Military personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.8% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Military personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates, 1971–2022
Source: Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 0.8% for military personnel as a share of total population in 2022.
That represents a change of up 25.9% on the previous year and up 46.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 4.6% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2012.
That places United Arab Emirates 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.8% | — |
| 1972 | 3.3% | +324.8% |
| 1973 | 3.0% | -7.0% |
| 1974 | 4.4% | +46.1% |
| 1975 | 4.2% | -6.3% |
| 1976 | 4.6% | +9.7% |
| 1977 | 3.6% | -20.6% |
| 1978 | 3.1% | -13.2% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | -12.1% |
| 1980 | 4.3% | +56.8% |
| 1981 | 3.9% | -10.0% |
| 1982 | 3.5% | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 3.6% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | -17.1% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | -6.3% |
| 1986 | 2.7% | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 2.4% | -6.2% |
| 1989 | 2.3% | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | +48.3% |
| 1991 | 3.3% | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 2.7% | -19.2% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -5.3% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +18.8% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -22.9% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -36.5% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | +13.9% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -7.9% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | -14.9% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -15.9% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | -14.7% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | -11.9% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +22.4% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 0.6% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | +25.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.3% | 0.8% | 4.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.1% | 2.3% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.3% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 0.7% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 15 Jordan 0.9% compare
- 16 Russian Federation 0.8% compare
- 17 Lithuania 0.8% compare
- 19 Saudi Arabia 0.8% compare
- 20 Syrian Arab Republic 0.8% compare
- 21 Taiwan, China 0.7% compare
More population data for United Arab Emirates
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4807 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 11,450 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6462 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.9% (2100)
- Population density 367.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.66 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates?
- Military personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates was 0.8% in 2022, according to Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 1976.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2012.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ratio of military personnel to total population, expressed as a percentage.