Net migration (UNICEF) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Net migration was 158,634 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
158,634
Change on year
down 43.0%
World rank
5th
of 74 countries
All-time high
722,380
in 2007
All-time low
-125,186
in 2019
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in United Arab Emirates is 158,634, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 43.0% on the previous year and down 53.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in United Arab Emirates peaked at 722,380 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -125,186, in 2019.
That places United Arab Emirates 5th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3,102 | — |
| 1961 | 3,141 | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 3,212 | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 3,264 | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 3,126 | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 2,598 | -16.9% |
| 1966 | 1,516 | -41.6% |
| 1967 | -283 | -118.7% |
| 1968 | 28,866 | -10300.0% |
| 1969 | 39,902 | +38.2% |
| 1970 | 40,792 | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 41,425 | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 41,888 | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 42,243 | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 42,474 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 42,380 | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 78,903 | +86.2% |
| 1977 | 81,111 | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 82,359 | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 82,238 | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 78,148 | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 37,600 | -51.9% |
| 1982 | 38,276 | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 38,536 | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 38,124 | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 37,605 | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 69,655 | +85.2% |
| 1987 | 69,493 | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 68,991 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 68,132 | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 67,118 | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 66,943 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 65,739 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 65,545 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 62,352 | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 68,938 | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 180,296 | +161.5% |
| 1997 | 183,310 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 183,329 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 180,469 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 178,469 | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 178,779 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 178,988 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 177,237 | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 176,319 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 174,926 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 399,306 | +128.3% |
| 2007 | 722,380 | +80.9% |
| 2008 | 523,207 | -27.6% |
| 2009 | 163,643 | -68.7% |
| 2010 | 161,842 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 215,183 | +33.0% |
| 2012 | 225,921 | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 279,269 | +23.6% |
| 2014 | 360,174 | +29.0% |
| 2015 | 342,468 | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 195,317 | -43.0% |
| 2017 | 34,155 | -82.5% |
| 2018 | 14,611 | -57.2% |
| 2019 | -125,186 | -956.8% |
| 2020 | 92,541 | -173.9% |
| 2021 | 421,663 | +355.6% |
| 2022 | 322,773 | -23.5% |
| 2023 | 300,004 | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 278,439 | -7.2% |
| 2025 | 158,634 | -43.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 158,634 is above the median for high income countries, which is 9,502, 16.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 158,634 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -376.5. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | +10300.0% | -283 | 28,866 |
| 2019 | -956.8% | 14,611 | -125,186 |
| 2021 | +355.6% | 92,541 | 421,663 |
| 2020 | +173.9% | -125,186 | 92,541 |
| 1996 | +161.5% | 68,938 | 180,296 |
| 2006 | +128.3% | 174,926 | 399,306 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8,844 | -283 | 39,902 | 10 |
| 1970s | 57,581 | 40,792 | 82,359 | 10 |
| 1980s | 54,456 | 37,600 | 78,148 | 10 |
| 1990s | 112,404 | 62,352 | 183,329 | 10 |
| 2000s | 287,325 | 163,643 | 722,380 | 10 |
| 2010s | 170,375 | -125,186 | 360,174 | 10 |
| 2020s | 262,342 | 92,541 | 421,663 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More population data for United Arab Emirates
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 11,450 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4807 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.9% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.66 million people (2100)
- Population density 367.99 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.9% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in United Arab Emirates?
- Net migration in United Arab Emirates was 158,634 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 722,380 in 2007.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -125,186 in 2019.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for net migration?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 5th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).