With 84.2% of residents living in urban areas and a population density of 117.4 people per sq km, the UAE is one of the most concentrated modern societies in the region. Total population stood at 9,365,753 at the start of 2023 and is growing at 1.70% while the long term forecast points toward 11,373,000 by 2050. Median age remains relatively young at 34.0 years, but the very high net migration rate reshapes the age mix and workforce every year.
Key Takeaways
- Total population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was 9,365,753 as of 2023-12-01
- United Arab Emirates population growth rate was 1.70% in 2023
- United Arab Emirates total population was 9,365,753 in 2023
- Emigrants from the UAE (stock) was 4.4 million in 2020
- International migrant stock in the UAE was 8.3 million in 2020
- International migrant stock in the UAE was 8,242,000 in 2019
- UAE population by nationality: UAE nationals were about 1.1 million out of 9.2 million total (2011)
- UAE nationals were about 1.4 million out of about 9.2 million total (2018 estimate)
- UAE nationals were about 2.0 million out of 10 million+ total by mid-2020 (estimate)
- Total population by emirate (Abu Dhabi): 4,521,000 in 2022 (estimate)
- Total population by emirate (Dubai): 3,516,000 in 2022 (estimate)
- Total population by emirate (Sharjah): 1,481,000 in 2022 (estimate)
- Total population in UAE as of 2010 was 8,264,000
- Total population in UAE as of 2011 was 8,619,000
- Total population in UAE as of 2012 was 8,995,000
With 9.37 million people in 2023, the UAE is growing about 1.7% annually toward 10 million by 2028.
Related reading
Demographics
1Total population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was 9,365,753 as of 2023-12-01[1]
Directional
2United Arab Emirates population growth rate was 1.70% in 2023[1]
Verified
3United Arab Emirates total population was 9,365,753 in 2023[1]
Verified
4United Arab Emirates population projection was 11,373,000 for 2050 (UN World Population Prospects projection)[2]
Directional
5UN World Population Prospects estimated population of United Arab Emirates was 9.3 million (mid-year 2023 estimate)[3]
Verified
6United Arab Emirates median age was 34.0 years in 2020[4]
Single source
7United Arab Emirates population is projected to reach 10 million by 2028 (UN WPP)[2]
Directional
8United Arab Emirates has a population density of 115 people per sq km (2020 estimate)[5]
Verified
9United Arab Emirates population density was 117.4 people per sq km in 2023[5]
Directional
10United Arab Emirates population living in urban areas was 84.2% in 2023[6]
Verified
11United Arab Emirates urban population was 7,895,000 in 2023[7]
Verified
12United Arab Emirates rural population was 1,500,000 in 2023[8]
Verified
13United Arab Emirates total fertility rate was 1.3 births per woman in 2023[9]
Single source
14United Arab Emirates crude birth rate was 11.0 births per 1,000 population in 2023[10]
Verified
15United Arab Emirates crude death rate was 3.0 deaths per 1,000 population in 2023[11]
Verified
16United Arab Emirates net migration rate was 17.6 migrants per 1,000 population in 2023[12]
Verified
17United Arab Emirates life expectancy at birth was 79.0 years in 2022[13]
Verified
18United Arab Emirates life expectancy at birth (female) was 81.7 years in 2022[14]
Verified
19United Arab Emirates life expectancy at birth (male) was 76.2 years in 2022[15]
Verified
20United Arab Emirates population age 0-14 was 19.0% in 2023[16]
Directional
21United Arab Emirates population age 15-64 was 75.0% in 2023[17]
Verified
22United Arab Emirates population age 65+ was 6.0% in 2023[18]
Single source
23United Arab Emirates population aged 15-24 was 11.3% in 2023[19]
Verified
24United Arab Emirates population aged 25-54 was 44.6% in 2023[20]
Verified
25United Arab Emirates total population (World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL) was 9,340,415 in 2022[21]
Single source
26United Arab Emirates total population (World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL) was 9,517,076 in 2023[21]
Verified
27United Arab Emirates total population (World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL) was 9,206,610 in 2021[21]
Verified
28United Arab Emirates population growth (annual %) was 1.7% in 2023[22]
Single source
29United Arab Emirates population growth (annual %) was 1.6% in 2022[22]
Verified
30United Arab Emirates population growth (annual %) was 2.0% in 2021[22]
Verified
31United Arab Emirates dependency ratio was 41.0 in 2023[23]
Verified
32United Arab Emirates median age (UN) in 2023 was 34.2 years[24]
Verified
33United Arab Emirates sex ratio (male per 100 female) was 202.6 in 2023[25]
Verified
34United Arab Emirates female population share was 27.2% in 2023[25]
Directional
35United Arab Emirates male population share was 72.8% in 2023[25]
Verified
36United Arab Emirates birth rate (crude) was 11.5 per 1,000 population in 2022[10]
Verified
37United Arab Emirates death rate (crude) was 3.0 per 1,000 population in 2022[11]
Verified
Demographics Interpretation
In 2023 the UAE’s population of about 9.37 million is growing at a brisk 1.7 percent, staying youthful with a median age just over 34, urbanizing fast, and leaning heavily male at a sex ratio of about 203, while low fertility of 1.3 births per woman is being quietly offset by strong net migration and lifespans nearing 79 years.
