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United Arab Emirates population

United Arab Emirates: 11.5 million people in 2025 (11,513,149), 85th of 217 countries and areas — and 15.4 million projected for 2050.

Population of United Arab Emirates, 1960 to 2050: 131 thousand in 1960, still rising, 15.4 million in 2050 (projection)
Population of United Arab Emirates, 1960 to 2050: 131 thousand in 1960, still rising, 15.4 million in 2050 (projection)
Population of United Arab Emirates, 1960 to 2050: 131 thousand in 1960, still rising, 15.4 million in 2050 (projection)

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Where it stands

In 2025 the United Arab Emirates has 11,513,149 people, which is 0.14% of the 8.19 billion counted across the 217 countries and areas on this site. That puts it 85th by population, behind Dominican Republic and ahead of Honduras.

Since 1960

In 1960 the figure was 131,334. Since then the population has grown 87.7×, an average of 7.12% a year upward. It doubled at some point along the way — the year it first reached 262,668 was 1970.

The projection keeps rising to the end of the data: 15,414,665 in 2050, 33.9% above 2025. The highest figure on this page is that last one, so no peak has been reached yet.

The ranking in 2050

In 2050 the projected rank is 82nd, up 3 places from 85th. Rankings move when other countries grow faster or slower, not only when the United Arab Emirates changes.

People and land

The United Arab Emirates covers 71,020 km² of land, so 2025 density is 162 people per km² — 73rd most crowded of 216 places with an area figure. At that density a square 10 km on a side holds about 16,211 people.

The fertility rate was 1.21 births per woman in 2024, below the roughly 2.1 needed to keep a population steady without migration; life expectancy at birth was 83.1 years (2024); 16% of people were under 15 and 1.8% were 65 or older (2025); 86% of the population lived in cities. These shape the curve above: a young population keeps growing after fertility falls, an old one starts shrinking sooner.

Its nearest neighbours in the ranking are Dominican Republic just above, with 11.5 million (1× as many), and Honduras just below, with 11 million (1.05× as many as Honduras has).

How the numbers are taken. Total population from the World Bank's population estimates and projections (built from United Nations and national statistics). Values to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that continue current fertility, mortality and migration trends. Sources and limits.

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