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Population in the United Arab Emirates compared to Zambia: 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 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current United Arab Emirates' population is 11,686,438 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.94 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • The United Arab Emirates is ranked the 84th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the United Arab Emirates has had an average growth rate of +3.31% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the United Arab Emirates has increased from 5.01M people to 11.7M (133.3% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

United Arab Emirates vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
UAE Zambia
2100 26,368,750 65,217,429
2099 26,130,374 64,871,545
2098 25,894,010 64,515,891
2097 25,660,062 64,148,736
2096 25,427,961 63,777,313
2095 25,197,670 63,393,169
2094 24,968,891 62,992,652
2093 24,741,434 62,590,327
2092 24,515,086 62,175,930
2091 24,289,496 61,750,591
2090 24,064,404 61,321,399
2089 23,839,033 60,880,148
2088 23,613,963 60,434,676
2087 23,388,786 59,970,107
2086 23,163,641 59,499,234
2085 22,938,169 59,023,040
2084 22,711,804 58,535,857
2083 22,484,154 58,040,512
2082 22,255,625 57,538,672
2081 22,026,183 57,027,491
2080 21,796,073 56,506,421
2079 21,565,118 55,983,242
2078 21,333,574 55,449,777
2077 21,101,274 54,906,771
2076 20,868,733 54,361,075
2075 20,636,203 53,806,856
2074 20,404,044 53,246,777
2073 20,171,659 52,677,348
2072 19,940,853 52,101,139
2071 19,710,934 51,519,691
2070 19,483,026 50,931,614
2069 19,256,572 50,334,700
2068 19,032,681 49,737,479
2067 18,811,331 49,135,488
2066 18,593,017 48,530,443
2065 18,377,364 47,918,592
2064 18,164,584 47,299,740
2063 17,955,352 46,677,439
2062 17,749,596 46,048,819
2061 17,547,827 45,416,657
2060 17,349,620 44,777,347
2059 17,153,273 44,137,306
2058 16,959,263 43,494,451
2057 16,767,893 42,851,923
2056 16,579,195 42,206,898
2055 16,392,558 41,558,284
2054 16,207,309 40,906,492
2053 16,024,789 40,255,629
2052 15,844,357 39,603,888
2051 15,665,362 38,949,958
2050 15,487,008 38,294,607
2049 15,309,031 37,634,194
2048 15,132,784 36,971,309
2047 14,958,209 36,309,749
2046 14,788,046 35,645,868
2045 14,620,902 34,981,812
2044 14,454,466 34,316,981
2043 14,289,021 33,652,420
2042 14,124,515 32,990,657
2041 13,961,010 32,329,447
2040 13,798,651 31,664,262
2039 13,637,499 31,001,305
2038 13,477,450 30,335,662
2037 13,319,346 29,668,561
2036 13,163,073 29,000,264
2035 13,009,160 28,333,498
2034 12,857,729 27,671,195
2033 12,709,520 27,011,974
2032 12,564,906 26,356,580
2031 12,424,286 25,702,812
2030 12,288,186 25,055,216
2029 12,148,661 24,414,405
2028 11,999,549 23,780,809
2027 11,831,082 23,151,479
2026 11,632,806 22,529,742
2025 11,367,504 21,918,187
2024 10,986,400 21,314,956
2023 10,483,751 20,723,965
2022 10,074,977 20,152,938
2021 9,575,152 19,603,607
2020 9,401,038 19,059,395
2019 9,445,785 18,513,839
2018 9,346,701 17,973,569
2017 9,223,225 17,441,320
2016 8,935,095 16,914,423
2015 8,505,237 16,399,089
2014 8,059,440 15,895,315
2013 7,693,031 15,398,997
2012 7,391,448 14,913,629
2011 7,104,538 14,437,796
2010 6,869,838 13,965,594
2009 6,707,058 13,490,389
2008 6,302,664 13,021,324
2007 5,624,635 12,565,085
2006 5,009,100 12,129,553
2005 4,664,790 11,718,819
2004 4,428,967 11,338,198
2003 4,192,457 10,983,595
2002 3,956,826 10,647,949
2001 3,723,590 10,325,185
2000 3,493,575 10,017,631
1999 3,266,009 9,740,005
1998 3,040,421 9,482,408
1997 2,817,410 9,237,063
1996 2,597,564 9,004,053
1995 2,434,662 8,785,763
1994 2,328,188 8,576,269
