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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Spain was 48,848,840 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Spain's population is 48,806,901 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 4.18 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Spain is ranked the 32nd most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.59% for Spain vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Spain has had an average growth rate of +0.43% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Spain has increased from 44.4M people to 48.8M (9.93% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Spain vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Spain
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Spain UAE
2100 33,862,981 26,368,750
2099 34,039,965 26,130,374
2098 34,215,187 25,894,010
2097 34,387,116 25,660,062
2096 34,552,002 25,427,961
2095 34,719,411 25,197,670
2094 34,882,039 24,968,891
2093 35,044,043 24,741,434
2092 35,204,657 24,515,086
2091 35,366,895 24,289,496
2090 35,535,838 24,064,404
2089 35,707,942 23,839,033
2088 35,877,681 23,613,963
2087 36,043,209 23,388,786
2086 36,210,710 23,163,641
2085 36,386,207 22,938,169
2084 36,564,622 22,711,804
2083 36,749,680 22,484,154
2082 36,936,644 22,255,625
2081 37,133,976 22,026,183
2080 37,337,517 21,796,073
2079 37,551,557 21,565,118
2078 37,771,135 21,333,574
2077 38,002,963 21,101,274
2076 38,249,247 20,868,733
2075 38,506,040 20,636,203
2074 38,777,715 20,404,044
2073 39,056,249 20,171,659
2072 39,348,447 19,940,853
2071 39,642,346 19,710,934
2070 39,949,413 19,483,026
2069 40,256,590 19,256,572
2068 40,575,543 19,032,681
2067 40,893,798 18,811,331
2066 41,218,263 18,593,017
2065 41,543,254 18,377,364
2064 41,878,338 18,164,584
2063 42,208,320 17,955,352
2062 42,542,893 17,749,596
2061 42,874,096 17,547,827
2060 43,191,452 17,349,620
2059 43,506,737 17,153,273
2058 43,809,907 16,959,263
2057 44,112,668 16,767,893
2056 44,415,689 16,579,195
2055 44,691,749 16,392,558
2054 44,958,971 16,207,309
2053 45,223,225 16,024,789
2052 45,470,541 15,844,357
2051 45,695,307 15,665,362
2050 45,911,520 15,487,008
2049 46,127,777 15,309,031
2048 46,322,244 15,132,784
2047 46,510,152 14,958,209
2046 46,687,914 14,788,046
2045 46,858,778 14,620,902
2044 47,016,278 14,454,466
2043 47,158,325 14,289,021
2042 47,301,091 14,124,515
2041 47,434,593 13,961,010
2040 47,563,236 13,798,651
2039 47,685,343 13,637,499
2038 47,798,797 13,477,450
2037 47,910,899 13,319,346
2036 48,020,350 13,163,073
2035 48,124,430 13,009,160
2034 48,220,051 12,857,729
2033 48,311,842 12,709,520
2032 48,402,470 12,564,906
2031 48,495,278 12,424,286
2030 48,579,920 12,288,186
2029 48,648,699 12,148,661
2028 48,707,969 11,999,549
2027 48,758,200 11,831,082
2026 48,806,901 11,632,806
2025 48,838,057 11,367,504
2024 48,848,840 10,986,400
2023 48,352,528 10,483,751
2022 47,786,102 10,074,977
2021 47,443,821 9,575,152
2020 47,359,424 9,401,038
2019 47,118,501 9,445,785
2018 46,782,011 9,346,701
2017 46,571,232 9,223,225
2016 46,458,139 8,935,095
2015 46,422,303 8,505,237
2014 46,460,733 8,059,440
2013 46,604,197 7,693,031
2012 46,773,055 7,391,448
2011 46,742,697 7,104,538
2010 46,576,897 6,869,838
2009 46,362,946 6,707,058
2008 45,954,106 6,302,664
2007 45,226,803 5,624,635
2006 44,397,319 5,009,100
2005 43,653,155 4,664,790
2004 42,921,895 4,428,967
2003 42,187,645 4,192,457
2002 41,431,558 3,956,826
2001 40,850,412 3,723,590
2000 40,567,864 3,493,575
1999 40,386,875 3,266,009
1998 40,223,509 3,040,421
1997 40,057,389 2,817,410
1996 39,889,852 2,597,564
1995 39,724,050 2,434,662
1994 39,549,108 2,328,188
1993 39,361,262 2,222,093
1992 39,157,685 2,114,730
1991 38,966,376 2,006,626
1990 38,867,322 1,898,220
1989 38,827,764 1,789,851
1988 38,766,939 1,681,788
1987 38,684,815 1,574,244
1986 38,584,624 1,467,383
