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Population density: United Arab Emirates vs Zambia compared

Updated on by Georank team

The United Arab Emirates has a population density of 424 people per square mile compared to 78.5 people in Zambia. The United Arab Emirates has 81,907 sq ft of land per person vs 380,067 sq ft in Zambia. The United Arab Emirates and Zambia rank 62nd and 157th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The United Arab Emirates has 0.14% of the world's population and 0.05% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.26% of the population and 0.5% of the land area for Zambia, making the population density in the United Arab Emirates 440% higher than in Zambia.

Population density by year

United Arab Emirates
Zambia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
UAE Zambia
2026 424 78.5
2025 415 76.4
2024 401 74.3
2023 382 72.2
2022 367 70.2
2021 349 68.3
2020 343 66.4
2019 344 64.5
2018 341 62.6
2017 336 60.8
2016 326 58.9
2015 310 57.1
2014 293.9 55.4
2013 280.6 53.7
2012 269.6 52
2011 259.1 50.3
2010 250.5 48.7
2009 244.6 47
2008 229.8 45.4
2007 205.1 43.8
2006 182.7 42.3
2005 170.1 40.8
2004 161.5 39.5
2003 152.9 38.3
2002 144.3 37.1
2001 135.8 36
2000 127.4 34.9
1999 119.1 33.9
1998 110.9 33
1997 102.7 32.2
1996 94.7 31.4
1995 88.8 30.6
1994 84.9 29.9
1993 81 29.2
1992 77.1 28.5
1991 73.2 27.8
1990 69.2 27.1
1989 65.3 26.4
1988 61.3 25.8
1987 57.4 25.1
1986 53.5 24.3
1985 50.3 23.6
1984 47.6 22.9
1983 45 22.2
1982 42.5 21.5
1981 40.1 20.8
1980 37 20.2
1979 33.3 19.6
1978 29.5 19
1977 25.9 18.5
1976 22.5 17.9
1975 19.8 17.4
1974 17.8 16.9
1973 15.9 16.4
1972 14 15.9
1971 12.2 15.5
1970 10.4 15.1
1969 8.74 14.6
1968 7.27 14.2
1967 6.55 13.7
1966 6.34 13.3
1965 6.09 12.9
1964 5.82 12.5
1963 5.55 12.1
1962 5.29 11.7
1961 5.03 11.3

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the United Arab Emirates increased by 132.2%, compared to a 85.7% growth in Zambia.

In 2006, the United Arab Emirates ranked 102nd by population density and is 62nd now. Zambia was 164th in 2006 and ranks 157th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

United Arab Emirates
Zambia
1x
Year Urban population
UAE Zambia
2024 85.8% 45.5%
2023 85.7% 45%
2022 85.5% 44.6%
2021 85.4% 44.2%
2020 85.2% 43.9%
2019 85% 43.5%
2018 84.9% 43.1%
2017 84.7% 42.7%
2016 84.5% 42.3%
2015 84.3% 42%
2014 84.1% 41.6%
2013 84% 41.2%
2012 83.8% 40.8%
2011 83.6% 40.4%
2010 83.4% 40%
2009 83.2% 39.5%
2008 83% 39%
2007 82.8% 38.4%
2006 82.6% 37.8%
2005 82.2% 37.3%
2004 81.5% 36.8%
2003 80.8% 36.4%
2002 80.3% 36.1%
2001 79.7% 35.9%
2000 79.3% 35.9%
1999 78.9% 36.2%
1998 78.6% 36.7%
1997 78.4% 37.4%
1996 78.3% 38%
1995 78.3% 38.4%
1994 78.3% 38.7%
1993 78.4% 38.9%
1992 78.4% 39.1%
1991 78.6% 39.3%
1990 78.7% 39.4%
1989 78.8% 39.5%
1988 79% 39.5%
1987 79.2% 39.6%
1986 79.3% 39.7%
1985 79.5% 39.7%
1984 79.7% 39.8%
1983 80% 39.8%
1982 80.3% 39.9%
1981 80.7% 39.9%
1980 81.1% 39.9%
1979 81.8% 39.7%
1978 82.6% 39.3%
1977 83.4% 38.6%
1976 83.9% 37.8%
1975 83.9% 36.8%
1974 83.7% 35.6%
1973 83.2% 34.4%
1972 82.6% 33.2%
1971 82% 31.9%
1970 81.2% 30.7%
1969 80.5% 29.4%
1968 79.8% 28%
1967 79.2% 26.4%
1966 78.5% 24.6%
1965 77.8% 22.9%
1964 77.1% 21.3%
1963 76.3% 20.1%
1962 75.5% 19.1%
1961 74.5% 18.1%
1960 73.5% 17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/united-arab-emirates/zambia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 81.5% to 85.8% in the United Arab Emirates and from 36.8% to 45.5% in Zambia.

Densely populated cities

UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

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/zambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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