UAE: Estimates of total population by sex, sex ratios and annual demographic growth rates (1970-2010)
| Males | Females | Total | Sex ratio (males/100 females) | Growth rates | |
| 1970 | 248,000 | ||||
| 1971 | 287,000 | 14.6 | |||
| 1972 | 332,000 | 14.6 | |||
| 1973 | 385,000 | 14.8 | |||
| 1974 | 446,000 | 14.7 | |||
| 1975 | 386,308 | 171,692 | 557,887 | 225 | 22.4 |
| 1976 | 410,691 | 183,309 | 594,000 | 224 | 6.3 |
| 1977 | 467,082 | 205,918 | 673,000 | 227 | 12.5 |
| 1978 | 528,549 | 233,451 | 762,000 | 226 | 12.4 |
| 1979 | 598,852 | 265,148 | 864,000 | 226 | 12.6 |
| 1980 | 719,399 | 322,601 | 1,042,099 | 223 | 18.7 |
| 1981 | 734,315 | 337,685 | 1,072,000 | 217 | 2.8 |
| 1982 | 769,357 | 364,643 | 1,134,000 | 211 | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 803,340 | 395,660 | 1,199,000 | 203 | 5.6 |
| 1984 | 838,322 | 429,678 | 1,268,000 | 195 | 5.6 |
| 1985 | 895,403 | 483,597 | 1,379,303 | 185 | 8.4 |
| 1986 | 922,301 | 495,699 | 1,418,000 | 186 | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 975,952 | 524,048 | 1,500,000 | 186 | 5.6 |
| 1988 | 1,099,145 | 486,855 | 1,586,000 | 226 | 5.6 |
| 1989 | 1,099,623 | 577,377 | 1,677,000 | 190 | 5.6 |
| 1990 | 1,128,176 | 644,824 | 1,773,000 | 175 | 5.6 |
| 1991 | 1,235,294 | 639,706 | 1,875,000 | 193 | 5.6 |
| 1992 | 1,309,301 | 673,699 | 1,983,000 | 194 | 5.6 |
| 1993 | 1,388,310 | 708,690 | 2,097,000 | 196 | 5.6 |
| 1994 | 1,471,992 | 745,008 | 2,217,000 | 198 | 5.6 |
| 1995 | 1,606,777 | 804,223 | 2,411,041 | 200 | 8.4 |
| 1996 | 1,648,327 | 821,673 | 2,470,000 | 201 | 2.4 |
| 1997 | 1,733,239 | 856,761 | 2,590,000 | 202 | 4.7 |
| 1998 | 1,820,126 | 896,874 | 2,717,000 | 203 | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 1,917,870 | 937,130 | 2,855,000 | 205 | 5.0 |
| 2000 | 2,015,515 | 979,485 | 2,995,000 | 206 | 4.8 |
| 2001 | 2,138,132 | 1,028,868 | 3,167,000 | 208 | 5.6 |
| 2002 | 2,263,508 | 1,085,492 | 3,349,000 | 209 | 5.6 |
| 2003 | 2,406,132 | 1,144,868 | 3,551,000 | 210 | 5.9 |
| 2004 | 2,553,060 | 1,207,940 | 3,761,000 | 211 | 5.7 |
| 2005 | 2,805,849 | 1,300,151 | 4,106,427 | 216 | 8.8 |
| 2006 | 3,533,293 | 1,478,707 | 5,012,834 | 239 | 19.9 |
| 2007 | 4,533,277 | 1,685,723 | 6,219,000 | 269 | 21.6 |
| 2008 | 6,040,251 | 2,033,749 | 8,074,000 | 297 | 26.1 |
| 2009 | 6,120,888 | 2,079,112 | 8,200,000 | 294 | 1.5 |
| 2010 | 6,161,768 | 2,102,232 | 8,264,070 | 293 | 1.6 |
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Economy
ANNEXED NOTE
1. Characteristics of data, definitions and population counting operations in the UAE
The estimates by sex were calculated on the basis of agregated population and sex ratios’ times series available since 1975.
The first population census was conducted in 1968 by the Council of Developing Trucial States.
After Independence in 1971, a population census of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was conducted that same year.
The first general population and establishments census in the UAE was conducted in 1975. It was the first census in the region following scientific standards and international recommendations. The other federal censuses were conducted in 1980, 1985, 1995 and 2005.
Reference day for 2005′ census: 6 December 2005
Implementation method: the census was carried out according to de jure methodology, i.e. counting persons using their usual place of residence
Population of reference: Emirati nationals usually residing in the country+all foreign residents holding a valid residence permit+resident GCC nationals (nationals of other GCC states don’t need a permit to stay in the UAE)
Period of reference for estimates: end of year estimates, except census years (census’ reference period) and 2010: mid-year estimate
2010′ federal census was due to take place in April but finally cancelled. It was only conducted in Abu Dhabi Emirate which includes Al-Ain.
NBS estimated UAE’s resident population (nationals and non-nationals) on the basis of administrative records, using the component method: addition of natural increase and net migration since the last census year (2005).
The net migration was calculated as follows:
Net migration = (residence permits issued for the first time- residence permits that have been cancelled and not renewed)+(arrivals of GCC nationals-departures of GCC nationals), on the basis of Ministry of Interior’s records.
The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), an independent federal authority established in 2004, is currently in charge of recording all UAE residents, national and expatriates in order to set up a Population Register and an ID card program. The process is stil ongoing.
2. Institution which provides data
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
3. Data availability
Population statistics are available on NBS’s website:
http://www.uaestatistics.gov.ae/EnglishHome/tabid/96/Default.aspx
http://www.uaestatistics.gov.ae/Home/tabid/38/Default.aspx
Data are classified by subject and statistical publications are available on PDF or Excel format. Population data disagregated by nationality (Emirati/ non-Emirati) are scarce.
For population estimates for 2006-2010 and methodology of estimates see:
http://www.uaestatistics.gov.ae/ReportPDF/Population%20Estimates%202006%20-%202010.pdf
Agregated data (total population, 1970-2010) were taken from NBS’s data portal
http://dataportal.nbs.gov.ae/en/
Date of access: November 2014.