1993 2,222,093 8,373,921
1992 2,114,730 8,176,680
1991 2,006,626 7,981,650
1990 1,898,220 7,786,169
1989 1,789,851 7,589,216
1988 1,681,788 7,391,440
1987 1,574,244 7,191,282
1986 1,467,383 6,986,471
1985 1,377,911 6,780,953
1984 1,305,996 6,580,490
1983 1,235,305 6,381,038
1982 1,166,370 6,178,637
1981 1,099,855 5,983,289
1980 1,015,700 5,802,833
1979 912,010 5,631,728
1978 809,274 5,465,374
1977 710,209 5,302,480
1976 615,866 5,143,842
1975 542,856 4,990,086
1974 489,087 4,842,746
1973 436,399 4,702,693
1972 385,014 4,569,309
1971 335,027 4,442,525
1970 286,536 4,321,718
1969 239,660 4,197,116
1968 199,416 4,065,593
1967 179,700 3,936,343
1966 173,976 3,812,003
1965 167,103 3,692,086
1964 159,692 3,577,017
1963 152,211 3,465,907
1962 144,946 3,358,099
1961 137,989 3,254,086
1960 131,334 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the United Arab Emirates increased by 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the United Arab Emirates gained 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th most populous country in 2006 and is 84th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.4M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
UAE Zambia
2100 0.91% 0.53%
2099 0.91% 0.55%
2098 0.91% 0.57%
2097 0.91% 0.58%
2096 0.91% 0.61%
2095 0.92% 0.64%
2094 0.92% 0.64%
2093 0.92% 0.67%
2092 0.93% 0.69%
2091 0.94% 0.7%
2090 0.95% 0.72%
2089 0.95% 0.74%
2088 0.96% 0.77%
2087 0.97% 0.79%
2086 0.98% 0.81%
2085 1% 0.83%
2084 1.01% 0.85%
2083 1.03% 0.87%
2082 1.04% 0.9%
2081 1.06% 0.92%
2080 1.07% 0.93%
2079 1.09% 0.96%
2078 1.1% 0.99%
2077 1.11% 1%
2076 1.13% 1.03%
2075 1.14% 1.05%
2074 1.15% 1.08%
2073 1.16% 1.11%
2072 1.17% 1.13%
2071 1.17% 1.15%
2070 1.18% 1.19%
2069 1.18% 1.2%
2068 1.18% 1.23%
2067 1.17% 1.25%
2066 1.17% 1.28%
2065 1.17% 1.31%
2064 1.17% 1.33%
2063 1.16% 1.37%
2062 1.15% 1.39%
2061 1.14% 1.43%
2060 1.14% 1.45%
2059 1.14% 1.48%
2058 1.14% 1.5%
2057 1.14% 1.53%
2056 1.14% 1.56%
2055 1.14% 1.59%
2054 1.14% 1.62%
2053 1.14% 1.65%
2052 1.14% 1.68%
2051 1.15% 1.71%
2050 1.16% 1.75%
2049 1.16% 1.79%
2048 1.17% 1.82%
2047 1.15% 1.86%
2046 1.14% 1.9%
2045 1.15% 1.94%
2044 1.16% 1.97%
2043 1.16% 2.01%
2042 1.17% 2.05%
2041 1.18% 2.1%
2040 1.18% 2.14%
2039 1.19% 2.19%
2038 1.19% 2.25%
2037 1.19% 2.3%
2036 1.18% 2.35%
2035 1.18% 2.39%
2034 1.17% 2.44%
2033 1.15% 2.49%
2032 1.13% 2.54%
2031 1.11% 2.58%
2030 1.15% 2.62%
2029 1.24% 2.66%
2028 1.42% 2.72%
2027 1.7% 2.76%
2026 2.33% 2.79%
2025 3.47% 2.83%
2024 4.79% 2.85%
2023 4.06% 2.83%
2022 5.22% 2.8%
2021 1.85% 2.86%
2020 -0.47% 2.95%
2019 1.06% 3.01%
2018 1.34% 3.05%
2017 3.22% 3.12%
2016 5.05% 3.14%
2015 5.53% 3.17%
2014 4.76% 3.22%
2013 4.08% 3.25%
2012 4.04% 3.3%
2011 3.42% 3.38%
2010 2.43% 3.52%
2009 6.42% 3.6%
2008 12.1% 3.63%
2007 12.3% 3.59%
2006 7.38% 3.5%
2005 5.32% 3.36%
2004 5.64% 3.23%
2003 5.96% 3.15%
2002 6.26% 3.13%
2001 6.58% 3.07%
2000 6.97% 2.85%
1999 7.42% 2.72%
1998 7.92% 2.66%
1997 8.46% 2.59%
1996 6.69% 2.48%
1995 4.57% 2.44%
1994 4.77% 2.42%
1993 5.08% 2.41%
1992 5.39% 2.44%
1991 5.71% 2.51%
1990 6.05% 2.6%
1989 6.43% 2.68%
1988 6.83% 2.78%
1987 7.28% 2.93%
1986 6.49% 3.03%
1985 5.51% 3.05%
1984 5.72% 3.13%
1983 5.91% 3.28%
1982 6.05% 3.26%
1981 8.29% 3.11%
1980 11.4% 3.04%
1979 12.7% 3.04%
1978 13.9% 3.07%
1977 15.3% 3.08%
1976 13.4% 3.08%
1975 11% 3.04%
1974 12.1% 2.98%
1973 13.3% 2.92%
1972 14.9% 2.85%
1971 16.9% 2.8%
1970 19.6% 2.97%
1969 20.2% 3.24%
1968 11% 3.28%
1967 3.29% 3.26%
1966 4.11% 3.25%
1965 4.64% 3.22%
1964 4.91% 3.21%
1963 5.01% 3.21%
1962 5.04% 3.2%
1961 5.07% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the United Arab Emirates grew by 4.79%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

