The statistic shows the total population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2019 to 2029. In 2023, approximately 10.68 million inhabitants lived in the UAE. Population of the United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have undergone extreme demographic changes over the past decade. With the increasing developments, tourism and global recognition of cities in the UAE like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it is to no surprise that the total population has grown by about 6 million people over the past decade. However, the majority of the total population of the UAE are expatriates. Any expatriate having lived in the UAE for a minimum of 20 years can apply for a citizenship, consequently, the growing total population is mainly due to the growing number of expatriates who become citizens and the high number of immigrants which gives the UAE the world’s highest net migration rate. This becomes evident when looking at the fertility rate, the average rate of children born per fertile woman in a year in the UAE, which has been steadily declining over the last decade. Life expectancy, however, has been increasing steadily over the same time span. It is interesting to note that, despite this increase, total population of the UAE consists mainly of people between the ages of 15 to 64, another fact pointing towards expatriates and immigrants contributing to the increasing numbers.

In 2018, the majority of the expatriates residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hailed from India, with a population size of around 2.6 million. The expatriate population made up the vast majority of the country’s total population, at around 89 percent as of 2018.

 UAE Economy 

With a real gross domestic product growth rate of 1.7 percent in 2018, the UAE is one of the biggest economies in the region. (1143018) Since its discovery of oil in the mid 90’s, the country has transformed and has become a regional hub. It has demonstrated significant growth in various economics sectors, driven by the country’s shift in focus from the hydrocarbons sector. (1143358) Along with low levels of unemployment, this has led to the influx of workers from diverse nationalities.

 Migration figures

The UAE is one of the top countries worldwide to attract global talent. (1039195) In 2018, around a quarter of million people migrated from the Philippines to work in the UAE. (880782) In comparison, the number of Indonesian workers amounted to less than 0.6 thousand in 2019.

Chart and table of the Uae net migration rate from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

United Arab Emirates AE: Population: Growth data was reported at 1.398 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.252 % for 2016. United Arab Emirates AE: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 5.936 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.695 % in 1973 and a record low of 0.715 % in 2014. United Arab Emirates AE: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

This statistic shows the estimated Asian immigrant population of the United Arab Emirates in 2017, by country of origin. In 2017, there were over 458,000 Indian immigrants in United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates AE: Net Migration data was reported at 301,000.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 480,000.000 Person for 2012. United Arab Emirates AE: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging 334,563.000 Person from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2017, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,331,000.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of 37,882.000 Person in 1962. United Arab Emirates AE: Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the total number of immigrants less the annual number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens. Data are five-year estimates.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

Key information about United Arab Emirates population

• The United Arab Emirates population reached 10.7 million people in Dec 2023, compared with the previously reported figure of 10.3 million people in Dec 2022
• The data reached an all-time high of 10.7 million people in Dec 2023 and a record low of 0.1 million people in Dec 1951

• In the latest reports, United Arab Emirates Unemployment Rate dropped to 2.9 % in Dec 2022
• Monthly earnings of the United Arab Emirates population was 1,977.4 USD in Dec 2016
• United Arab Emirates Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 82.6 % in Dec 2023

WorldPop produces different types of gridded population count datasets, depending on the methods used and end application. Please make sure you have read our Mapping Populations overview page before choosing and downloading a dataset.


Bespoke methods used to produce datasets for specific individual countries are available through the WorldPop Open Population Repository (WOPR) link below. These are 100m resolution gridded population estimates using customized methods ("bottom-up" and/or "top-down") developed for the latest data available from each country. They can also be visualised and explored through the woprVision App.
The remaining datasets in the links below are produced using the "top-down" method, with either the unconstrained or constrained top-down disaggregation method used. Please make sure you read the Top-down estimation modelling overview page to decide on which datasets best meet your needs. Datasets are available to download in Geotiff and ASCII XYZ format at a resolution of 3 and 30 arc-seconds (approximately 100m and 1km at the equator, respectively):

- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 ( 1km resolution ): Consistent 1km resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020.
- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020.
- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 UN adjusted ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019)
-Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 UN adjusted ( 1km resolution ): Consistent 1km resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019).
-Unconstrained global mosaics 2000-2020 ( 1km resolution ): Mosaiced 1km resolution versions of the "Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020" datasets.
-Constrained individual countries 2020 ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using constrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for 2020.
-Constrained individual countries 2020 UN adjusted ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using constrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for 2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019).

Older datasets produced for specific individual countries and continents, using a set of tailored geospatial inputs and differing "top-down" methods and time periods are still available for download here: Individual countries and Whole Continent.

