Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Arab Emirates instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

be 35.7% less likely to be obese

In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United Arab Emirates, that number is 31.6% of people as of 2024.

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live 1.1 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In United Arab Emirates, that number is 83 years (82 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 81.4% less likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United Arab Emirates, that number is 2.2% as of 2025.

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make 2.2 times more money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in United Arab Emirates, the GDP per capita is $50,274 as of 2024.

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Life

be 13.6% less likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, 3.8 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 37.6% more likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In United Arab Emirates, about 100.0% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 47.8% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In United Arab Emirates, that number is 1,318 km.

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Infrastructure

find 14.9% more home broadband

French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. United Arab Emirates has 40.8 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 5.3 times more CO2

French Polynesia emits 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United Arab Emirates emits 18.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: French Polynesia vs. United Arab Emirates

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
United Arab Emirates is 14.9% cheaper than French Polynesia overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
French Polynesia is about 20 times smaller than United Arab Emirates.
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Moving from French Polynesia to United Arab Emirates · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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United Arab Emirates: At a glance

United Arab Emirates is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 83,600 sq km. The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its high oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. However, in 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE has essentially avoided the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East, though in March 2011, political activists and intellectuals signed a petition calling for greater public participation in governance that was widely circulated on the Internet. In an effort to stem potential further unrest, the government announced a multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates and aggressively pursued advocates of political reform.
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How big is United Arab Emirates compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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