The current population of the United Arab Emirates is 11,686,438 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 10,986,400 in 2024.
- The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach 26.4M people in 2100.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 5.01M people to 11.7M (133.3% growth in 20 years).
- The United Arab Emirates is ranked 84/197 by population and was ranked 114th in 2006.
- For the last 20 years, the United Arab Emirates has had an average growth rate of 6.67% per year.
- The United Arab Emirates accounts for 0.14% of the world's population.
The United Arab Emirates population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 26,368,750 | 0.91% |
| 2099 | 26,130,374 | 0.91% |
| 2098 | 25,894,010 | 0.91% |
| 2097 | 25,660,062 | 0.91% |
| 2096 | 25,427,961 | 0.91% |
| 2095 | 25,197,670 | 0.92% |
| 2094 | 24,968,891 | 0.92% |
| 2093 | 24,741,434 | 0.92% |
| 2092 | 24,515,086 | 0.93% |
| 2091 | 24,289,496 | 0.94% |
| 2090 | 24,064,404 | 0.95% |
| 2089 | 23,839,033 | 0.95% |
| 2088 | 23,613,963 | 0.96% |
| 2087 | 23,388,786 | 0.97% |
| 2086 | 23,163,641 | 0.98% |
| 2085 | 22,938,169 | 1% |
| 2084 | 22,711,804 | 1.01% |
| 2083 | 22,484,154 | 1.03% |
| 2082 | 22,255,625 | 1.04% |
| 2081 | 22,026,183 | 1.06% |
| 2080 | 21,796,073 | 1.07% |
| 2079 | 21,565,118 | 1.09% |
| 2078 | 21,333,574 | 1.1% |
| 2077 | 21,101,274 | 1.11% |
| 2076 | 20,868,733 | 1.13% |
| 2075 | 20,636,203 | 1.14% |
| 2074 | 20,404,044 | 1.15% |
| 2073 | 20,171,659 | 1.16% |
| 2072 | 19,940,853 | 1.17% |
| 2071 | 19,710,934 | 1.17% |
| 2070 | 19,483,026 | 1.18% |
| 2069 | 19,256,572 | 1.18% |
| 2068 | 19,032,681 | 1.18% |
| 2067 | 18,811,331 | 1.17% |
| 2066 | 18,593,017 | 1.17% |
| 2065 | 18,377,364 | 1.17% |
| 2064 | 18,164,584 | 1.17% |
| 2063 | 17,955,352 | 1.16% |
| 2062 | 17,749,596 | 1.15% |
| 2061 | 17,547,827 | 1.14% |
| 2060 | 17,349,620 | 1.14% |
| 2059 | 17,153,273 | 1.14% |
| 2058 | 16,959,263 | 1.14% |
| 2057 | 16,767,893 | 1.14% |
| 2056 | 16,579,195 | 1.14% |
| 2055 | 16,392,558 | 1.14% |
| 2054 | 16,207,309 | 1.14% |
| 2053 | 16,024,789 | 1.14% |
| 2052 | 15,844,357 | 1.14% |
| 2051 | 15,665,362 | 1.15% |
| 2050 | 15,487,008 | 1.16% |
| 2049 | 15,309,031 | 1.16% |
| 2048 | 15,132,784 | 1.17% |
| 2047 | 14,958,209 | 1.15% |
| 2046 | 14,788,046 | 1.14% |
| 2045 | 14,620,902 | 1.15% |
| 2044 | 14,454,466 | 1.16% |
| 2043 | 14,289,021 | 1.16% |
| 2042 | 14,124,515 | 1.17% |
| 2041 | 13,961,010 | 1.18% |
| 2040 | 13,798,651 | 1.18% |
| 2039 | 13,637,499 | 1.19% |
| 2038 | 13,477,450 | 1.19% |
| 2037 | 13,319,346 | 1.19% |
| 2036 | 13,163,073 | 1.18% |
| 2035 | 13,009,160 | 1.18% |
