Tuesday 19 March 2024 (UAE)

Population of the UAE

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United Arab Emirates (UAE) population statistics

Total population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) data, statistics, estimates and figures. Population tables and lists by Emirate, gender, nationality.

Population data for the UAE can be somewhat unreliable. A census is rarely held (last one in 2005, next one planned for 2020), and, even when there is a census, the data could be suspect, for example inhabitants of overpopulated villas reluctant to draw attention to themselves, similarly for unmarried couples living together, or people living in the UAE on repeated visit visas.

UAE total population figures by year

Year UAE Population
Actual/Estimate
Source Date %tage
UAE¹
  Forecast Source Forecast
Date
2050           8,253,000 UN DESA² 2008
2040           7,444,000 UN DESA² 2008
2030           6,555,000 UN DESA² 2008
2021 ? government.ae, aiming for "balance"   50%?   6.1 million UNCTAD 26 Dec 2010
2020           5,660,000 UN DESA² 2008
2019                
2018 Jul 9.27 million Dubai Statistics Centre, dsc.gov.ae            
2018 Jul 9,701,315 cia.gov UAE Factbook            
2018 May 8.1 million bbc.com UAE country profile            
2017 9,304,277 fcsa.gov.ae            
2017 9,121,167 gccstat.org (is FCSA 2016 figure)            
2017 Jul 9,701,315 cia.gov UAE Factbook            
2017-mid 9,400,145 UN estimate, World Bank   12%        
2016 9,121,167 fcsa.gov.ae            
2015 8.9 million scad.ae, WAM            
2015           5,193,000 UN DESA² 2008
2014 5,628,8054 CIA estimate (from 2005 NBS census) Jul 2014          
2013 9.2 million World Bank 2014 Doing Business report 29 Oct 2013          
2010           4,707,000 UN DESA² 2008
2010           4,067,178 World Gazetter, calculation unknown
2010       13.3%   7.56 million Tanmia 25 Jan 2010
2010 8,264,0703 National Bureau of Statistics UAE 03 Apr 2011 11.5%        
2009 6,647,945 The Economist Global Debt Clock 07 Oct 2010          
2009 8,199,996 National Bureau of Statistics UAE 31 Mar 2011          
2009 8.19 million National Bureau of Statistics UAE 30 May 2010          
2009 6 million Employment and visa info (GN) 07 Oct 2009 16.5%        
2009 4,598,600 World Bank            
2008 8,073,626 National Bureau of Statistics UAE 31 Mar 2011          
2008 8.07 million National Bureau of Statistics UAE 30 May 2010          
2008           4.76 million UAE Ministry of Economy estimate 25 Sep 2008
2008 4,967,142 Source unknown            
2007 6,219,006 National Bureau of Statistics UAE 31 Mar 2011          
2007 4.48 million UAE Ministry of Economy estimate 25 Sep 2008          
2006 5,012,384 National Bureau of Statistics UAE 31 Mar 2011          
2005 5.63 million UAE population report 2006 15.4%        
2005 4,089,000 UN DESA²            
2005 3,380,730 World Gazetter, UAE Census            
2005 4,106,427 National Bureau of Statistics UAE 31 Mar 2011          
2005 4,104,695 National Census in 2005 2005 20.1%        
2004                
2003 4,041,000 World Gazetter, estimate            
2002                
2001                
2000 3,238,000 UN DESA²            
1999 2,938,000 World Gazetter, estimate            
1998                
1997                
1996                
1995 2,432,000 UN DESA²            
1995 2,411,041 UAE Census (TN) 31 May 2010          
1995 2,377,453 World Gazetter, UAE Census   24.4%        
1995 1,886,708 World Gazetter, UAE Census            
1990 1,867,000 UN DESA²            
1985 1,622,300 World Gazetter, UAE Census            
1985 1,410,000 UN DESA²            
1985 1,095,577 World Gazetter, UAE Census            
1980 1,015,000 UN DESA²            
1980 842,415 World Gazetter, UAE Census            
1975 557,887 UAE Census (TN) 31 May 2010 30.5%        
1975 530,000 UN DESA²            
1975 468,287 World Gazetteer, UAE Census            
1970 225,000 UN DESA²            
1968 180,226 Census            
1965 144,000 UN DESA²            
1960 90,000 UN DESA²            
1955 79,000 UN DESA²            
1950 70,000 UN DESA²            
1904 80,000 Frauke Heard-Bey - Tribal Society            
  1. %tage UAE is percentage of resident population represented by UAE National citizens (Emiratis).
  2. World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision, Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat (UN DESA or UN ESA?). Figures using Medium Variant as input criteria. Variation of ±1% for 2015 up to ±10% for 2050.
  3. Estimated figure for mid-2010 according to data released 31 March 2011 by the UAE National Statistics Bureau. Calculated according to the formula Current Estimate = 2005 Census population + Births - Deaths + Immigrants - Emigrants since 2005 Census. Figures for Births and Deaths from the UAE Ministry of Health, figures for Immigrants and Emigrants based on residence visas issued, renewed, and cancelled from the UAE Ministry of the Interior.
  4. CIA Factbook estimate for Jul 2014 is the 2005 census figure from the UAE NBS, which is a bit misleading since the population has increased substantially since then. However, as of Jan 2014, the UAE NBS has not published any updated population figures since 2011 (estimate for 2010, census for 2005).

