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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the United Arab Emirates was 10,986,400 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current United Arab Emirates' population is 11,686,438 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 6 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • The United Arab Emirates is ranked the 84th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.99% of the world: 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, the United Arab Emirates has had an average growth rate of +3.31% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of the United Arab Emirates has increased from 5.01M people to 11.7M (133.3% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
UAE United Kingdom
2100 26,368,750 74,700,585
2099 26,130,374 74,831,175
2098 25,894,010 74,950,267
2097 25,660,062 75,064,397
2096 25,427,961 75,176,691
2095 25,197,670 75,287,063
2094 24,968,891 75,383,856
2093 24,741,434 75,482,205
2092 24,515,086 75,575,769
2091 24,289,496 75,666,091
2090 24,064,404 75,753,129
2089 23,839,033 75,835,723
2088 23,613,963 75,907,614
2087 23,388,786 75,978,712
2086 23,163,641 76,046,742
2085 22,938,169 76,105,680
2084 22,711,804 76,156,223
2083 22,484,154 76,205,894
2082 22,255,625 76,246,844
2081 22,026,183 76,274,040
2080 21,796,073 76,306,205
2079 21,565,118 76,334,949
2078 21,333,574 76,353,484
2077 21,101,274 76,371,123
2076 20,868,733 76,373,520
2075 20,636,203 76,386,071
2074 20,404,044 76,397,426
2073 20,171,659 76,406,554
2072 19,940,853 76,398,941
2071 19,710,934 76,388,223
2070 19,483,026 76,378,505
2069 19,256,572 76,371,827
2068 19,032,681 76,370,973
2067 18,811,331 76,363,548
2066 18,593,017 76,356,638
2065 18,377,364 76,355,841
2064 18,164,584 76,352,770
2063 17,955,352 76,353,175
2062 17,749,596 76,346,535
2061 17,547,827 76,344,206
2060 17,349,620 76,344,725
2059 17,153,273 76,345,215
2058 16,959,263 76,326,961
2057 16,767,893 76,307,006
2056 16,579,195 76,274,247
2055 16,392,558 76,235,304
2054 16,207,309 76,167,710
2053 16,024,789 76,094,051
2052 15,844,357 76,001,979
2051 15,665,362 75,895,690
2050 15,487,008 75,777,445
2049 15,309,031 75,646,044
2048 15,132,784 75,499,380
2047 14,958,209 75,338,951
2046 14,788,046 75,171,300
2045 14,620,902 74,993,186
2044 14,454,466 74,807,530
2043 14,289,021 74,607,485
2042 14,124,515 74,407,783
2041 13,961,010 74,203,292
2040 13,798,651 73,994,525
2039 13,637,499 73,782,112
2038 13,477,450 73,559,085
2037 13,319,346 73,335,723
2036 13,163,073 73,101,646
2035 13,009,160 72,850,722
2034 12,857,729 72,597,177
2033 12,709,520 72,322,802
2032 12,564,906 72,046,316
2031 12,424,286 71,757,868
2030 12,288,186 71,442,811
2029 12,148,661 71,123,782
2028 11,999,549 70,783,199
2027 11,831,082 70,421,923
2026 11,632,806 70,055,911
2025 11,367,504 69,658,188
2024 10,986,400 69,226,000
2023 10,483,751 68,492,000
2022 10,074,977 67,604,000
2021 9,575,152 66,984,000
2020 9,401,038 66,744,000
2019 9,445,785 66,631,000
2018 9,346,701 66,289,000
2017 9,223,225 65,966,000
2016 8,935,095 65,607,000
2015 8,505,237 65,088,000
2014 8,059,440 64,620,000
2013 7,693,031 64,139,000
2012 7,391,448 63,711,000
2011 7,104,538 63,258,810
2010 6,869,838 62,766,365
2009 6,707,058 62,276,270
2008 6,302,664 61,806,995
2007 5,624,635 61,322,463
2006 5,009,100 60,846,820
2005 4,664,790 60,401,206
2004 4,428,967 59,987,905
2003 4,192,457 59,647,577
2002 3,956,826 59,370,479
2001 3,723,590 59,119,673
2000 3,493,575 58,892,514
1999 3,266,009 58,682,466
1998 3,040,421 58,487,141
1997 2,817,410 58,316,954
1996 2,597,564 58,166,950
1995 2,434,662 58,019,030
1994 2,328,188 57,865,745
1993 2,222,093 57,718,614
1992 2,114,730 57,580,402
1991 2,006,626 57,424,897
1990 1,898,220 57,247,586
1989 1,789,851 57,076,711
1988 1,681,788 56,928,327
