Demographics
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1963 | 95,000 | — |
| 1968 | 180,226 | 13.66% |
| 1975 | 557,887 | 17.52% |
| 1980 | 1,042,099 | 13.31% |
| 1985 | 1,379,303 | 5.77% |
| 1995 | 2,411,041 | 5.74% |
| 1999 | 2,938,000 | 5.07% |
| 2005 | 4,106,427 | 5.74% |
| 2010 | 8,264,070 | 15.01% |
| Sources: | ||
The demographics of the UAE is extremely diverse. In 2010, the UAE's population was estimated at 8,264,070, of whom only 13% were UAE nationals or Emiratis, while the majority of the population were expatriates. The country's net migration rate stands at 21.71, the world's highest. In recent years, many expatriates have been demanding citizenship but there is currently no naturalisation process in the UAE.
With a male/female sex ratio of 2.2 for the total population and 2.75 for the 15–65 age group, the UAE's gender imbalance is second highest in the world after Qatar.
In 2009, Emirati citizens accounted for 16.5% of the total population; South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) constituted the largest group, making up 58.4% of the total; other Asians made up 16.7% while Western expatriates were 8.4% of the total population.
There is a growing presence of Europeans especially in multi-cultural cities such as Dubai Western expatriates, from Europe, Australia, Northern Africa, Africa and Latin America make up 500,000 of the UAE population. The UAE has also attracted a small number of expatriates from countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. More than 100,000 British nationals live in the country. The rest of the population were from other Arab states.
The average life expectancy is 76.7 years (2012), higher than for any other Arab country.
About 88% of the population of the United Arab Emirates is urban.
Read more about this topic: Subdivisions Of The United Arab Emirates