The United Arab Emirates has a population density of 424 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. The United Arab Emirates has 81,907 sq ft of land per person and ranks 62nd out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
The United Arab Emirates has 0.14% of the world's population and 0.05% of the total land area of all countries.
The United Arab Emirates population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 424 | 62 |
| 2025 | 415 | 62 |
| 2024 | 401 | 62 |
| 2023 | 382 | 66 |
| 2022 | 367 | 68 |
| 2021 | 349 | 70 |
| 2020 | 343 | 70 |
| 2019 | 344 | 70 |
| 2018 | 341 | 70 |
| 2017 | 336 | 70 |
| 2016 | 326 | 71 |
| 2015 | 310 | 73 |
| 2014 | 293.9 | 75 |
| 2013 | 280.6 | 79 |
| 2012 | 269.6 | 81 |
| 2011 | 259.1 | 83 |
| 2010 | 250.5 | 82 |
| 2009 | 244.6 | 82 |
| 2008 | 229.8 | 86 |
| 2007 | 205.1 | 95 |
| 2006 | 182.7 | 102 |
| 2005 | 170.1 | 107 |
| 2004 | 161.5 | 111 |
| 2003 | 152.9 | 113 |
| 2002 | 144.3 | 116 |
| 2001 | 135.8 | 118 |
| 2000 | 127.4 | 121 |
| 1999 | 119.1 | 119 |
| 1998 | 110.9 | 121 |
| 1997 | 102.7 | 124 |
| 1996 | 94.7 | 129 |
| 1995 | 88.8 | 130 |
| 1994 | 84.9 | 131 |
| 1993 | 81 | 131 |
| 1992 | 77.1 | 129 |
| 1991 | 73.2 | 114 |
| 1990 | 69.2 | 114 |
| 1989 | 65.3 | 118 |
| 1988 | 61.3 | 118 |
| 1987 | 57.4 | 118 |
| 1986 | 53.5 | 119 |
| 1985 | 50.3 | 121 |
| 1984 | 47.6 | 121 |
| 1983 | 45 | 121 |
| 1982 | 42.5 | 124 |
| 1981 | 40.1 | 126 |
| 1980 | 37 | 128 |
| 1979 | 33.3 | 131 |
| 1978 | 29.5 | 132 |
| 1977 | 25.9 | 134 |
| 1976 | 22.5 | 136 |
| 1975 | 19.8 | 138 |
| 1974 | 17.8 | 139 |
| 1973 | 15.9 | 143 |
| 1972 | 14 | 145 |
| 1971 | 12.2 | 147 |
| 1970 | 10.4 | 149 |
| 1969 | 8.74 | 151 |
| 1968 | 7.27 | 153 |
| 1967 | 6.55 | 153 |
| 1966 | 6.34 | 153 |
| 1965 | 6.09 | 153 |
| 1964 | 5.82 | 153 |
| 1963 | 5.55 | 153 |
| 1962 | 5.29 | 154 |
| 1961 | 5.03 | 155 |
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/population-density/united-arab-emirates | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in the United Arab Emirates has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 132.2%. The United Arab Emirates ranked 102nd by population density 20 years ago and ranks 62nd today.
Density metrics
UAE
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 424 ppl/mi² | 62/197 |
| Population |
11686438
|
86/197 |
| Land area | 27,421 sq mi | 117/197 |
| Land area per capita | 69,582 sq ft | 136/197 |
| Rural population | 14.2% | 164/195 |
| Urban population | 85.8% | 32/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 57.9% | 6/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 85.8% | 32 |
| 2023 | 85.7% | 32 |
| 2022 | 85.5% | 32 |
| 2021 | 85.4% | 32 |
| 2020 | 85.2% | 32 |
| 2019 | 85% | 32 |
| 2018 | 84.9% | 32 |
| 2017 | 84.7% | 32 |
| 2016 | 84.5% | 33 |
| 2015 | 84.3% | 33 |
| 2014 | 84.1% | 32 |
| 2013 | 84% | 32 |
| 2012 | 83.8% | 32 |
| 2011 | 83.6% | 31 |
| 2010 | 83.4% | 31 |
| 2009 | 83.2% | 31 |
| 2008 | 83% | 31 |
| 2007 | 82.8% | 30 |
| 2006 | 82.6% | 30 |
| 2005 | 82.2% | 30 |
| 2004 | 81.5% | 31 |
| 2003 | 80.8% | 31 |
| 2002 | 80.3% | 33 |
| 2001 | 79.7% | 34 |
| 2000 | 79.3% | 33 |
| 1999 | 78.9% | 32 |
| 1998 | 78.6% | 32 |
| 1997 | 78.4% | 32 |
| 1996 | 78.3% | 32 |
| 1995 | 78.3% | 31 |
| 1994 | 78.3% | 30 |
| 1993 | 78.4% | 28 |
| 1992 | 78.4% | 28 |
| 1991 | 78.6% | 28 |
| 1990 | 78.7% | 27 |
| 1989 | 78.8% | 27 |
| 1988 | 79% | 26 |
| 1987 | 79.2% | 26 |
| 1986 | 79.3% | 25 |
| 1985 | 79.5% | 25 |
| 1984 | 79.7% | 24 |
| 1983 | 80% | 23 |
| 1982 | 80.3% | 23 |
| 1981 | 80.7% | 21 |
| 1980 | 81.1% | 21 |
| 1979 | 81.8% | 18 |
| 1978 | 82.6% | 16 |
| 1977 | 83.4% | 13 |
| 1976 | 83.9% | 12 |
| 1975 | 83.9% | 12 |
| 1974 | 83.7% | 12 |
| 1973 | 83.2% | 11 |
| 1972 | 82.6% | 11 |
| 1971 | 82% | 11 |
| 1970 | 81.2% | 12 |
| 1969 | 80.5% | 12 |
| 1968 | 79.8% | 12 |
| 1967 | 79.2% | 12 |
| 1966 | 78.5% | 13 |
| 1965 | 77.8% | 13 |
| 1964 | 77.1% | 14 |
| 1963 | 76.3% | 15 |
| 1962 | 75.5% | 15 |
| 1961 | 74.5% | 15 |
| 1960 | 73.5% | 16 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in the United Arab Emirates from 1960 to 2024: 73.5% lived in urban areas in 1960, 79.3% in 2000, and 85.8% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
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Population density in other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population-density/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2015–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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