| 2034 | 12,857,729 | 1.17% |
| 2033 | 12,709,520 | 1.15% |
| 2032 | 12,564,906 | 1.13% |
| 2031 | 12,424,286 | 1.11% |
| 2030 | 12,288,186 | 1.15% |
| 2029 | 12,148,661 | 1.24% |
| 2028 | 11,999,549 | 1.42% |
| 2027 | 11,831,082 | 1.7% |
| 2026 | 11,632,806 | 2.33% |
| 2025 | 11,367,504 | 3.47% |
| 2024 | 10,986,400 | 4.79% |
| 2023 | 10,483,751 | 4.06% |
| 2022 | 10,074,977 | 5.22% |
| 2021 | 9,575,152 | 1.85% |
| 2020 | 9,401,038 | -0.47% |
| 2019 | 9,445,785 | 1.06% |
| 2018 | 9,346,701 | 1.34% |
| 2017 | 9,223,225 | 3.22% |
| 2016 | 8,935,095 | 5.05% |
| 2015 | 8,505,237 | 5.53% |
| 2014 | 8,059,440 | 4.76% |
| 2013 | 7,693,031 | 4.08% |
| 2012 | 7,391,448 | 4.04% |
| 2011 | 7,104,538 | 3.42% |
| 2010 | 6,869,838 | 2.43% |
| 2009 | 6,707,058 | 6.42% |
| 2008 | 6,302,664 | 12.1% |
| 2007 | 5,624,635 | 12.3% |
| 2006 | 5,009,100 | 7.38% |
| 2005 | 4,664,790 | 5.32% |
| 2004 | 4,428,967 | 5.64% |
| 2003 | 4,192,457 | 5.96% |
| 2002 | 3,956,826 | 6.26% |
| 2001 | 3,723,590 | 6.58% |
| 2000 | 3,493,575 | 6.97% |
| 1999 | 3,266,009 | 7.42% |
| 1998 | 3,040,421 | 7.92% |
| 1997 | 2,817,410 | 8.46% |
| 1996 | 2,597,564 | 6.69% |
| 1995 | 2,434,662 | 4.57% |
| 1994 | 2,328,188 | 4.77% |
| 1993 | 2,222,093 | 5.08% |
| 1992 | 2,114,730 | 5.39% |
| 1991 | 2,006,626 | 5.71% |
| 1990 | 1,898,220 | 6.05% |
| 1989 | 1,789,851 | 6.43% |
| 1988 | 1,681,788 | 6.83% |
| 1987 | 1,574,244 | 7.28% |
| 1986 | 1,467,383 | 6.49% |
| 1985 | 1,377,911 | 5.51% |
| 1984 | 1,305,996 | 5.72% |
| 1983 | 1,235,305 | 5.91% |
| 1982 | 1,166,370 | 6.05% |
| 1981 | 1,099,855 | 8.29% |
| 1980 | 1,015,700 | 11.4% |
| 1979 | 912,010 | 12.7% |
| 1978 | 809,274 | 13.9% |
| 1977 | 710,209 | 15.3% |
| 1976 | 615,866 | 13.4% |
| 1975 | 542,856 | 11% |
| 1974 | 489,087 | 12.1% |
| 1973 | 436,399 | 13.3% |
| 1972 | 385,014 | 14.9% |
| 1971 | 335,027 | 16.9% |
| 1970 | 286,536 | 19.6% |
| 1969 | 239,660 | 20.2% |
| 1968 | 199,416 | 11% |
| 1967 | 179,700 | 3.29% |
| 1966 | 173,976 | 4.11% |
| 1965 | 167,103 | 4.64% |
| 1964 | 159,692 | 4.91% |
| 1963 | 152,211 | 5.01% |
| 1962 | 144,946 | 5.04% |
| 1961 | 137,989 | 5.07% |
| 1960 | 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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY 
The United Arab Emirates has a population of 11.7M as of 2026, compared to 8.94M in 2016, 5.01M in 2006, and 2.6M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 3.08% per year. The United Arab Emirates is ranked 15th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) the United Arab Emirates will have 14,788,046 people (26.5% growth) with a rank change from 84th to 83rd.
