ABU DHABI // The population of the country will top 7.55 million this year, a significant increase from 5.63 million in 2006, according to government statistics made public yesterday. According to WAM, the state news agency, the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority also stated that the country's population doubles every 8.7 years. By comparison, the world population doubles every 55 years.
The report, which was not published in full, predicted Emiratis could represent only 13.3 per cent of the population this year, down from 15.4 per cent in 2006 and 24.4 per cent in 1995. Formal conclusions on the UAE population are expected later this year, when the country conducts a census in co-ordination with all other GCC nations. Expatriates and Emiratis will fill out the same form, which will be used to record demographic information.
sbhattacharya@thenational.ae