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Population in Somalia compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,009,151 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,503,678 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 1.75 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Somalia is ranked the 66th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.25% for Somalia vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Somalia has had an average growth rate of +3.61% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.5M (86.8% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Somalia vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia UAE
2100 68,384,185 26,368,750
2099 68,040,371 26,130,374
2098 67,702,230 25,894,010
2097 67,362,336 25,660,062
2096 66,972,933 25,427,961
2095 66,585,659 25,197,670
2094 66,179,819 24,968,891
2093 65,760,590 24,741,434
2092 65,324,261 24,515,086
2091 64,852,843 24,289,496
2090 64,362,727 24,064,404
2089 63,922,797 23,839,033
2088 63,464,036 23,613,963
2087 62,987,028 23,388,786
2086 62,447,029 23,163,641
2085 61,873,597 22,938,169
2084 61,318,916 22,711,804
2083 60,761,800 22,484,154
2082 60,187,980 22,255,625
2081 59,676,722 22,026,183
2080 59,100,915 21,796,073
2079 58,477,428 21,565,118
2078 57,852,528 21,333,574
2077 57,211,821 21,101,274
2076 56,602,463 20,868,733
2075 56,005,600 20,636,203
2074 55,330,165 20,404,044
2073 54,651,918 20,171,659
2072 53,978,548 19,940,853
2071 53,284,016 19,710,934
2070 52,573,210 19,483,026
2069 51,878,214 19,256,572
2068 51,197,653 19,032,681
2067 50,493,028 18,811,331
2066 49,779,172 18,593,017
2065 49,024,665 18,377,364
2064 48,265,876 18,164,584
2063 47,522,361 17,955,352
2062 46,785,920 17,749,596
2061 46,037,526 17,547,827
2060 45,220,507 17,349,620
2059 44,397,936 17,153,273
2058 43,659,021 16,959,263
2057 42,897,422 16,767,893
2056 42,121,542 16,579,195
2055 41,318,179 16,392,558
2054 40,513,141 16,207,309
2053 39,744,995 16,024,789
2052 38,992,177 15,844,357
2051 38,228,872 15,665,362
2050 37,471,735 15,487,008
2049 36,739,905 15,309,031
2048 35,984,999 15,132,784
2047 35,218,863 14,958,209
2046 34,462,403 14,788,046
2045 33,717,596 14,620,902
2044 32,977,674 14,454,466
2043 32,247,710 14,289,021
2042 31,537,272 14,124,515
2041 30,794,853 13,961,010
2040 30,032,324 13,798,651
2039 29,312,883 13,637,499
2038 28,583,386 13,477,450
2037 27,838,646 13,319,346
2036 27,114,453 13,163,073
2035 26,385,421 13,009,160
2034 25,687,629 12,857,729
2033 25,018,509 12,709,520
2032 24,338,597 12,564,906
2031 23,657,353 12,424,286
2030 22,965,742 12,288,186
2029 22,299,610 12,148,661
2028 21,651,582 11,999,549
2027 20,991,860 11,831,082
2026 20,322,668 11,632,806
2025 19,666,990 11,367,504
2024 19,009,151 10,986,400
2023 18,358,615 10,483,751
2022 17,801,897 10,074,977
2021 17,271,431 9,575,152
2020 16,651,191 9,401,038
2019 16,030,971 9,445,785
2018 15,452,487 9,346,701
2017 14,916,629 9,223,225
2016 14,348,740 8,935,095
2015 13,806,963 8,505,237
2014 13,339,491 8,059,440
2013 12,869,594 7,693,031
2012 12,461,160 7,391,448
2011 12,348,830 7,104,538
2010 12,261,756 6,869,838
2009 11,961,201 6,707,058
2008 11,663,084 6,302,664
2007 11,322,582 5,624,635
2006 10,975,502 5,009,100
2005 10,644,228 4,664,790
2004 10,280,998 4,428,967
2003 9,909,157 4,192,457
2002 9,550,063 3,956,826
2001 9,198,493 3,723,590
2000 8,838,713 3,493,575
1999 8,492,059 3,266,009
1998 8,155,417 3,040,421
1997 7,824,525 2,817,410
1996 7,554,474 2,597,564
1995 7,285,007 2,434,662
1994 7,026,797 2,328,188
1993 6,681,399 2,222,093
1992 6,495,107 2,114,730
1991 6,813,760 2,006,626
1990 7,082,811 1,898,220
1989 7,114,817 1,789,851
