Total population (thousands) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Total population (thousands) was 11,215 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
11,215 thousands
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
85th
of 233 countries
All-time high
11,215 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
262.68 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in United Arab Emirates, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in United Arab Emirates stood at 11,215 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 11,215 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 262.68 thousands, in 1970.
That places United Arab Emirates 85th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total population (thousands) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 262.68 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 310.39 thousands | +18.2% |
| 1972 | 359.66 thousands | +15.9% |
| 1973 | 410.37 thousands | +14.1% |
| 1974 | 462.43 thousands | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 515.74 thousands | +11.5% |
| 1976 | 569.97 thousands | +10.5% |
| 1977 | 661.76 thousands | +16.1% |
| 1978 | 758.66 thousands | +14.6% |
| 1979 | 859.89 thousands | +13.3% |
| 1980 | 964.13 thousands | +12.1% |
| 1981 | 1,067 thousands | +10.7% |
| 1982 | 1,132 thousands | +6.1% |
| 1983 | 1,200 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 1,270 thousands | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 1,342 thousands | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 1,414 thousands | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 1,521 thousands | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 1,628 thousands | +7.1% |
| 1989 | 1,736 thousands | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 1,844 thousands | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 1,952 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 2,061 thousands | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 2,169 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 2,276 thousands | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 2,381 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 2,488 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 2,707 thousands | +8.8% |
| 1998 | 2,928 thousands | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 3,153 thousands | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 3,379 thousands | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 3,608 thousands | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 3,839 thousands | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 4,074 thousands | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 4,311 thousands | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 4,547 thousands | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 4,782 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 5,236 thousands | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 6,013 thousands | +14.8% |
| 2009 | 6,592 thousands | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 6,822 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 7,055 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 7,344 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 7,650 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 8,014 thousands | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 8,460 thousands | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 8,889 thousands | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 9,173 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 9,296 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 9,398 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 9,358 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 9,539 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 10,039 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 10,445 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 10,839 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 11,215 thousands | +3.5% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 11,215 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 3.6× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 11,215 thousands is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11,575 thousands, 97% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 517.16 thousands | 262.68 thousands | 859.89 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,327 thousands | 964.13 thousands | 1,736 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,396 thousands | 1,844 thousands | 3,153 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,638 thousands | 3,379 thousands | 6,592 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,210 thousands | 6,822 thousands | 9,398 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,239 thousands | 9,358 thousands | 11,215 thousands | 6 |
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)
- 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 total population in United Arab Emirates?
- Total population in United Arab Emirates was 11,215 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 11,215 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 262.68 thousands in 1970.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for total population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 85th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.6%. 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 Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release