From a modest gathering of 63,320 souls in 1960 to a thriving, global metropolis of over 9.5 million today, the UAE’s population story is a breathtaking narrative of transformation, largely written by ambitious migrants seeking opportunity under its sun.
Key Takeaways
- The total population of the UAE reached 9,516,871 in mid-2023
- UAE population grew by 1.42% from 2022 to 2023, reaching approximately 133,000 additional residents
- Projected UAE population for 2025 is 10,038,201 with a growth rate of 1.67% annually
- UAE population 0-14 years old comprises 19.6% of total in 2023
- Population aged 15-24 years is 11.2% or about 1.07 million in 2023
- 25-54 years age group holds 65.4% of UAE population, totaling 6.22 million
- UAE population sex ratio at birth is 104 males per 100 females
- Overall sex ratio in UAE is 140 males per 100 females due to migrants
- Male population totals 5.6 million, females 3.9 million in 2023
- UAE Emirati population is 11.5% of total or 1,093,000 in 2023
- South Asians comprise 50% of UAE population with Indians at 3.5 million
- Arabs other than Emiratis 16% or 1.52 million including Egyptians 900,000
- Abu Dhabi population 3.78 million with 33% Emiratis
- Dubai population 3.65 million highest urban concentration 2023
- Sharjah 2.0 million residents density 1,152 per sq km
The UAE's population growth, driven by migration, reached 9.5 million in 2023.
Age Structure
- UAE population 0-14 years old comprises 19.6% of total in 2023
- Population aged 15-24 years is 11.2% or about 1.07 million in 2023
- 25-54 years age group holds 65.4% of UAE population, totaling 6.22 million
- Population 55-64 years is 2.9% approximately 276,000 people in 2023
- 65 years and over is 0.9% or 85,000 elderly residents
- Median age for males is 33.3 years and females 34.8 years in 2023
- Youth population (0-24) at 32.5% drives future workforce
- Working-age population (15-64) is 81.5% of total
- Age dependency ratio is 22.7% with youth dependency 23.9%
- Child population (0-4) is 6.2% or 590,000 in 2023 estimates
- School-age population (5-17) totals 1.7 million
- Adult population (18+) comprises 70% or 6.65 million
- Senior citizens (60+) number 200,000 growing at 3% yearly
- Age pyramid shows broad base narrowing to apex typical of migrant-heavy pop
- Population aged 30-34 peaks at 1.2 million due to expat influx
- Under-5 mortality decline to 6.2 per 1,000 affects age structure
- Projected median age 38.5 by 2050 with aging expats
- 20-24 age cohort 450,000 mostly tertiary students and young workers
- 40-44 years group at 900,000 mid-career professionals
- Retiree age 65-69 is 0.4% or 38,000
- Adolescent fertility rate 7.5 births per 1,000 women 15-19
- Population doubling time for under-15 group extended to 45 years
- Age-specific growth highest in 25-29 cohort at 5% annually
- Elderly dependency ratio 1.1% minimal but rising
- Total dependency ratio 22.7 dependents per 100 working-age
- Male population aged 25-54 is 3.8 million dominant group
- Female youth bulge in 15-19 years at 180,000
Age Structure Interpretation
The UAE's demographic story is one of imported prime: a nation built by a massive, temporary workforce of mid-career expats that gives it the vibrant energy of a young country today but poses the intriguing puzzle of who will be the grandparents of tomorrow.