1985 38,469,512 1,377,911
1984 38,330,364 1,305,996
1983 38,171,525 1,235,305
1982 37,986,012 1,166,370
1981 37,758,631 1,099,855
1980 37,491,165 1,015,700
1979 37,191,330 912,010
1978 36,864,898 809,274
1977 36,511,638 710,209
1976 36,137,812 615,866
1975 35,757,900 542,856
1974 35,373,335 489,087
1973 34,988,947 436,399
1972 34,604,469 385,014
1971 34,224,490 335,027
1970 33,814,531 286,536
1969 33,441,054 239,660
1968 33,113,134 199,416
1967 32,682,947 179,700
1966 32,283,194 173,976
1965 31,954,292 167,103
1964 31,609,195 159,692
1963 31,296,651 152,211
1962 31,023,366 144,946
1961 30,739,250 137,989
1960 30,455,000 131,334

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/spain/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Spain increased by 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Spain gained 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Spain was ranked 28th most populous country in 2006 and is 32nd 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) Spain's population will shrink by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people with a rank change from 32nd to 47th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.4M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Spain
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Spain UAE
2100 -0.52% 0.91%
2099 -0.51% 0.91%
2098 -0.5% 0.91%
2097 -0.48% 0.91%
2096 -0.48% 0.91%
2095 -0.47% 0.92%
2094 -0.46% 0.92%
2093 -0.46% 0.92%
2092 -0.46% 0.93%
2091 -0.48% 0.94%
2090 -0.48% 0.95%
2089 -0.47% 0.95%
2088 -0.46% 0.96%
2087 -0.46% 0.97%
2086 -0.48% 0.98%
2085 -0.49% 1%
2084 -0.5% 1.01%
2083 -0.51% 1.03%
2082 -0.53% 1.04%
2081 -0.55% 1.06%
2080 -0.57% 1.07%
2079 -0.58% 1.09%
2078 -0.61% 1.1%
2077 -0.64% 1.11%
2076 -0.67% 1.13%
2075 -0.7% 1.14%
2074 -0.71% 1.15%
2073 -0.74% 1.16%
2072 -0.74% 1.17%
2071 -0.77% 1.17%
2070 -0.76% 1.18%
2069 -0.79% 1.18%
2068 -0.78% 1.18%
2067 -0.79% 1.17%
2066 -0.78% 1.17%
2065 -0.8% 1.17%
2064 -0.78% 1.17%
2063 -0.79% 1.16%
2062 -0.77% 1.15%
2061 -0.73% 1.14%
2060 -0.72% 1.14%
2059 -0.69% 1.14%
2058 -0.69% 1.14%
2057 -0.68% 1.14%
2056 -0.62% 1.14%
2055 -0.59% 1.14%
2054 -0.58% 1.14%
2053 -0.54% 1.14%
2052 -0.49% 1.14%
2051 -0.47% 1.15%
2050 -0.47% 1.16%
2049 -0.42% 1.16%
2048 -0.4% 1.17%
2047 -0.38% 1.15%
2046 -0.36% 1.14%
2045 -0.33% 1.15%
2044 -0.3% 1.16%
2043 -0.3% 1.16%
2042 -0.28% 1.17%
2041 -0.27% 1.18%
2040 -0.26% 1.18%
2039 -0.24% 1.19%
2038 -0.23% 1.19%
2037 -0.23% 1.19%
2036 -0.22% 1.18%
2035 -0.2% 1.18%
2034 -0.19% 1.17%
2033 -0.19% 1.15%
2032 -0.19% 1.13%
2031 -0.17% 1.11%
2030 -0.14% 1.15%
2029 -0.12% 1.24%
2028 -0.1% 1.42%
2027 -0.1% 1.7%
2026 -0.06% 2.33%
2025 -0.02% 3.47%
2024 1.03% 4.79%
2023 1.19% 4.06%
2022 0.72% 5.22%
2021 0.18% 1.85%
2020 0.51% -0.47%
2019 0.72% 1.06%
2018 0.45% 1.34%
2017 0.24% 3.22%
2016 0.08% 5.05%
2015 -0.08% 5.53%
2014 -0.31% 4.76%
2013 -0.36% 4.08%
2012 0.06% 4.04%
2011 0.36% 3.42%
2010 0.46% 2.43%
2009 0.89% 6.42%
2008 1.61% 12.1%
2007 1.87% 12.3%
2006 1.7% 7.38%
2005 1.7% 5.32%
2004 1.74% 5.64%
2003 1.82% 5.96%
2002 1.42% 6.26%
2001 0.7% 6.58%
2000 0.45% 6.97%
1999 0.41% 7.42%
1998 0.41% 7.92%
1997 0.42% 8.46%
1996 0.42% 6.69%
1995 0.44% 4.57%
1994 0.48% 4.77%
1993 0.52% 5.08%
1992 0.49% 5.39%
1991 0.25% 5.71%
1990 0.1% 6.05%
1989 0.16% 6.43%
1988 0.21% 6.83%
1987 0.26% 7.28%
1986 0.3% 6.49%
1985 0.36% 5.51%
1984 0.42% 5.72%
1983 0.49% 5.91%
1982 0.6% 6.05%
1981 0.71% 8.29%
1980 0.81% 11.4%
1979 0.89% 12.7%
1978 0.97% 13.9%
1977 1.03% 15.3%
1976 1.06% 13.4%
1975 1.09% 11%
1974 1.1% 12.1%
1973 1.11% 13.3%
1972 1.11% 14.9%
1971 1.21% 16.9%
1970 1.12% 19.6%
1969 0.99% 20.2%
1968 1.32% 11%
1967 1.24% 3.29%
1966 1.03% 4.11%
1965 1.09% 4.64%
1964 1% 4.91%
1963 0.88% 5.01%
1962 0.92% 5.04%
1961 0.93% 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/spain/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Spain grew by 1.03%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Spain UAE