By the year 2100, the United Arab Emirates' population is projected to grow by 125.6% from its current level to 26.4M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | 158,634 |
| 2024 | - | - | 278,439 |
| 2023 | 392,702 | 92,698 | 300,004 |
| 2022 | 404,531 | 81,758 | 322,773 |
| 2021 | 498,465 | 76,802 | 421,663 |
| 2020 | 180,412 | 87,871 | 92,541 |
| 2019 | -38,890 | 86,296 | -125,186 |
| 2018 | 101,451 | 86,840 | 14,611 |
| 2017 | 123,537 | 89,382 | 34,155 |
| 2016 | 282,345 | 87,028 | 195,317 |
| 2015 | 427,512 | 85,044 | 342,468 |
| 2014 | 444,451 | 84,277 | 360,174 |
| 2013 | 362,246 | 82,977 | 279,269 |
| 2012 | 304,603 | 78,682 | 225,921 |
| 2011 | 288,679 | 73,496 | 215,183 |
| 2010 | 231,749 | 69,907 | 161,842 |
| 2009 | 230,164 | 66,521 | 163,643 |
| 2008 | 578,633 | 55,426 | 523,207 |
| 2007 | 777,428 | 55,048 | 722,380 |
| 2006 | 453,644 | 54,338 | 399,306 |
| 2005 | 234,972 | 60,046 | 174,926 |
| 2004 | 236,663 | 60,344 | 176,319 |
| 2003 | 236,355 | 59,118 | 177,237 |
| 2002 | 234,910 | 55,922 | 178,988 |
| 2001 | 231,568 | 52,789 | 178,779 |
| 2000 | 228,462 | 49,993 | 178,469 |
| 1999 | 226,667 | 46,198 | 180,469 |
| 1998 | 224,505 | 41,176 | 183,329 |
| 1997 | 221,517 | 38,207 | 183,310 |
| 1996 | 218,182 | 37,886 | 180,296 |
| 1995 | 107,623 | 38,685 | 68,938 |
| 1994 | 105,328 | 42,976 | 62,352 |
| 1993 | 106,869 | 41,324 | 65,545 |
| 1992 | 107,858 | 42,119 | 65,739 |
| 1991 | 108,352 | 41,409 | 66,943 |
| 1990 | 108,457 | 41,339 | 67,118 |
| 1989 | 108,280 | 40,148 | 68,132 |
| 1988 | 107,852 | 38,861 | 68,991 |
| 1987 | 107,234 | 37,741 | 69,493 |
| 1986 | 106,484 | 36,829 | 69,655 |
| 1985 | 72,460 | 34,855 | 37,605 |
| 1984 | 71,374 | 33,250 | 38,124 |
| 1983 | 70,016 | 31,480 | 38,536 |
| 1982 | 67,861 | 29,585 | 38,276 |
| 1981 | 65,160 | 27,560 | 37,600 |
| 1980 | 103,153 | 25,005 | 78,148 |
| 1979 | 104,225 | 21,987 | 82,238 |
| 1978 | 101,238 | 18,879 | 82,359 |
| 1977 | 96,898 | 15,787 | 81,111 |
| 1976 | 91,779 | 12,876 | 78,903 |
| 1975 | 54,239 | 11,859 | 42,380 |
| 1974 | 53,309 | 10,835 | 42,474 |
| 1973 | 52,065 | 9,822 | 42,243 |
| 1972 | 50,706 | 8,818 | 41,888 |
| 1971 | 49,264 | 7,839 | 41,425 |
| 1970 | 47,714 | 6,922 | 40,792 |
| 1969 | 46,040 | 6,138 | 39,902 |
| 1968 | 34,454 | 5,588 | 28,866 |
| 1967 | 4,981 | 5,264 | -283 |
| 1966 | 6,471 | 4,955 | 1,516 |
| 1965 | 7,273 | 4,675 | 2,598 |
| 1964 | 7,536 | 4,410 | 3,126 |
| 1963 | 7,421 | 4,157 | 3,264 |
| 1962 | 7,113 | 3,901 | 3,212 |
| 1961 | 6,798 | 3,657 | 3,141 |
| 1960 | 6,520 | 3,418 | 3,102 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 30.5% of the population change in the United Arab Emirates 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, 8,157,000 residents or 74% of the population were not native-born in the United Arab Emirates, compared to 5,446,000 and 78.5% in 2010.
The United Arab Emirates population clock
UAE
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
11686438
|
84/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.14% | 84/197 |
| One net population change |
1.05 minutes
|
43/197 |
| One birth every |
5.13 minutes
|
104/196 |
| One death every |
53.8 minutes
|
151/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +1,377 | 43/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +502,649 | 43/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +4.79% | 3/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.32 minutes
|
8/196 |
| Annual migration change | +158,634 | 8/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 8,157,000 | 8/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 74% | 2/195 |
Largest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
United Arab Emirates population statistics
|
UAE
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.4 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 32.1 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 32.6 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 63.9:36.1 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.2 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 424 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.