1988 7,235,360 1,681,788
1987 7,228,302 1,574,244
1986 6,974,788 1,467,383
1985 6,693,289 1,377,911
1984 6,428,389 1,305,996
1983 6,198,430 1,235,305
1982 6,003,840 1,166,370
1981 5,982,849 1,099,855
1980 5,936,154 1,015,700
1979 5,449,117 912,010
1978 4,814,892 809,274
1977 4,484,050 710,209
1976 4,365,812 615,866
1975 4,257,535 542,856
1974 4,151,842 489,087
1973 4,045,592 436,399
1972 3,939,436 385,014
1971 3,837,691 335,027
1970 3,738,448 286,536
1969 3,641,015 239,660
1968 3,546,590 199,416
1967 3,454,537 179,700
1966 3,365,106 173,976
1965 3,277,874 167,103
1964 3,192,796 159,692
1963 3,110,361 152,211
1962 3,030,091 144,946
1961 2,952,054 137,989
1960 2,876,331 131,334

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Somalia increased by 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Somalia gained 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Somalia was ranked 75th most populous country in 2006 and is 66th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Somalia's population will grow by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Somalia
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Somalia UAE
2100 0.51% 0.91%
2099 0.5% 0.91%
2098 0.5% 0.91%
2097 0.58% 0.91%
2096 0.58% 0.91%
2095 0.61% 0.92%
2094 0.64% 0.92%
2093 0.67% 0.92%
2092 0.73% 0.93%
2091 0.76% 0.94%
2090 0.69% 0.95%
2089 0.72% 0.95%
2088 0.76% 0.96%
2087 0.86% 0.97%
2086 0.93% 0.98%
2085 0.9% 1%
2084 0.92% 1.01%
2083 0.95% 1.03%
2082 0.86% 1.04%
2081 0.97% 1.06%
2080 1.07% 1.07%
2079 1.08% 1.09%
2078 1.12% 1.1%
2077 1.08% 1.11%
2076 1.07% 1.13%
2075 1.22% 1.14%
2074 1.24% 1.15%
2073 1.25% 1.16%
2072 1.3% 1.17%
2071 1.35% 1.17%
2070 1.34% 1.18%
2069 1.33% 1.18%
2068 1.4% 1.18%
2067 1.43% 1.17%
2066 1.54% 1.17%
2065 1.57% 1.17%
2064 1.56% 1.17%
2063 1.57% 1.16%
2062 1.63% 1.15%
2061 1.81% 1.14%
2060 1.85% 1.14%
2059 1.69% 1.14%
2058 1.78% 1.14%
2057 1.84% 1.14%
2056 1.94% 1.14%
2055 1.99% 1.14%
2054 1.93% 1.14%
2053 1.93% 1.14%
2052 2% 1.14%
2051 2.02% 1.15%
2050 1.99% 1.16%
2049 2.1% 1.16%
2048 2.18% 1.17%
2047 2.2% 1.15%
2046 2.21% 1.14%
2045 2.24% 1.15%
2044 2.26% 1.16%
2043 2.25% 1.16%
2042 2.41% 1.17%
2041 2.54% 1.18%
2040 2.45% 1.18%
2039 2.55% 1.19%
2038 2.68% 1.19%
2037 2.67% 1.19%
2036 2.76% 1.18%
2035 2.72% 1.18%
2034 2.67% 1.17%
2033 2.79% 1.15%
2032 2.88% 1.13%
2031 3.01% 1.11%
2030 2.99% 1.15%
2029 2.99% 1.24%
2028 3.14% 1.42%
2027 3.29% 1.7%
2026 3.33% 2.33%
2025 3.46% 3.47%
2024 3.54% 4.79%
2023 3.13% 4.06%
2022 3.07% 5.22%
2021 3.72% 1.85%
2020 3.87% -0.47%
2019 3.74% 1.06%
2018 3.59% 1.34%
2017 3.96% 3.22%
2016 3.92% 5.05%
2015 3.5% 5.53%
2014 3.65% 4.76%
2013 3.28% 4.08%
2012 0.91% 4.04%
2011 0.71% 3.42%
2010 2.51% 2.43%
2009 2.56% 6.42%
2008 3.01% 12.1%
2007 3.16% 12.3%
2006 3.11% 7.38%
2005 3.53% 5.32%
2004 3.75% 5.64%
2003 3.76% 5.96%
2002 3.82% 6.26%
2001 4.07% 6.58%
2000 4.08% 6.97%
1999 4.13% 7.42%
1998 4.23% 7.92%
1997 3.57% 8.46%
1996 3.7% 6.69%
1995 3.67% 4.57%
1994 5.17% 4.77%
1993 2.87% 5.08%
1992 -4.68% 5.39%
1991 -3.8% 5.71%
1990 -0.45% 6.05%
1989 -1.67% 6.43%
1988 0.1% 6.83%
1987 3.63% 7.28%
1986 4.21% 6.49%
1985 4.12% 5.51%
1984 3.71% 5.72%
1983 3.24% 5.91%
1982 0.35% 6.05%
1981 0.79% 8.29%
1980 8.94% 11.4%
1979 13.2% 12.7%
1978 7.38% 13.9%
1977 2.71% 15.3%
1976 2.54% 13.4%
1975 2.55% 11%
1974 2.63% 12.1%
1973 2.69% 13.3%
1972 2.65% 14.9%
1971 2.65% 16.9%
1970 2.68% 19.6%
1969 2.66% 20.2%
1968 2.66% 11%
1967 2.66% 3.29%
1966 2.66% 4.11%
1965 2.66% 4.64%
1964 2.65% 4.91%
1963 2.65% 5.01%
1962 2.64% 5.04%
1961 2.63% 5.07%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Somalia grew by 3.54%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Somalia UAE
