United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom
United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom: Armed forces, share of workers
Armed forces, share of workers in 2020: 1.02% of the labour force in United Arab Emirates and 0.45% of the labour force in United Kingdom, by IISS estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in United Arab Emirates, by 0.57 percentage points, or 2.28 times that in United Kingdom.
% of the labour force · IISS
What the numbers say
- United Arab Emirates has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1990.
- In 2020, United Arab Emirates ranked 65 and United Kingdom ranked 121 of 168 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 0.79% of the labour force in 2020.
Every year
% of the labour force · IISS
| Year | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1.02 | 0.45 | 0.79 |
| 2019 | 1.01 | 0.44 | 0.79 |
| 2018 | 1.02 | 0.44 | 0.8 |
| 2017 | 1.04 | 0.44 | 0.8 |
| 2016 | 1.08 | 0.45 | 0.81 |
| 2015 | 1.14 | 0.46 | 0.82 |
| 2014 | 1.21 | 0.47 | 0.82 |
| 2013 | 1.27 | 0.49 | 0.83 |
| 2012 | 1.08 | 0.52 | 0.87 |
| 2011 | 1.12 | 0.52 | 0.88 |
| 2010 | 1.17 | 0.55 | 0.89 |
| 2009 | 1.19 | 0.56 | 0.89 |
| 2008 | 1.26 | 0.51 | 0.89 |
| 2007 | 1.41 | 0.51 | 0.89 |
| 2006 | 1.59 | 0.58 | 0.95 |
| 2005 | 1.73 | 0.71 | 0.96 |
| 2004 | 1.81 | 0.68 | 0.94 |
| 2003 | 1.95 | 0.71 | 0.98 |
| 2002 | 1.73 | 0.71 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2.96 | 0.72 | 1.01 |
| 2000 | 3.2 | 0.73 | 1.07 |
| 1999 | 3.45 | 0.75 | 1.09 |
| 1998 | 3.74 | 0.76 | 1.13 |
| 1997 | 4.07 | 0.76 | 1.15 |
| 1996 | 4.43 | 0.78 | 1.18 |
| 1995 | 5.17 | 0.82 | 1.2 |
| 1994 | 4.64 | 0.91 | 0.94 |
| 1993 | 4.52 | 0.96 | 0.98 |
| 1992 | 4.83 | 1.03 | 1.03 |
| 1991 | 6.19 | 1.05 | 1.03 |
| 1990 | 6.64 | 1.07 | 1.11 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Active-duty military personnel as a share of everyone working or looking for work, by the IISS Military Balance.
- Source: IISS, The Military Balance, via the World Bank.
- Ranks count the 168 countries with a value in 2020, 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
United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom
Health
- Life expectancyUnited Arab Emirates: 82.9 years in 2023United Kingdom: 81.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityUnited Arab Emirates: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityUnited Arab Emirates: 4.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionUnited Arab Emirates: 2.88% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateUnited Arab Emirates: 5.1 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationUnited Arab Emirates: 10.6 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthUnited Arab Emirates: 3.7% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateUnited Arab Emirates: 1.2 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationUnited Arab Emirates: 86% in 2025United Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025
- Median ageUnited Arab Emirates: 31.2 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overUnited Arab Emirates: 1.7% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration rateUnited Arab Emirates: 28.2 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personUnited Arab Emirates: $41,610 in 2024United Kingdom: $48,420 in 2025
- GDP growthUnited Arab Emirates: 6.2% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 1.2% a year in 2025
- InflationUnited Arab Emirates: 1.3% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 3.4% a year in 2025
- Government debtUnited Arab Emirates: 33.9% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 102.1% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingUnited Arab Emirates: 5.64% of GDP in 2014United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsUnited Arab Emirates: $27.8B in 2014United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personUnited Arab Emirates: $2,840 in 2014United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingUnited Arab Emirates: 17% of government spending in 2014United Kingdom: 5.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelUnited Arab Emirates: 63,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerUnited Arab Emirates: 0.47% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Arms importsUnited Arab Emirates: 868 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsUnited Arab Emirates: 33 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personUnited Arab Emirates: 18.26 tonnes in 2024United Kingdom: 4.22 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersUnited Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024United Kingdom: 95.5% in 2024
- Access to electricityUnited Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024United Kingdom: 100% in 2024
- Forest areaUnited Arab Emirates: 4.6% in 2024United Kingdom: 13.5% in 2024