United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom
United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars: $27.8B in United Arab Emirates in 2014 and $88B in United Kingdom in 2025, by SIPRI estimates. In 2014 the value was higher in United Kingdom, by $41.5B, or 2.49 times that in United Arab Emirates.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- United Kingdom has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1997.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | – | $88B |
| 2024 | – | $89.8B |
| 2023 | – | $78.2B |
| 2022 | – | $73.2B |
| 2021 | – | $72.1B |
| 2020 | – | $71B |
| 2019 | – | $69.9B |
| 2018 | – | $67.1B |
| 2017 | – | $66.6B |
| 2016 | – | $66.4B |
| 2015 | – | $66.7B |
| 2014 | $27.8B | $69.3B |
| 2013 | $29.5B | $70.6B |
| 2012 | $24.1B | $73.3B |
| 2011 | $24.4B | $75.4B |
| 2010 | $22.5B | $78B |
| 2009 | $17.9B | $79.3B |
| 2008 | $15.2B | $78.1B |
| 2007 | $12.5B | $74.8B |
| 2006 | $11.8B | $72.8B |
| 2005 | $11.9B | $72.5B |
| 2004 | $13B | $71.8B |
| 2003 | $11.7B | $71B |
| 2002 | $11.1B | $66.2B |
| 2001 | $12.3B | $62.5B |
| 2000 | $12.8B | $60.1B |
| 1999 | $9.37B | $59B |
| 1998 | $9.06B | $59.3B |
| 1997 | $7.68B | $59.1B |
| 1996 | – | $61.3B |
| 1995 | – | $61.8B |
| 1994 | – | $65.9B |
| 1993 | – | $67.8B |
| 1992 | – | $71B |
| 1991 | – | $76.1B |
| 1990 | – | $75.2B |
| 1989 | – | $75.1B |
| 1988 | – | $74.4B |
| 1987 | – | $77.2B |
| 1986 | – | $78B |
| 1985 | – | $79B |
| 1984 | – | $78.3B |
| 1983 | – | $74.6B |
| 1982 | – | $71.4B |
| 1981 | – | $65.5B |
| 1980 | – | $66.8B |
| 1979 | – | $62.7B |
| 1978 | – | $60.8B |
| 1977 | – | $58.9B |
| 1976 | – | $61.6B |
| 1975 | – | $62.5B |
| 1974 | – | $59.5B |
| 1973 | – | $59.5B |
| 1972 | – | $59.3B |
| 1971 | – | $55.7B |
| 1970 | – | $55.9B |
| 1969 | – | $54.2B |
| 1968 | – | $57.4B |
| 1967 | – | $58.2B |
| 1966 | – | $56.8B |
| 1965 | – | $57.1B |
| 1964 | – | $56.9B |
| 1963 | – | $55.4B |
| 1962 | – | $54.5B |
| 1961 | – | $53.8B |
| 1960 | – | $53.8B |
| 1959 | – | $52.7B |
| 1958 | – | $53B |
| 1957 | – | $54.4B |
| 1956 | – | $56.4B |
| 1955 | – | $57.4B |
| 1954 | – | $60.3B |
| 1953 | – | $63.5B |
| 1952 | – | $57.2B |
| 1951 | – | $44.7B |
| 1950 | – | $38B |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
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 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
- Armed forces, share of workersUnited Arab Emirates: 1.02% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- 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