1987 1,574,244 56,802,050
1986 1,467,383 56,681,396
1985 1,377,911 56,550,268
1984 1,305,996 56,422,072
1983 1,235,305 56,332,848
1982 1,166,370 56,313,641
1981 1,099,855 56,333,829
1980 1,015,700 56,314,216
1979 912,010 56,246,951
1978 809,274 56,196,504
1977 710,209 56,193,492
1976 615,866 56,211,968
1975 542,856 56,225,800
1974 489,087 56,229,974
1973 436,399 56,194,527
1972 385,014 56,086,065
1971 335,027 55,896,223
1970 286,536 55,663,250
1969 239,660 55,441,750
1968 199,416 55,211,700
1967 179,700 54,943,600
1966 173,976 54,648,500
1965 167,103 54,348,050
1964 159,692 54,000,000
1963 152,211 53,650,000
1962 144,946 53,250,000
1961 137,989 52,800,000
1960 131,334 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the United Arab Emirates increased by 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the United Arab Emirates gained 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th most populous country in 2006 and is 84th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the United Arab Emirates' population will grow by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.4M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
UAE United Kingdom
2100 0.91% -0.17%
2099 0.91% -0.16%
2098 0.91% -0.15%
2097 0.91% -0.15%
2096 0.91% -0.15%
2095 0.92% -0.13%
2094 0.92% -0.13%
2093 0.92% -0.12%
2092 0.93% -0.12%
2091 0.94% -0.11%
2090 0.95% -0.11%
2089 0.95% -0.09%
2088 0.96% -0.09%
2087 0.97% -0.09%
2086 0.98% -0.08%
2085 1% -0.07%
2084 1.01% -0.07%
2083 1.03% -0.05%
2082 1.04% -0.04%
2081 1.06% -0.04%
2080 1.07% -0.04%
2079 1.09% -0.02%
2078 1.1% -0.02%
2077 1.11% -0.003%
2076 1.13% -0.02%
2075 1.14% -0.01%
2074 1.15% -0.01%
2073 1.16% 0.01%
2072 1.17% 0.01%
2071 1.17% 0.01%
2070 1.18% 0.009%
2069 1.18% 0.001%
2068 1.18% 0.01%
2067 1.17% 0.009%
2066 1.17% 0.001%
2065 1.17% 0.004%
2064 1.17% -0%
2063 1.16% 0.009%
2062 1.15% 0.003%
2061 1.14% -0.001%
2060 1.14% -0.001%
2059 1.14% 0.02%
2058 1.14% 0.03%
2057 1.14% 0.04%
2056 1.14% 0.05%
2055 1.14% 0.09%
2054 1.14% 0.1%
2053 1.14% 0.12%
2052 1.14% 0.14%
2051 1.15% 0.16%
2050 1.16% 0.17%
2049 1.16% 0.19%
2048 1.17% 0.21%
2047 1.15% 0.22%
2046 1.14% 0.24%
2045 1.15% 0.25%
2044 1.16% 0.27%
2043 1.16% 0.27%
2042 1.17% 0.28%
2041 1.18% 0.28%
2040 1.18% 0.29%
2039 1.19% 0.3%
2038 1.19% 0.3%
2037 1.19% 0.32%
2036 1.18% 0.34%
2035 1.18% 0.35%
2034 1.17% 0.38%
2033 1.15% 0.38%
2032 1.13% 0.4%
2031 1.11% 0.44%
2030 1.15% 0.45%
2029 1.24% 0.48%
2028 1.42% 0.51%
2027 1.7% 0.52%
2026 2.33% 0.57%
2025 3.47% 0.62%
2024 4.79% 1.07%
2023 4.06% 1.31%
2022 5.22% 0.93%
2021 1.85% 0.36%
2020 -0.47% 0.17%
2019 1.06% 0.52%
2018 1.34% 0.49%
2017 3.22% 0.55%
2016 5.05% 0.8%
2015 5.53% 0.72%
2014 4.76% 0.75%
2013 4.08% 0.67%
2012 4.04% 0.71%
2011 3.42% 0.78%
2010 2.43% 0.79%
2009 6.42% 0.76%
2008 12.1% 0.79%
2007 12.3% 0.78%
2006 7.38% 0.74%
2005 5.32% 0.69%
2004 5.64% 0.57%
2003 5.96% 0.47%
2002 6.26% 0.42%
2001 6.58% 0.39%
2000 6.97% 0.36%
1999 7.42% 0.33%
1998 7.92% 0.29%
1997 8.46% 0.26%
1996 6.69% 0.25%
1995 4.57% 0.26%
1994 4.77% 0.25%
1993 5.08% 0.24%
1992 5.39% 0.27%
1991 5.71% 0.31%
1990 6.05% 0.3%
1989 6.43% 0.26%
1988 6.83% 0.22%
1987 7.28% 0.21%
1986 6.49% 0.23%
1985 5.51% 0.23%
1984 5.72% 0.16%
1983 5.91% 0.03%
1982 6.05% -0.04%
1981 8.29% 0.03%
1980 11.4% 0.12%
1979 12.7% 0.09%
1978 13.9% 0.005%
1977 15.3% -0.03%
1976 13.4% -0.02%
1975 11% -0.007%
1974 12.1% 0.06%
1973 13.3% 0.19%
1972 14.9% 0.34%
1971 16.9% 0.42%
1970 19.6% 0.4%
1969 20.2% 0.42%
1968 11% 0.49%
1967 3.29% 0.54%
1966 4.11% 0.55%
1965 4.64% 0.64%
1964 4.91% 0.65%
1963 5.01% 0.75%
1962 5.04% 0.85%
1961 5.07% 0.76%

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/united-arab-emirates/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the United Arab Emirates grew by 4.79%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

