PopulationTracker

United Arab Emirates population

Current population of United Arab Emirates

12,108,379

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
64
Deaths today
6
Change today (UTC)
+307
World rank
86th of 218
0.14% of world population
Population
11,513,149
2025 estimate
Annual growth
+4.68%
2025
Density
148 /km²
2023
Land area
71,020 km²
Urban population
86%
2025
Median age
31.6 yrs
2025 (UN WPP)
Fertility rate
1.21
births per woman, 2024
Life expectancy
83.1 yrs
2024
Net migration
+158,634
2025
Capital
Abu Dhabi
Region
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Population of United Arab Emirates: overview

United Arab Emirates has a population of 11,513,149 according to the latest official estimates (2025), the 86th largest in the world. United Arab Emirates is part of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan region and its capital is Abu Dhabi.

The population is growing rapidly, at 4.68% per year — among the fastest rates recorded anywhere. In absolute terms that meant roughly 526,749 additional people over the past year. Immigration reinforces the trend: net migration added about 158,634 people in 2025.

Population density is moderate — about 148 people per km², spread across 71,020 km² of land. Most residents — 86% — live in urban areas.

The median age is 31.6 years. At 1.21 children per woman, fertility is among the lowest recorded anywhere. Life expectancy at birth is 83.1 years (2024).

The UN projects strong growth ahead: 15.37 million people by 2050, about 33% more than today. The 2030 projection is 12,190,605.

United Arab Emirates population, 1960–2025 and projections

04M8M12M16M19601980200020202040projected2025: 11.51M1960: 131,3341961: 137,9891962: 144,9461963: 152,2111964: 159,6921965: 167,1031966: 173,9761967: 179,7001968: 199,4161969: 239,6601970: 286,5361971: 335,0271972: 385,0141973: 436,3991974: 489,0871975: 542,8561976: 615,8661977: 710,2091978: 809,2741979: 912,0101980: 1,015,7001981: 1,099,8551982: 1,166,3701983: 1,235,3051984: 1,305,9961985: 1,377,9111986: 1,467,3831987: 1,574,2441988: 1,681,7881989: 1,789,8511990: 1,898,2201991: 2,006,6261992: 2,114,7301993: 2,222,0931994: 2,328,1881995: 2,434,6621996: 2,597,5641997: 2,817,4101998: 3,040,4211999: 3,266,0092000: 3,493,5752001: 3,723,5902002: 3,956,8262003: 4,192,4572004: 4,428,9672005: 4,664,7902006: 5,009,1002007: 5,624,6352008: 6,302,6642009: 6,707,0582010: 6,869,8382011: 7,104,5382012: 7,391,4482013: 7,693,0312014: 8,059,4402015: 8,505,2372016: 8,935,0952017: 9,223,2252018: 9,346,7012019: 9,445,7852020: 9,401,0382021: 9,575,1522022: 10,074,9772023: 10,483,7512024: 10,986,4002025: 11,513,1492030: 12,190,6052050: 15,367,392
Population of United Arab Emirates by year
YearPopulationGrowth rateAnnual change
202511,513,149+4.68%+526,749
202410,986,400+4.68%+502,649
202310,483,751+3.98%+408,774
202210,074,977+5.09%+499,825
20219,575,152+1.84%+174,114
20209,401,038−0.47%−44,747
20199,445,785+1.05%+99,084
20189,346,701+1.33%+123,476
20179,223,225+3.17%+288,130
20168,935,095+4.93%+429,858
20158,505,237+5.38%+445,797
20148,059,440+4.65%+366,409
20106,869,838+2.40%+162,780
20054,664,790+5.19%+235,823
20003,493,575+6.74%+227,566
19952,434,662+4.47%+106,474
19901,898,220+5.88%+108,369
19851,377,911+5.36%+71,915
19801,015,700+10.77%+103,690
1975542,856+10.43%+53,769
1970286,536+17.86%+46,876
1965167,103+4.54%+7,411
1960131,334––

Recent years annually, earlier years at five-year steps. Annual change compares against the immediately preceding year.

United Arab Emirates population forecast

United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.

Projected population of United Arab Emirates
YearProjected populationvs today
203012,190,605+5.9%
205015,367,392+33.5%

United Arab Emirates population pyramid (2025)

Age and sex structure from UN World Population Prospects 2024: 16.0% of United Arab Emirates's population is under 15, 82.2% is of working age (15–64), and 1.8% is 65 or older. Hover any bar for the group's size.

MaleFemale
0%2%2%4%4%6%6%8%8%10%10%12%12%0-4 male: 297,971 (2.6%)0-4 female: 299,892 (2.6%)0-45-9 male: 313,387 (2.8%)5-9 female: 310,448 (2.7%)10-14 male: 297,229 (2.6%)10-14 female: 293,868 (2.6%)10-1415-19 male: 270,094 (2.4%)15-19 female: 234,235 (2.1%)20-24 male: 581,351 (5.1%)20-24 female: 356,408 (3.1%)20-2425-29 male: 984,485 (8.7%)25-29 female: 524,096 (4.6%)30-34 male: 1,241,797 (10.9%)30-34 female: 507,808 (4.5%)30-3435-39 male: 1,101,900 (9.7%)35-39 female: 497,640 (4.4%)40-44 male: 724,953 (6.4%)40-44 female: 375,532 (3.3%)40-4445-49 male: 538,304 (4.7%)45-49 female: 236,082 (2.1%)50-54 male: 382,961 (3.4%)50-54 female: 160,004 (1.4%)50-5455-59 male: 241,377 (2.1%)55-59 female: 134,173 (1.2%)60-64 male: 146,287 (1.3%)60-64 female: 90,362 (0.8%)60-6465-69 male: 57,111 (0.5%)65-69 female: 40,073 (0.4%)70-74 male: 27,757 (0.2%)70-74 female: 24,787 (0.2%)70-7475-79 male: 18,724 (0.2%)75-79 female: 14,925 (0.1%)80-84 male: 6,215 (0.1%)80-84 female: 5,689 (0.1%)80-8485-89 male: 3,055 (0.0%)85-89 female: 3,339 (0.0%)90-94 male: 585 (0.0%)90-94 female: 848 (0.0%)90-9495-99 male: 75 (0.0%)95-99 female: 160 (0.0%)100+ male: 4 (0.0%)100+ female: 13 (0.0%)100+

United Arab Emirates population FAQ

What is the population of United Arab Emirates in 2026?

United Arab Emirates's population is estimated at about 12.11 million in 2026, extrapolated from the latest official figure of 11,513,149 (2025). United Arab Emirates ranks 86th in the world by population.

Is the population of United Arab Emirates growing or shrinking?

United Arab Emirates's population is growing at about 4.68% per year, an increase of roughly 526,749 people over the past year.

How densely populated is United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates has about 148 people per square kilometre across a land area of 71,020 km².

What share of the world's population lives in United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates is home to about 0.14% of the world's population.

What is United Arab Emirates's projected population in 2050?

United Nations medium-variant projections put United Arab Emirates's population at 15,367,392 in 2050, passing through 12,190,605 in 2030.

What is the median age in United Arab Emirates?

The median age in United Arab Emirates is 31.6 years (2025 estimate) — half the population is younger and half older than that.

Sources: World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0); median age and projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Live figures are estimates extrapolated from the latest official data — see methodology.