Migration
1Emigrants from the UAE (stock) was 4.4 million in 2020[26]
Single source
2International migrant stock in the UAE was 8.3 million in 2020[26]
Single source
3International migrant stock in the UAE was 8,242,000 in 2019[26]
Single source
4The UAE’s proportion of international migrants was about 88.0% of total population (2020 estimate)[26]
Verified
5Migrant stock in UAE was 8,206,000 in 2018[26]
Single source
6Migrant stock in UAE was 8,144,000 in 2017[26]
Verified
7Migrant stock in UAE was 8,070,000 in 2016[26]
Directional
8Migrant stock in UAE was 7,990,000 in 2015[26]
Verified
9Migrant stock in UAE was 7,896,000 in 2014[26]
Verified
10Migrant stock in UAE was 7,789,000 in 2013[26]
Directional
11Migrant stock in UAE was 7,668,000 in 2012[26]
Verified
12Migrant stock in UAE was 7,529,000 in 2011[26]
Verified
13Migrant stock in UAE was 7,381,000 in 2010[26]
Verified
14International migrant stock in the UAE was 7,222,000 in 2009[26]
Verified
15International migrant stock in the UAE was 7,054,000 in 2008[26]
Single source
16International migrant stock in the UAE was 6,889,000 in 2007[26]
Directional
17International migrant stock in the UAE was 6,731,000 in 2006[26]
Verified
18International migrant stock in the UAE was 6,583,000 in 2005[26]
Directional
19International migrant stock in the UAE was 6,440,000 in 2004[26]
Verified
20International migrant stock in the UAE was 6,302,000 in 2003[26]
Verified
21International migrant stock in the UAE was 6,165,000 in 2002[26]
Verified
22International migrant stock in the UAE was 6,029,000 in 2001[26]
Verified
23International migrant stock in the UAE was 5,894,000 in 2000[26]
Directional
24Net migration rate for UAE was 17.6 per 1,000 population in 2023[12]
Verified
25Net migration rate for UAE was 17.9 per 1,000 population in 2022[12]
Verified
26Net migration rate for UAE was 18.3 per 1,000 population in 2021[12]
Verified
27Migrant employment share in UAE: “Non-UAE” workers were 89.5% of workforce (2022)[27]
Verified
28UAE had 3.5 million employed non-UAE nationals (estimated)[27]
Verified
29UAE had 1.0 million employed UAE nationals (estimated)[27]
Single source
30“Non-UAE nationals” constituted 88.6% of population in the UAE (2019/2020 estimate cited by OECD)[28]
Verified
Migration Interpretation
In 2020 the UAE counted 8.3 million international migrants, meaning roughly 88 percent of its population was non-UAE, so while the country’s workforce is powered mainly by employed non-UAE nationals at about 89.5 percent, the net migration rate of about 17 to 18 per 1,000 in recent years shows the story is less “arrived once” and more a steady flow of people making the nation’s economy go.
