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;

Historical dataset showing UAE population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

Population growth (annual %) in United Arab Emirates was reported at 3.9772 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Arab Emirates - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The United Arab Emirates: Population growth, percent: The latest value from 2023 is 0.8 percent, a decline from 0.81 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 1.15 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for the United Arab Emirates from 1961 to 2023 is 6.77 percent. The minimum value, 0.78 percent, was reached in 2019 while the maximum of 18.13 percent was recorded in 2007.

The statistic shows the total population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2020 to 2030. 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.

The annual urban population growth in the United Arab Emirates decreased to 4.25 percent compared to the previous year. This decrease was preceded by an increase in urban population growth.Urban population growth is the annual change in the share of people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. Urban population growth is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.Find more key insights for the annual urban population growth in countries like Bahrain and Oman.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for the United Arab Emirates (SPPOPGROWARE) from 1961 to 2024 about United Arab Emirates, population, and rate.

United Arab Emirates AE: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 1.727 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.591 % for 2016. United Arab Emirates AE: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 6.937 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.696 % in 1973 and a record low of 1.077 % in 2014. United Arab Emirates AE: Urban 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. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Historical chart and dataset showing UAE population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

Urban population growth (annual %) in United Arab Emirates was reported at 4.2464 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Arab Emirates - Urban population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

United Arab Emirates AE: Rural Population Growth data was reported at -0.639 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.800 % for 2016. United Arab Emirates AE: Rural Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 6.434 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.694 % in 1973 and a record low of -1.376 % in 2014. United Arab Emirates AE: Rural 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. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Population Growth for the United Arab Emirates was 0.79905 % Chg. at Annual Rate in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Growth for the United Arab Emirates reached a record high of 17.63341 in January of 1972 and a record low of 0.17678 in January of 2014. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Growth for the United Arab Emirates - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

From 2015 to 2020, the rate of natural increase per thousand population in the United Arab Emirates reached *** percent, down from *** percent between 2010 and 2015. The total population of the UAE was estimated to reach around *** million inhabitants in 2020.

The total population in the United Arab Emirates was estimated at 10.9 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - United Arab Emirates Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United Arab Emirates AE: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data was reported at 88.404 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 87.840 % for 2010. United Arab Emirates AE: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 78.916 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 88.404 % in 2015 and a record low of 72.128 % in 1990. United Arab Emirates AE: International Migrant Stock: % of 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.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2008 Revision.; Weighted average;

From 2015 to 2020, the average population growth in the United Arab Emirates reached 1.31 percent, down from 1.6 percent from 2010 to 2015. The total population of the UAE was estimated to reach around 9.9 million inhabitants in 2020.

Rural population growth (annual %) in United Arab Emirates was reported at 1.7907 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Arab Emirates - Rural population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Dubai, UAE metro area from 1950 to 2025.

United Arab Emirates Population: Dubai data was reported at 3,136.000 Person th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,080.000 Person th for Jun 2018. United Arab Emirates Population: Dubai data is updated quarterly, averaging 2,003.170 Person th from Mar 2005 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,136.000 Person th in Sep 2018 and a record low of 1,086.000 Person th in Mar 2005. United Arab Emirates Population: Dubai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Dubai Statistics Center. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.G001: Population: Dubai.

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.