UAE population by gender, male to female population ratio in the UAE

UAE population by gender
Year Female Male Total Source Notes
2019          
2018          
2017 2,888,335 6,415,942 9,304,277 FCSA  
2016 2,822,873 6,298,294 9,121,167 FCSA  
2015          
           
           
2010 H1 2,102,250 6,161,820 8,264,070 NBS estimate first half of 2010  
2009 2,079,111 6,120,885 8,199,996 NBS estimate  
2008 2,033,655 6,039,971 8,073,626 NBS estimate  
2007 1,685,725 4,533,281 6,219,006 NBS estimate  
2006 1,478,820 3,533,564 5,012,384 NBS estimate  
2005 1,222,037 2,547,043 3,769,080 UAE Census  

UAE Population by Emirate

Emirates listed in order from most populous to least populated with figures from 2005 census, and from 2008 (source unknown)

Emirate 2005 Females 2005 Males 2005 Total² 2008³ 2009 2010 2011 2012
Dubai¹ 319,287 881,022 1,200,309 1,770,533 1,770,8884 1,905,4764 2,003,1706  
Abu Dhabi¹ 442,050 850,069 1,292,119 1,548,655   1,967,6595   2.33 million7
Sharjah 251,206 881,022 724,859 895,252       1m (approx)
Ajman 69,559 120,290 189,849 372,923        
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) 17,940 27,816 45,756 171,903        
Fujairah 76,830 120,741 197,571 137,940        
Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) 45,165 73,452 118,617 69,936        
Total 1,222,037 2,547,043 3,769,080 4,967,142        
Percentage of total 32.4% 67.6% 100%          
  1. Abu Dhabi was more populous than Dubai up until 2008, after which Dubai had a higher population.
  2. Figures do not include an estimated 335,615 non-nationals not counted in the census. Total population of the UAE including that number is 4,104,695. Figures also do not include visitors to the UAE, which numbered 765,682 for the month of December 2005 according to Ministry of Interior data (when the census was conducted).
  3. Abu Dhabi includes population of Al Ain (651,904), Fujairah includes population of Dibba (30,000), Sharjah includes population of Khorfakkan (49,635)
  4. Dubai Statistics Center Population Estimations & Predictions 2007-2010.
  5. Statistics Center Abu Dhabi (SCAD) Abu Dhabi Statistical Yearbook 2011.
  6. Dubai Statistics Center figure for end of 2011, comprises 1,536,380 men and 466,790 women (reported 01 April 2012). Also reported was the daytime population of Dubai increases to 3,023,426.
  7. 09 Oct 2013 (news release) Abu Dhabi emirate population in mid-2012 was 2.33 million, made up of estimates for Abu Dhabi Region (1.42 million), Al Ain region (0.63 million), Western or Al Gharbia region (0.29 million). Figures reported by the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD) in the 2013 Yearbook of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (released on Mon 07 Oct 2013).

Population forecasts

Proportion of UAE population made up of Emirati citizens

The proportion varies by emirate, with the lowest percentage in Dubai (about 10-15% Emirati), followed by Abu Dhabi (about 20% Emirati). Overall for the UAE, citizens make up about 20% of the total population.

UAE population by nationality (foreigners, expat residents)

See also following pages for expat population figures by emirate.

UAE census dates

Abu Dhabi Census 2011

Last update Monday 11-Nov-2019. Page development 3D 4L 5C.
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