Gender Distribution
- UAE population sex ratio at birth is 104 males per 100 females
- Overall sex ratio in UAE is 140 males per 100 females due to migrants
- Male population totals 5.6 million, females 3.9 million in 2023
- Sex ratio for 0-14 years is 102.5 males per 100 females
- Working-age males (15-64) outnumber females 2:1 at 4.2M to 2.1M
- Female-headed households 18% of total in urban areas
- Gender imbalance highest in 25-54 age group 221 males per 100 females
- Female life expectancy 80.5 years vs males 77.1 years
- Male labor force participation 95% vs female 52% in 2022
- Sex ratio among Emiratis balanced at 102 males per 100 females
- Female population growth 1.8% annually higher than males 1.2%
- Gender parity index in education 0.98 for tertiary level
- Males comprise 83% of construction workforce
- Female expatriates 30% of total female pop
- Maternal mortality ratio 9 per 100,000 live births
- Male infant mortality 5.5 vs female 4.7 per 1,000
- Sex ratio 65+ years 85 males per 100 females due to longevity
- Females 48% of university graduates annually
- Male unemployment 2.4% vs female 6.1% in 2022
- Gender gap in literacy negligible at 96.9% for both
- Males dominate taxi drivers 99%
- Female professionals in healthcare 70% of nurses
- Sex ratio in Dubai 178 males per 100 females
- Abu Dhabi sex ratio 144 males per 100 females
- Female voting participation 52% in federal elections
- Emirati nationals 1.15 million with 51% females
- Expat males 80% of Indian community
Gender Distribution Interpretation
The UAE's population is a fascinating study in contrasts: a nation built by a vast army of imported male labor that, in its domestic sphere, is steadily and successfully cultivating a more balanced and educated Emirati society where women are living longer, graduating in force, and increasingly shaping the future from the home to the polling booth.
Geographic Distribution
- Abu Dhabi population 3.78 million with 33% Emiratis
- Dubai population 3.65 million highest urban concentration 2023
- Sharjah 2.0 million residents density 1,152 per sq km
- Ajman population 550,000 smallest emirate by area
- Ras Al Khaimah 450,000 with rural pockets
- Fujairah 260,000 lowest population emirate
- Urban population 87.5% of total UAE residents 2023
- Dubai urban agglomeration 3.9 million metro area
- Abu Dhabi city proper 1.5 million
- Population density Dubai 8,295 per sq km highest
- Northern Emirates combined 3.26 million
- 99% population within 10km of coast
- Rural population declined to 12.5% or 1.19 million
- Jebel Ali free zone pop 150,000 workers
- Al Ain city 800,000 second largest inland
- Sharjah urban growth 3.2% yearly absorbing migrants
- Umm Al Quwain 80,000 sparsest density
- Expo 2020 boosted Dubai temp pop by 200,000
- 70% population in Dubai and Abu Dhabi combined
- Population shift to suburbs post-2020 15% increase
- Ras Al Khaimah industrial zones 100,000 residents
- Fujairah port area 50,000 workers
- Urbanization rate projected 88% by 2025
- Ajman density 2,500 per sq km compact urban
- Interstate migration Dubai to Abu Dhabi 50,000 yearly
- Labor camps house 1 million in outskirts
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
The UAE tells a tale of two coastlines: a glittering, hyper-urban ribbon where 99% have squeezed within 10km of the shore, leaving the vast desert interior quietly wondering if it should have invested in better beachfront property.
Migration and Residency
- Expatriates 88.1% of total population or 8.38 million in 2023
- Net migration rate 18.7 migrants per 1,000 population annually
- Inflow of 200,000 Indian workers in 2022
- Remittances outflow $42 billion in 2022 from expats
- Visa overstayers regularized 100,000 in 2021-2022 amnesty
- Golden Visa program attracted 100,000 investors by 2023
- Emigration of Emiratis negligible at 0.1% rate
- International migrant stock 88% of population absolute 8.4M
- Labor migration from Bangladesh 50,000 yearly quota
- Deportations 20,000 annually for violations
- Family reunification visas 30,000 issued 2022
- Refugee population negligible under 1,000
- Student migrants 50,000 international in universities
- Circular migration turnover 500,000 workers yearly
- Long-term residency visas 152,000 by 2023
- Kafala system binds 90% of blue-collar migrants
- Post-COVID return migration 300,000 in 2021
- Highly skilled migrants 20% of expats HDI above 0.8
- Domestic workers migrants 250,000 mostly Asian females
- Investor residency 10,000 new in 2022 minimum AED 2M
- Naturalization rare 500 cases yearly Emirati policy
- Transit migration via Dubai airport 90 million passengers 2023
- Emiratisation policy targets 10% national labor replacement
Migration and Residency Interpretation
The UAE’s population story is a masterclass in ambitious, calculated hospitality: it aggressively imports talent and labor by the millions, polices the terms with a firm hand, and—like a meticulous, glittering host—it’s very clear about who gets to stay for dinner and who’s just passing through the world’s busiest transit lounge.
