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Population Density of the United Arab Emirates: history and ranking

Updated on by Georank team

The United Arab Emirates has a population density of 397 people per square mile compared to the World's average of 141.6 people. The United Arab Emirates has 82,731 sq ft of land per person. In the list of countries ranked from the most to the least densely populated, the United Arab Emirates ranked 62nd out of 197.

The United Arab Emirates has 0.13% of the world's population and 0.05% of all countries' land area.

Population density in the United Arab Emirates compared to the World's average

UAE World
Population density 397 ppl/mi² 141.6 ppl/mi²
Population density rank 62/197 N/A
Population
11372700
8266870341
Land area 27,421 sq mi 57,506,055 sq mi
Land area per capita 70,282 sq ft 196,901 sq ft
Rural population 12% 42.3%
Urban population 88% 57.7%
Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people 62.2% 28.6%

The United Arab Emirates population density by year chart

The chart below plots how population density in the United Arab Emirates has been changing over time. From 2004 to 2024, population density increased by 145.6%. The population density rank was 111th 21 years ago and is 62nd today.

United Arab Emirates
Population density

Density rank

people per square mile

Year Population density Density rank
2024 397 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 119.1 118
1998 110.9 120
1997 102.7 123
1996 94.7 128
1995 88.8 129
1994 84.9 130
1993 81 130
1992 77.1 128
1991 73.2 113
1990 69.2 113
1989 65.3 116
1988 61.3 116
1987 57.4 116
1986 53.5 117
1985 50.3 119
1984 47.6 119
1983 45 119
1982 42.5 122
1981 40.1 124
1980 37 126
1979 33.3 129
1978 29.5 130
1977 25.9 132
1976 22.5 134
1975 19.8 136
1974 17.8 137
1973 15.9 141
1972 14 143
1971 12.2 145
1970 10.4 147
1969 8.74 149
1968 7.27 151
1967 6.55 151
1966 6.34 151
1965 6.09 151
1964 5.82 151
1963 5.55 151
1962 5.29 152
1961 5.03 153

Share of urban population by year chart

The following chart shows the share of the urban population in the United Arab Emirates from 1960 to 2024: 73.5% of population lived in urban areas in 1960, 80.2% in 2000, and in 2024 the share of the urban population was 88%.

United Arab Emirates
Urban population share

Rank
Year Urban population Rank
2024 88% 28
2023 87.8% 28
2022 87.5% 29
2021 87.3% 28
2020 87% 28
2019 86.8% 28
2018 86.5% 29
2017 86.2% 29
2016 86% 29
2015 85.7% 30
2014 85.4% 30
2013 85.1% 31
2012 84.7% 31
2011 84.4% 30
2010 84.1% 30
2009 83.7% 30
2008 83.4% 30
2007 83% 30
2006 82.6% 30
2005 82.3% 30
2004 81.9% 29
2003 81.5% 29
2002 81.1% 29
2001 80.7% 28
2000 80.2% 28
1999 79.8% 28
1998 79.4% 29
1997 78.9% 29
1996 78.5% 29
1995 78.3% 29
1994 78.5% 27
1993 78.6% 27
1992 78.8% 27
1991 78.9% 27
1990 79.1% 27
1989 79.2% 26
1988 79.3% 25
1987 79.5% 25
1986 79.6% 25
1985 79.8% 24
1984 80% 24
1983 80.2% 24
1982 80.5% 23
1981 80.7% 22
1980 80.7% 22
1979 80.5% 21
1978 80.3% 20
1977 80.1% 20
1976 79.9% 20
1975 79.8% 20
1974 79.8% 20
1973 79.8% 19
1972 79.8% 18
1971 79.8% 18
1970 79.8% 17
1969 79.8% 16
1968 79.8% 15
1967 79.3% 15
1966 78.5% 15
1965 77.7% 16
1964 76.9% 16
1963 76.1% 16
1962 75.2% 17
1961 74.4% 18
1960 73.5% 19

Densely populated cities

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

people per square mile

Population density

Population density comparisons

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