Data for earlier dates is available directly from WorldPop.

WorldPop (www.worldpop.org - School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton; Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Louisville; Departement de Geographie, Universite de Namur) and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University (2018). Global High Resolution Population Denominators Project - Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1134076). https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00645

The statistic shows the demographic structure of the migrant population in the Abu Dhabi emirate as of mid 2016, broken down by age group and gender. In that year, there was approximately 48,000 females migrants between the ages of 15 and 19 years. According to estimates, the total non-citizen population of Abu Dhabi at this time was about 2.36 million, with about 1.57 million males and 782,000 females.

The statistic shows the demographic structure of the population in the Abu Dhabi emirate as of mid 2016, broken down by age group and citizenship. In that year, there was approximately 86,000 foreigners between the ages of 15 and 19 years. According to estimates, the total population of Abu Dhabi in at this time was about 2.9 million, with 2.4 million foreigners and 550,000 local Abu Dhabi citizens.

This statistic shows the degree of urbanization in the Mashriq countries in 2023. The Mashriq, also Mashreq, is the region encompassing the eastern part of the Arab World, comprising the countries Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Urbanization is defined as the share of urban population in the total population. In 2023, 92.02 percent of the total population of Jordan lived in urban areas.

United Arab Emirates AE: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data was reported at 11.308 % in 2017. United Arab Emirates AE: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data is updated yearly, averaging 11.308 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. United Arab Emirates AE: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Share of youth not in education, employment or training (NEET) is the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment, or training to the population of the corresponding age group: youth (ages 15 to 24); persons ages 15 to 29; or both age groups.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

United Arab Emirates AE: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 1.592 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.555 Ratio for 2015. United Arab Emirates AE: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 2.891 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.150 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 1.473 Ratio in 2011. United Arab Emirates AE: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude death rate indicates the number of deaths occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Internally displaced persons are defined according to the 1998 Guiding Principles (http://www.internal-displacement.org/publications/1998/ocha-guiding-principles-on-internal-displacement) as people or groups of people who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of armed conflict, or to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights, or natural or human-made disasters and who have not crossed an international border.

"People Displaced" refers to the number of people living in displacement as of the end of each year.

"New Displacement" refers to the number of new cases or incidents of displacement recorded, rather than the number of people displaced. This is done because people may have been displaced more than once.

Contains data from IDMC's data portal.

Graph and download economic data for Net Issues of International Debt Securities for Issuers in General Government Sector, All Maturities, Residence of Issuer in United Arab Emirates (IDSGAMRINIAE) from Q1 1977 to Q4 2024 about United Arab Emirates, issues, sector, maturity, debt, residents, securities, Net, and government.

United Arab Emirates AE: Internally Displaced Persons: New Displacement Associated with Disasters data was reported at 850.000 Case in 2017. United Arab Emirates AE: Internally Displaced Persons: New Displacement Associated with Disasters data is updated yearly, averaging 850.000 Case from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. United Arab Emirates AE: Internally Displaced Persons: New Displacement Associated with Disasters data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Internally displaced persons are defined according to the 1998 Guiding Principles (http://www.internal-displacement.org/publications/1998/ocha-guiding-principles-on-internal-displacement) as people or groups of people who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of armed conflict, or to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights, or natural or human-made disasters and who have not crossed an international border. 'New Displacement' refers to the number of new cases or incidents of displacement recorded over the specified year, rather than the number of people displaced. This is done because people may have been displaced more than once.; ; The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (http://www.internal-displacement.org/); Sum;

United Arab Emirates AE: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data was reported at 59.505 % in 2017. United Arab Emirates AE: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 59.505 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. United Arab Emirates AE: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Employment is defined as persons of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period (i.e. who worked in a job for at least one hour) or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangements. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

The statistic shows the age structure among the population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, 16.34 percent of the UAE's total population were aged 0 to 14 years.

Graph and download economic data for Amount Outstanding of International Bonds and Notes for All Issuers, Residence of Issuer in United Arab Emirates (DISCONTINUED) (IBANRIAOAE) from Q1 1977 to Q2 2015 about United Arab Emirates, notes, bonds, and residents.

Graph and download economic data for Amount Outstanding of International Debt Securities for Issuers in General Government Sector, All Maturities, Residence of Issuer in United Arab Emirates (IDSGAMRIAOAE) from Q1 1977 to Q3 2024 about United Arab Emirates, sector, maturity, debt, residents, securities, and government.