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.