Nationality Composition
- UAE Emirati population is 11.5% of total or 1,093,000 in 2023
- South Asians comprise 50% of UAE population with Indians at 3.5 million
- Arabs other than Emiratis 16% or 1.52 million including Egyptians 900,000
- South Asians detailed: Pakistanis 1.7 million, Bangladeshis 800,000
- Filipinos number 700,000 or 7.4% of population
- Iranians 500,000 expatriates in UAE mainly Dubai
- Other Asians 6% including Chinese 180,000 and Indonesians 100,000
- Western expatriates 250,000 including 100,000 Indians professionals
- Emiratis by emirate: Abu Dhabi 2.9 per 100 pop, Dubai 7.5 per 100
- Indian nationals 38% of total expats
- Egyptians 10% of population mostly professionals
- UAE citizenship granted to 10,000+ in 2021 amnesty
- Bidoon population stateless Arabs around 100,000
- Nepalese 300,000 mostly laborers
- Sri Lankans 250,000 domestic and service workers
- Jordanians and Palestinians 150,000 combined
- Europeans 88,000 with British 40,000 largest
- Americans 50,000 expatriates mainly business
- Africans 100,000 including Sudanese 50,000
- Religious composition tied to nat: Muslims 76%, Christians 9%
- Indian community growth 4% yearly to 3.5M
- Emirati females 51% of nationals
- Pakistani diaspora largest in Sharjah 500,000
- Gold visa holders 100,000+ long-term residents by 2023
Nationality Composition Interpretation
The UAE's demographic tapestry is a masterclass in global synergy, woven from threads where Emiratis form the foundational 11.5%, while a vibrant majority of South Asian, Arab, and international communities—from 3.5 million Indians to gold-visa innovators—collectively power a nation that is both intimately local and spectacularly global.
Population Size and Growth
- The total population of the UAE reached 9,516,871 in mid-2023
- UAE population grew by 1.42% from 2022 to 2023, reaching approximately 133,000 additional residents
- Projected UAE population for 2025 is 10,038,201 with a growth rate of 1.67% annually
- UAE population density is 118 people per square kilometer as of 2023
- From 1960 to 2023, UAE population increased by 4,836% from 63,320 to 9,516,871
- UAE net migration added 1.1 million people between 2018 and 2023
- Annual population growth rate in UAE averaged 4.5% from 2000 to 2020
- UAE population surpassed 9 million in 2021 for the first time
- Infant mortality contributed to a population stability factor with 5.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
- UAE fertility rate of 1.4 children per woman in 2023 impacts long-term growth projections
- Life expectancy at birth in UAE is 78.7 years, supporting sustained population growth
- UAE urban population growth rate was 2.1% annually from 2015-2020
- Total population in 2020 census was 9,282,406
- UAE population doubled every 12 years on average since 1980
- Natural increase rate in UAE was 0.8% in 2022
- UAE ranked 94th globally in population size in 2023
- Population projection for 2050 is 11.2 million under medium variant
- UAE population growth slowed to 1.4% in 2023 from 3.5% in 2010
- Total land area of 83,600 sq km hosts current population density
- UAE population increased by 7.3% during COVID-19 recovery 2021-2022
- Crude birth rate of 9.5 per 1,000 in 2022
- Crude death rate of 2.0 per 1,000 population in 2022
- Net reproduction rate of 0.65 in UAE demographics
- UAE population momentum projected positive until 2040
- Total population under 18 years contributes 20% to growth dynamics
- Elderly population (65+) at 1.5% minimally impacts current growth
- UAE population growth rate forecast 1.2% for 2024-2030
- Historical peak growth rate of 9.4% in 1981
- Current annual change of 115,871 people in 2023
- UAE median age rise from 28.8 in 2010 to 33.5 in 2023 affects growth
Population Size and Growth Interpretation
The UAE's population isn't just growing; it's executing a meticulously engineered demographic expansion, soaring from a modest 63,000 in 1960 to over 9.5 million today, fueled by migration and guided by policy to achieve a deliberate and sustainable future.
Sources & References
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