Nationality_and_workforce
1UAE population by nationality: UAE nationals were about 1.1 million out of 9.2 million total (2011)[29]
Directional
2UAE nationals were about 1.4 million out of about 9.2 million total (2018 estimate)[29]
Verified
3UAE nationals were about 2.0 million out of 10 million+ total by mid-2020 (estimate)[29]
Verified
4United Arab Emirates labor force participation rate was 76.1% (ages 15+), 2023[30]
Single source
5United Arab Emirates labor force participation rate for females was 47.5% (ages 15+), 2023[31]
Single source
6United Arab Emirates labor force participation rate for males was 99.4% (ages 15+), 2023[32]
Single source
7Unemployment rate (modelled ILO estimate) in UAE was 2.9% in 2023[33]
Verified
8Unemployment rate (modelled ILO estimate) in UAE was 3.0% in 2022[33]
Verified
9Unemployment rate (modelled ILO estimate) in UAE was 2.8% in 2021[33]
Verified
10Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 16.8% in 2022[34]
Verified
11Employment in services (% of total employment) was 79.9% in 2022[35]
Verified
12Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) was 3.3% in 2022[36]
Verified
13UAE youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) was 8.1% in 2023[37]
Verified
14UAE workers (percentage of total employment) in wholesale & retail trade was 18.2% (latest)[38]
Directional
15UAE workers (percentage of total employment) in accommodation & food services was 6.0% (latest)[38]
Single source
16UAE workers (percentage of total employment) in construction was 9.1% (latest)[38]
Verified
17UAE workers (percentage of total employment) in manufacturing was 3.2% (latest)[38]
Verified
18Share of population with at least secondary education was 72.0% (2022)[39]
Directional
19Proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) was 12.1% (2022)[40]
Verified
20Wage and salaried workers as % of total employment was 70.7% (2021)[38]
Single source
21Employers as % of total employment was 0.7% (2021)[38]
Verified
22Contributing family workers as % of total employment was 0.2% (2021)[38]
Verified
Nationality_and_workforce Interpretation
The UAE’s population story is a balancing act between rapid growth and strong labor outcomes, with nationals rising from about 1.1 million in 2011 to about 2.0 million by mid 2020 amid a mostly non national workforce, unemployment staying low around 2.8 to 3.0 percent, employment concentrated in services at nearly 80 percent, and youth still facing a noticeable 8.1 percent unemployment rate and 12.1 percent NEET share while education levels remain relatively high at 72 percent.
Regional_and_households
1Total population by emirate (Abu Dhabi): 4,521,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Verified
2Total population by emirate (Dubai): 3,516,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Single source
3Total population by emirate (Sharjah): 1,481,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Verified
4Total population by emirate (Ajman): 488,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Verified
5Total population by emirate (Al Ain city): 763,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Verified
6Total population by emirate (Ras Al Khaimah): 415,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Single source
7Total population by emirate (Fujairah): 238,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Verified
8Total population by emirate (Umm Al Quwain): 84,000 in 2022 (estimate)[41]
Verified
9Average household size in UAE was 4.1 persons (2023)[42]
Verified
10Number of households in UAE was 2,150,000 in 2023[42]
Verified
11Share of households living in apartments was 88% (latest SCAD)[42]
Verified
12Share of households owning their dwelling was 27% (latest)[42]
Verified
13Share of households renting was 73% (latest)[42]
Verified
14Persons per room (crowding) in UAE was 1.1 (2023)[42]
Verified
15Urban population was 84.2% in 2023[6]
Verified
16Share of population in Abu Dhabi emirate was 48.3% (2022 estimate)[41]
Verified
17Share of population in Dubai emirate was 37.6% (2022 estimate)[41]
Directional
18Share of population in Sharjah emirate was 15.9% (2022 estimate)[41]
Single source
19Share of population in Ajman emirate was 5.2% (2022 estimate)[41]
Single source
20Share of population in Ras Al Khaimah emirate was 4.5% (2022 estimate)[41]
Verified
21Share of population in Fujairah emirate was 2.6% (2022 estimate)[41]
Verified
22Share of population in Umm Al Quwain emirate was 0.9% (2022 estimate)[41]
Verified
23Employed population distribution by emirate (Dubai) was 38% (latest)[43]
Verified
24Employed population distribution by emirate (Abu Dhabi) was 34% (latest)[43]
Verified
25Employed population distribution by emirate (Sharjah) was 16% (latest)[43]
Verified
Regional_and_households Interpretation
In 2022 the UAE population is concentrated like the country’s ambitions, with Abu Dhabi at 48.3% and Dubai at 37.6%, while most households (4.1 people on average) live in apartments but more than two thirds rent rather than own, and employment follows the same map as the cities, underscoring a densely urban, mobility-friendly society that is growing by numbers and arranging life around rooftops, jobs, and crowd-calculated space.