Current population
20503678
11686438
Population rank 66/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.14%
One net population change
48.5 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
40 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,782 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +650,536 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +3.54% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 3/197
One migration net change every
43.6 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +12,077 +158,634
Net migration rank 40/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 77,972 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 140/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 180/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Somalia
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Somalia UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 12,077 - 158,634
2024 - 26,859 - 278,439
2023 608,203 46,217 92,698 300,004
2022 551,450 -92,434 81,758 322,773
2021 566,399 35,506 76,802 421,663
2020 561,311 77,259 87,871 92,541
2019 548,756 53,124 86,296 -125,186
2018 514,244 40,844 86,840 14,611
2017 478,556 38,067 89,382 34,155
2016 495,132 124,017 87,028 195,317
2015 481,573 -17,178 85,044 342,468
2014 464,481 6,065 84,277 360,174
2013 448,518 20,723 82,977 279,269
2012 399,468 -51,833 78,682 225,921
2011 203,213 -326,192 73,496 215,183
2010 385,571 -88,448 69,907 161,842
2009 405,784 -101,795 66,521 163,643
2008 394,258 -102,035 55,426 523,207
2007 380,303 8,476 55,048 722,380
2006 372,597 -67,200 54,338 399,306
2005 363,117 -5,955 60,046 174,926
2004 351,959 17,353 60,344 176,319
2003 341,192 33,174 59,118 177,237
2002 331,215 12,603 55,922 178,988
2001 319,059 40,274 52,789 178,779
2000 306,651 53,580 49,993 178,469
1999 295,523 37,548 46,198 180,469
1998 284,779 55,426 41,176 183,329
1997 271,894 49,692 38,207 183,310
1996 264,807 -46,291 37,886 180,296
1995 254,509 65,888 38,685 68,938
1994 246,950 -50,921 42,976 62,352
1993 232,960 261,815 41,324 65,545
1992 57,495 -179,675 42,119 65,739
1991 53,052 -568,166 41,409 66,943
1990 225,162 -248,155 41,339 67,118
1989 225,255 -266,281 40,148 68,132
1988 215,599 -415,660 38,861 68,991
1987 231,580 -17,391 37,741 69,493
1986 218,416 74,424 36,829 69,655
1985 207,960 62,183 34,855 37,605
1984 199,017 60,630 33,250 38,124
1983 190,775 9,505 31,480 38,536
1982 182,793 6,115 29,585 38,276
1981 185,211 -332,129 27,560 37,600
1980 174,790 65,519 25,005 78,148
1979 151,016 582,746 21,987 82,238
1978 132,689 402,005 18,879 82,359
1977 124,818 2,170 15,787 81,111
1976 113,319 -3,831 12,876 78,903
1975 108,998 -1,934 11,859 42,380
1974 104,813 -495 10,835 42,474
1973 108,038 143 9,822 42,243
1972 104,493 -351 8,818 41,888
1971 101,196 -1,850 7,839 41,425
1970 98,025 1,104 6,922 40,792
1969 95,045 690 6,138 39,902
1968 92,208 906 5,588 28,866
1967 89,497 1,498 5,264 -283
1966 86,930 941 4,955 1,516
1965 84,448 2,142 4,675 2,598
1964 82,042 1,518 4,410 3,126
1963 79,859 1,449 4,157 3,264
1962 77,737 1,496 3,901 3,212
1961 75,513 1,336 3,657 3,141
1960 73,850 750 3,418 3,102

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.4% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people). In the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 77,972 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Somalia, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

Biggest cities by population

Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K
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
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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