Current population
48806901
11686438
Population rank 32/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.59% 0.14%
One net population change
1.06 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
1.62 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
1.21 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,360 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +496,312 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 100/197 3/197
One migration net change every
5.45 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +96,630 +158,634
Net migration rank 17/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 8,870,527 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 6/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 18.5% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 32/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Spain
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Spain UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 96,630 - 158,634
2024 - 111,674 - 278,439
2023 -111,211 119,099 92,698 300,004
2022 -133,801 299,779 81,758 322,773
2021 -113,865 144,385 76,802 421,663
2020 -151,551 236,854 87,871 92,541
2019 -56,542 464,783 86,296 -125,186
2018 -56,139 337,467 86,840 14,611
2017 -32,600 201,135 89,382 34,155
2016 0 106,474 87,028 195,317
2015 -4,642 -1,979 85,044 342,468
2014 32,522 -97,870 84,277 360,174
2013 37,284 -250,741 82,977 279,269
2012 51,450 -153,486 78,682 225,921
2011 84,137 60,761 73,496 215,183
2010 102,469 69,406 69,907 161,842
2009 106,635 129,557 66,521 163,643
2008 133,267 434,135 55,426 523,207
2007 108,545 772,317 55,048 722,380
2006 110,994 659,720 54,338 399,306
2005 78,576 629,803 60,046 174,926
2004 85,844 661,158 60,344 176,319
2003 54,844 658,428 59,118 177,237
2002 53,861 737,880 55,922 178,988
2001 44,936 181,307 52,789 178,779
2000 36,512 176,269 49,993 178,469
1999 8,077 178,559 46,198 180,469
1998 4,022 182,926 41,176 183,329
1997 20,028 165,345 38,207 183,310
1996 11,967 162,704 37,886 180,296
1995 15,889 162,434 38,685 68,938
1994 31,639 160,407 42,976 62,352
1993 47,234 160,907 41,324 65,545
1992 62,652 177,544 42,119 65,739
1991 58,450 122,841 41,409 66,943
1990 66,075 -30,684 41,339 67,118
1989 81,538 -25,892 40,148 68,132
1988 100,794 -17,663 38,861 68,991
1987 116,054 -12,681 37,741 69,493
1986 131,188 -13,540 36,829 69,655
1985 146,184 -589 34,855 37,605
1984 172,487 2,754 33,250 38,124
1983 183,223 1,241 31,480 38,536
1982 231,714 -7,384 29,585 38,276
1981 237,879 2,563 27,560 37,600
1980 281,184 20,166 25,005 78,148
1979 312,407 -5,929 21,987 82,238
1978 339,157 -2,504 18,879 82,359
1977 361,465 -1,332 15,787 81,111
1976 375,834 2,804 12,876 78,903
1975 371,882 -218 11,859 42,380
1974 396,182 105,838 10,835 42,474
1973 374,381 8,624 9,822 42,243
1972 391,030 7,935 8,818 41,888
1971 369,625 7,363 7,839 41,425
1970 378,723 -60,580 6,922 40,792
1969 367,851 -49,956 6,138 39,902
1968 387,423 -46,088 5,588 28,866
1967 402,001 -42,344 5,264 -283
1966 397,084 -41,467 4,955 1,516
1965 405,819 -42,476 4,675 2,598
1964 429,885 -41,461 4,410 3,126
1963 394,338 -44,446 4,157 3,264
1962 384,690 -45,211 3,901 3,212
1961 396,537 -46,517 3,657 3,141
1960 398,960 -154,869 3,418 3,102

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 25.8% of the population change in Spain is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 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, 8,870,527 residents or 18.5% of the population were not native-born in Spain, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

Biggest cities by population

Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K
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/spain/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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