Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 69.6% less likely to be obese

In United Arab Emirates, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Philippines, that number is 9.6% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live 13.1 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 Philippines, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 85.0% less spent on your healthcare

United Arab Emirates spends $3,727 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Philippines spends $560 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 73.5% fewer doctors per person

United Arab Emirates has 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Philippines has 7.9 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

have 29.3% less access to essential health services

United Arab Emirates scores 82 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Philippines scores 58 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 2.0 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 Philippines, it is 3.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 91.7% less money

United Arab Emirates has a GDP per capita of $50,274 as of 2024, while in Philippines, the GDP per capita is $4,171 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

have 61.8% more children

In United Arab Emirates, there are approximately 9.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Philippines, there are 15.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 28.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In United Arab Emirates, approximately 3.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Philippines, 84.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 5.7 times more 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 Philippines, on the other hand, 21.7 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 32.7% less likely to have internet access

In United Arab Emirates, approximately 100.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Philippines, about 67.3% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Geography

see 27.5 times more coastline

United Arab Emirates has a total of 1,318 km of coastline. In Philippines, that number is 36,289 km.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 6.3 times more likely to be murdered

United Arab Emirates has a homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Philippines, that number is 4.3 per 100,000 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 64.4% more likely to die in a road accident

In United Arab Emirates, road accidents kill 5.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Philippines, they kill 9.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 98.2% less strain on fresh water

United Arab Emirates withdraws 1510% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Philippines withdraws 28% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

find 82.5% less home broadband

United Arab Emirates has 40.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Philippines has 7.1 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

use 94.0% less electricity

United Arab Emirates uses 15,285 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Philippines uses 925 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Environment

emit 91.8% less CO2

United Arab Emirates emits 18.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Philippines emits 1.5 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 31.4% more likely to die from air pollution

In United Arab Emirates, air pollution causes 70.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Philippines, it causes 92.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

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

Compare further: United Arab Emirates vs. Philippines

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Philippines is 56.8% cheaper than United Arab Emirates overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
United Arab Emirates is about 3.6 times smaller than Philippines.
→
Moving from United Arab Emirates to Philippines · UN DESA 2020
457 people born in United Arab Emirates live in Philippines.
→

Philippines: At a glance

Philippines is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 298,170 sq km. The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 20-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Read more

How big is Philippines 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 Philippines 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.