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

Health

be 15.1% less likely to be obese

In United Arab Emirates, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live 6.4 years less

In United Arab Emirates, the average life expectancy is 83 years (82 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 51.5% less spent on your healthcare

United Arab Emirates spends $3,727 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 3.4 times more likely to die by suicide

United Arab Emirates has a suicide rate of 1.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 5.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In United Arab Emirates, 2.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Macedonia, that number is 12.3% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

make 79.1% less money

United Arab Emirates has a GDP per capita of $50,274 as of 2024, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 34.2% less likely to die during infancy

In United Arab Emirates, approximately 3.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Macedonia, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

have 10.4% fewer children

In United Arab Emirates, there are approximately 9.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Macedonia, there are 8.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 49.5% more on healthcare

United Arab Emirates spends 5.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 7.4% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 2.2 times more likely to be murdered

United Arab Emirates has a homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Macedonia, that number is 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 96.5% less strain on fresh water

United Arab Emirates withdraws 1510% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Macedonia withdraws 53% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

find 26.8% less home broadband

United Arab Emirates has 40.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Macedonia has 29.9 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

use 78.3% less electricity

United Arab Emirates uses 15,285 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 11.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In United Arab Emirates, air pollution causes 70.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Macedonia, it causes 62.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 78.1% less CO2

United Arab Emirates emits 18.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). How we calculate this

Macedonia: At a glance

Macedonia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 25,433 sq km. Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004, the US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, improving relations with Bulgaria, carrying out democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.
Read more

How big is Macedonia compared to United Arab Emirates? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Macedonia or United Arab Emirates. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.