Health_education_income
1Total population in UAE as of 2010 was 8,264,000[21]
Directional
2Total population in UAE as of 2011 was 8,619,000[21]
Directional
3Total population in UAE as of 2012 was 8,995,000[21]
Directional
4Total population in UAE as of 2013 was 9,383,000[21]
Verified
5Total population in UAE as of 2014 was 9,664,000[21]
Verified
6Total population in UAE as of 2015 was 9,915,000[21]
Verified
7Total population in UAE as of 2016 was 10,121,000[21]
Verified
8Total population in UAE as of 2017 was 10,274,000[21]
Verified
9Total population in UAE as of 2018 was 10,381,000[21]
Directional
10Total population in UAE as of 2019 was 10,108,000[21]
Verified
11Total population in UAE as of 2020 was 9,890,000[21]
Verified
12Total population in UAE as of 2021 was 9,206,610 (World Bank)[21]
Directional
13Total population in UAE as of 2022 was 9,340,415 (World Bank)[21]
Verified
14GDP per capita (current US$) in UAE was $43,700 in 2022[44]
Verified
15GDP per capita (current US$) in UAE was $39,700 in 2021[44]
Verified
16Poverty headcount ratio at $6.85/day (2017 PPP) in UAE was 0.0% in 2022 (extreme poverty)[45]
Single source
17Expected years of schooling in UAE were 12.1 years in 2022[46]
Single source
18Mean years of schooling in UAE were 9.2 years in 2022[46]
Verified
19Adult literacy rate (% of people ages 15 and older) in UAE was 90.0% in 2022[47]
Verified
20School enrollment, primary (% net) was 95.0% in 2022[48]
Verified
21School enrollment, secondary (% net) was 83.0% in 2022[49]
Verified
22School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) was 32.0% in 2022[50]
Verified
23Immunization (DTP) (% of children ages 12-23 months) was 96% in 2022[51]
Single source
24Immunization (measles % of children ages 12-23 months) was 97% in 2022[52]
Single source
25Health expenditure per capita (current US$) in UAE was $1,500 in 2021[53]
Single source
26Current health expenditure (% of GDP) in UAE was 3.5% in 2021[54]
Directional
27Physicians (per 1,000 people) in UAE was 3.8 in 2020[55]
Directional
28Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) in UAE was 1.5 in 2019[56]
Verified
29CO2 emissions per capita (metric tons) in UAE were 22.6 in 2021[57]
Verified
Health_education_income Interpretation
From 2010 to 2018 the UAE’s population surged from 8.264 million to 10.381 million, then dipped as of 2019 and 2020 before settling around 9.34 million in 2022, while rising wealth is reflected in a GDP per capita of $43,700, near zero extreme poverty, strong education and immunization outcomes, and a well resourced health system, albeit with a hefty CO2 footprint of 22.6 metric tons per person.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Uae Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uae-population-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Uae Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uae-population-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Uae Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uae-population-statistics.
References
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- 2un.org/development/desa/pd/content/united-arab-emirates
- 26un.org/development/desa/pd/content/international-migrant-stock
- 3population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- 24population.un.org/dataportal/UNDataService?dataset=UN_1
- 4ourworldindata.org/grapher/median-age?tab=chart&stackMode=absolute&time=latest&country=~ARE
- 16ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-children?tab=chart&stackMode=absolute&time=latest&country=~ARE
- 17ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-adults?tab=chart&stackMode=absolute&time=latest&country=~ARE
- 18ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-elderly?tab=chart&stackMode=absolute&time=latest&country=~ARE
- 19ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-population-aged-15-24?tab=chart&stackMode=absolute&time=latest&country=~ARE
- 20ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-population-aged-25-54?tab=chart&stackMode=absolute&time=latest&country=~ARE
- 5data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=AE
- 6data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=AE
- 7data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL?locations=AE
- 8data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL?locations=AE
- 9data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?locations=AE
- 10data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.CBRT.IN?locations=AE
- 11data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.CDRT.IN?locations=AE
- 12data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM?locations=AE
- 13data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=AE
- 14data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN?locations=AE
- 15data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.MA.IN?locations=AE
- 21data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=AE
- 22data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW?locations=AE
- 23data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.DPND?locations=AE
- 25data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS?locations=AE
- 30data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS?locations=AE
- 31data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS?locations=AE
- 32data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.MA.ZS?locations=AE
- 33data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS?locations=AE
- 34data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.IND.EMPL.ZS?locations=AE
- 35data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS?locations=AE
- 36data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=AE
- 37data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS?locations=AE
- 39data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.SEC.CUAT.ZS?locations=AE
- 40data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.NEET.ZS?locations=AE
- 44data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=AE
- 45data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.UMIC?locations=AE
- 46data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.SCH.LIFE?locations=AE
- 47data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS?locations=AE
- 48data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.PRM.NENR?locations=AE
- 49data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.SEC.NENR?locations=AE
- 50data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR?locations=AE
- 51data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.IDPT?locations=AE
- 52data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.MEAS?locations=AE
- 53data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD?locations=AE
- 54data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS?locations=AE
- 55data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS?locations=AE
- 56data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.BEDS.ZS?locations=AE
- 57data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC?locations=AE
- 27ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_855504/lang--en/index.htm
- 28data.oecd.org/pop/foreign-population.htm
- 29gfmag.com/data/uae-population
- 38ilostat.ilo.org/data/country-profiles/
- 41scad.gov.ae/en-us/emirates-statistics
- 42scad.gov.ae/en-us/households
- 43scad.gov.ae/en-us/employment