Sharjah ‘a big home for a diverse family’ as population increases to 1.8 million
▶ Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi says census data will boost development projects
Sharjah’s population has grown by 22 per cent in the past eight years to reach 1.8 million, census figures show.
The emirate is home to 208,000 Emiratis – 103,000 men and 105,000 women.
There are twice as many men than women in Sharjah’s population of non-citizens.
About 1.6 million are men, an increase of 30 per cent from 2015, and 600,000 are women, a rise of 22 per cent.
A similar disparity was found in data in 2015.
The latest census, which began in September, will shape the future of the emirate and its development plans, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, said on local radio in October.
“It will help provide the information that is needed for wider studies, which will subsequently turn into projects, decrees, buildings and funding,” Sheikh Dr Sultan said.
The Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah said the preliminary results were based on data collected from 10 towns, 97 suburbs, 356 districts and 7,961 residential blocks.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, chairman of department, said more than 2,000 researchers worked on the census using the latest technology to collect the data.
“Sharjah is a big home for one diverse family and the census covered all layers of the community in Sharjah and all its sectors,” Sheikh Mohammed said at a ceremony to announce the results at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre.
“The census will have a strategic role in boosting development projects in the emirate as the results, which will be used to carry out further studies that will help improve life in the emirate, will be shared with the Ruler of Sharjah.”
Results show 61 per cent of the emirate’s population – about 1.1 million – are employed. That figure also marks an increased of 22 per cent compared with findings in the 2015 report.
The number of people in education increased by 23 per cent, from 253,000 to 310,000. That figure includes 249,000 in private education and 61,000 in public education.
The increase from 2015 shows “the success of Sharjah’s leading strategies to further advance both the quality of education and enable greater access to learning opportunities”, state news agency Wam reported.
The largest age group in the emirate is 20 to 39, which comprises 914,000 people, or 51 per cent of the population.
The 40 to 59 age group is the next largest at 443,000 people, or 24 per cent of the emirate.
Those aged 19 and under account for 22 per cent (399,000), while those over 60 represent 3 per cent (55,000).
Sharjah city is home to the highest number of people, at 1.6 million.
Khor Fakkan has a population of 53,000 and Kalba is home to 51,000. Al Dhaid’s population is 33,000, while the census found 19,000 live in Al Hamriyah and 18,000 are in Al Madam.
The population of Dibba Al Hisn is 15,000, Al Bataeh is home to 7,000, while 6,000 live in Mleiha.
The census results reflect the UAE’s population boom.
The number of people living in Dubai is projected to nearly double in the next 20 years.
Dubai Statistics Centre said the population passed 3.5 million in April last year.
The emirate’s population has increased by about 78,000 since then.
Fujairah has also recorded steady population growth in recent years.
The emirate’s population rose from 292,358 in 2020 to 316,790 by the end of last year, official figures show.
The report shows 61 per cent of the emirate’s population – 1.1 million – are employed, up 22 per cent from 2015