Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 3.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in United Arab Emirates, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 3.7% for population growth in 2024.
That represents a change of down 7.4% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in United Arab Emirates peaked at 17.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -0.5%, in 2020.
United Arab Emirates ranks 8th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 17.9% | — |
| 1971 | 15.6% | -12.5% |
| 1972 | 13.9% | -11.1% |
| 1973 | 12.5% | -9.9% |
| 1974 | 11.4% | -9.0% |
| 1975 | 10.4% | -8.5% |
| 1976 | 12.6% | +21.0% |
| 1977 | 14.3% | +13.0% |
| 1978 | 13.1% | -8.4% |
| 1979 | 12.0% | -8.5% |
| 1980 | 10.8% | -9.9% |
| 1981 | 8.0% | -26.1% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | -26.2% |
| 1983 | 5.7% | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 5.6% | -3.1% |
| 1985 | 5.4% | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 6.3% | +17.4% |
| 1987 | 7.0% | +11.7% |
| 1988 | 6.6% | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 6.2% | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 5.9% | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 5.6% | -5.5% |
| 1992 | 5.2% | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -5.6% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 6.5% | +44.8% |
| 1997 | 8.1% | +25.4% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 6.4% | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | +37.3% |
| 2007 | 11.6% | +62.8% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 6.2% | -45.4% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -61.4% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | +40.1% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | +17.9% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | +16.3% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | +15.7% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -35.6% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | -58.1% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | -20.7% |
| 2020 | -0.5% | -145.0% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | -486.5% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | +177.3% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -21.8% |
| 2024 | 3.7% | -7.4% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 3.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.5%, 7.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 3.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 2.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +486.5% | -0.5% | 1.8% |
| 2022 | +177.3% | 1.8% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | -145.0% | 1.1% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | +62.8% | 7.1% | 11.6% |
| 2010 | -61.4% | 6.2% | 2.4% |
| 2018 | -58.1% | 3.2% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.4% | 10.4% | 17.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.7% | 5.4% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 4.5% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 5.2% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 1.1% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | -0.5% | 5.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
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)
- Population growth rate 0.911 (2100)
- Population density 367.99 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.66 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in United Arab Emirates?
- Population growth in United Arab Emirates was 3.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 17.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.5% in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for population growth?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 8th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release