UAE United Kingdom
Current population
11686438
70154914
Population rank 84/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.85%
One net population change
1.05 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
5.13 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
53.8 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,377 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +502,649 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +4.79% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 3/197 97/197
One migration net change every
3.32 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +158,634 +389,911
Net migration rank 8/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 8,157,000 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 8/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 74% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 2/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
UAE United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 158,634 - 389,911
2024 - 278,439 - 417,114
2023 92,698 300,004 34,589 445,523
2022 81,758 322,773 39,751 487,029
2021 76,802 421,663 30,612 462,967
2020 87,871 92,541 -4,272 144,221
2019 86,296 -125,186 108,342 232,727
2018 86,840 14,611 119,321 259,744
2017 89,382 34,155 145,125 272,311
2016 87,028 195,317 177,139 324,649
2015 85,044 342,468 175,738 347,839
2014 84,277 360,174 206,784 306,091
2013 82,977 279,269 198,830 237,272
2012 78,682 225,921 248,473 172,088
2011 73,496 215,183 259,361 228,773
2010 69,907 161,842 251,066 274,811
2009 66,521 163,643 230,422 249,639
2008 55,426 523,207 216,325 263,390
2007 55,048 722,380 196,232 309,385
2006 54,338 399,306 176,455 288,923
2005 60,046 174,926 144,963 308,279
2004 60,344 176,319 131,974 276,077
2003 59,118 177,237 89,471 211,846
2002 55,922 178,988 65,308 203,577
2001 52,789 178,779 65,032 175,133
2000 49,993 178,469 70,671 153,917
1999 46,198 180,469 64,551 152,653
1998 41,176 183,329 87,730 125,541
1997 38,207 183,310 99,138 59,723
1996 37,886 180,296 98,884 54,964
1995 38,685 68,938 87,028 61,385
1994 42,976 62,352 127,304 45,339
1993 41,324 65,545 103,893 27,403
1992 42,119 65,739 149,709 17,846
1991 41,409 66,943 143,562 27,601
1990 41,339 67,118 154,569 57,132
1989 40,148 68,132 119,861 49,586
1988 38,861 68,991 136,628 13,952
1987 37,741 69,493 136,325 8,266
1986 36,829 69,655 90,690 41,836
1985 34,855 37,605 79,170 83,164
1984 33,250 38,124 84,633 71,107
1983 31,480 38,536 61,966 27,063
1982 29,585 38,276 56,314 -61,152
1981 27,560 37,600 73,234 -83,876
1980 25,005 78,148 95,734 -25,187
1979 21,987 82,238 61,872 11,255
1978 18,879 82,359 16,859 3,783
1977 15,787 81,111 0 -21,636
1976 12,876 78,903 -5,621 -19,135
1975 11,859 42,380 33,735 -40,241
1974 10,835 42,474 67,476 -65,710
1973 9,822 42,243 112,389 -33,840
1972 8,818 41,888 162,650 -1,406
1971 7,839 41,425 257,123 1,175
1970 6,922 40,792 244,918 -15,254
1969 6,138 39,902 260,577 -60,655
1968 5,588 28,866 292,622 -38,852
1967 5,264 -283 346,145 -39,659
1966 4,955 1,516 333,356 -27,935
1965 4,675 2,598 364,132 -24,955
1964 4,410 3,126 405,000 -23,885
1963 4,157 3,264 337,995 8,271
1962 3,901 3,212 340,800 76,443
1961 3,657 3,141 311,519 52,295
1960 3,418 3,102 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/united-arab-emirates/united-kingdom | 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). In the United Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 8,157,000 residents or 74% of the population were not native-born in the United Arab Emirates, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

Biggest cities by population

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-arab-emirates/united-kingdom | 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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