1961 | $4,032 | – | $3,759 |
| 1960 | $3,993 | – | $3,667 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The value of everything produced in the country in a year, divided by its people, in 2015 US dollars so that years compare.
- Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators.
- Ranks count the 186 countries with a value in 2025, 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
South Africa vs United Arab Emirates
Health
- Life expectancySouth Africa: 66.1 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 82.9 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024United Arab Emirates: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Arab Emirates: 4.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017United Arab Emirates: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017United Arab Emirates: 5.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 10.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023United Arab Emirates: 3.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.2 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025United Arab Emirates: 86% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 31.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 28.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025United Arab Emirates: 5.64% of GDP in 2014
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025United Arab Emirates: $27.8B in 2014
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $2,840 in 2014
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025United Arab Emirates: 17% of government spending in 2014
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020United Arab Emirates: 63,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022United Arab Emirates: 0.47% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020United Arab Emirates: 1.02% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 868 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 33 million TIV in 2025
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personSouth Africa: 6.88 tonnes in 2024United Arab Emirates: 18.26 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersSouth Africa: 78.4% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Access to electricitySouth Africa: 90.2% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Forest areaSouth Africa: 18.8% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 4.6% in 2024