UAE Zambia
Current population
11686438
22697916
Population rank 84/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.27%
One net population change
1.05 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
5.13 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
53.8 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,377 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +502,649 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +4.79% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 3/197 21/197
One migration net change every
3.32 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +158,634 +6,562
Net migration rank 8/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 8,157,000 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 8/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 74% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 2/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
UAE Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 158,634 - 6,562
2024 - 278,439 - 7,381
2023 92,698 300,004 577,660 9,521
2022 81,758 322,773 563,456 -8,566
2021 76,802 421,663 535,629 8,143
2020 87,871 92,541 536,484 8,156
2019 86,296 -125,186 528,089 18,385
2018 86,840 14,611 515,644 18,431
2017 89,382 34,155 504,630 25,789
2016 87,028 195,317 497,521 25,860
2015 85,044 342,468 491,021 16,261
2014 84,277 360,174 483,663 16,574
2013 82,977 279,269 476,846 15,542
2012 78,682 225,921 469,406 8,958
2011 73,496 215,183 459,743 13,569
2010 69,907 161,842 448,337 22,761
2009 66,521 163,643 434,458 44,867
2008 55,426 523,207 419,560 39,249
2007 55,048 722,380 403,729 49,945
2006 54,338 399,306 387,891 29,517
2005 60,046 174,926 368,756 35,316
2004 60,344 176,319 349,352 7,819
2003 59,118 177,237 331,189 20,845
2002 55,922 178,988 316,041 3,206
2001 52,789 178,779 302,682 23,582
2000 49,993 178,469 293,186 -4,338
1999 46,198 180,469 283,297 -16,888
1998 41,176 183,329 275,568 -26,796
1997 38,207 183,310 268,198 -26,276
1996 37,886 180,296 262,468 -38,358
1995 38,685 68,938 257,897 -45,423
1994 42,976 62,352 252,023 -45,504
1993 41,324 65,545 245,917 -47,739
1992 42,119 65,739 239,953 -43,656
1991 41,409 66,943 237,957 -44,203
1990 41,339 67,118 235,835 -38,619
1989 40,148 68,132 233,429 -36,736
1988 38,861 68,991 230,118 -31,270
1987 37,741 69,493 227,813 -26,338
1986 36,829 69,655 224,768 -16,610
1985 34,855 37,605 221,351 -18,474
1984 33,250 38,124 216,695 -18,652
1983 31,480 38,536 212,712 -11,849
1982 29,585 38,276 207,621 -3,676
1981 27,560 37,600 202,822 -16,072
1980 25,005 78,148 198,817 -24,664
1979 21,987 82,238 197,578 -29,515
1978 18,879 82,359 194,933 -30,284
1977 15,787 81,111 191,557 -30,423
1976 12,876 78,903 186,762 -30,612
1975 11,859 42,380 182,258 -30,886
1974 10,835 42,474 174,484 -31,178
1973 9,822 42,243 168,258 -31,472
1972 8,818 41,888 161,648 -31,672
1971 7,839 41,425 155,249 -31,651
1970 6,922 40,792 149,380 -31,370
1969 6,138 39,902 142,660 -11,469
1968 5,588 28,866 137,315 -5,447
1967 5,264 -283 131,938 -5,298
1966 4,955 1,516 127,164 -5,129
1965 4,675 2,598 122,814 -5,023
1964 4,410 3,126 117,197 -4,851
1963 4,157 3,264 114,555 -4,676
1962 3,901 3,212 110,173 -4,428
1961 3,657 3,141 106,318 -4,043
1960 3,418 3,102 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/united-arab-emirates/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 8,157,000 residents or 74% of the population were not native-born in the United Arab Emirates, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
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
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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