Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate was 3.07 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.07 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 19.3%
World rank
42nd
of 234 countries
All-time high
21.22 % change on previous year
in 1969
All-time low
0.532 % change on previous year
in 2019
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in United Arab Emirates, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 3.07 % change on previous year for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 19.3% on the previous year and down 44.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in United Arab Emirates peaked at 21.22 % change on previous year in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0.532 % change on previous year, in 2019.
United Arab Emirates ranks 42nd of 234 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 11.59 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 11.01 % change on previous year | -5.0% |
| 1953 | 10.42 % change on previous year | -5.4% |
| 1954 | 9.8 % change on previous year | -5.9% |
| 1955 | 9.21 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1956 | 8.64 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1957 | 8.12 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 1958 | 7.66 % change on previous year | -5.7% |
| 1959 | 7.25 % change on previous year | -5.4% |
| 1960 | 6.86 % change on previous year | -5.4% |
| 1961 | 6.55 % change on previous year | -4.4% |
| 1962 | 6.36 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 6.19 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1964 | 5.98 % change on previous year | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 5.62 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1966 | 5.02 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 1967 | 4.15 % change on previous year | -17.3% |
| 1968 | 11.88 % change on previous year | +186.1% |
| 1969 | 21.22 % change on previous year | +78.6% |
| 1970 | 20.65 % change on previous year | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 17.98 % change on previous year | -12.9% |
| 1972 | 15.88 % change on previous year | -11.7% |
| 1973 | 14.15 % change on previous year | -10.9% |
| 1974 | 12.66 % change on previous year | -10.5% |
| 1975 | 11.3 % change on previous year | -10.7% |
| 1976 | 13.41 % change on previous year | +18.6% |
| 1977 | 14.66 % change on previous year | +9.3% |
| 1978 | 12.91 % change on previous year | -11.9% |
| 1979 | 11.55 % change on previous year | -10.5% |
| 1980 | 10.44 % change on previous year | -9.6% |
| 1981 | 7.68 % change on previous year | -26.4% |
| 1982 | 5.59 % change on previous year | -27.3% |
| 1983 | 5.51 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 5.37 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 5.22 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 6.25 % change on previous year | +19.7% |
| 1987 | 7.05 % change on previous year | +12.8% |
| 1988 | 6.6 % change on previous year | -6.3% |
| 1989 | 6.21 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 5.86 % change on previous year | -5.7% |
| 1991 | 5.53 % change on previous year | -5.5% |
| 1992 | 5.24 % change on previous year | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 4.96 % change on previous year | -5.3% |
| 1994 | 4.69 % change on previous year | -5.4% |
| 1995 | 4.53 % change on previous year | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 6.71 % change on previous year | +48.0% |
| 1997 | 8.62 % change on previous year | +28.5% |
| 1998 | 8.21 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 7.84 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 7.49 % change on previous year | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 7.2 % change on previous year | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 6.96 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 6.72 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 6.46 % change on previous year | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 6.28 % change on previous year | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 7.83 % change on previous year | +24.7% |
| 2007 | 12.56 % change on previous year | +60.3% |
| 2008 | 12.34 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 6.68 % change on previous year | -45.9% |
| 2010 | 3.7 % change on previous year | -44.6% |
| 2011 | 4.01 % change on previous year | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 4.38 % change on previous year | +9.2% |
| 2013 | 4.7 % change on previous year | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 5.41 % change on previous year | +15.0% |
| 2015 | 5.55 % change on previous year | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 4.33 % change on previous year | -21.9% |
| 2017 | 2.47 % change on previous year | -43.0% |
| 2018 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -42.2% |
| 2019 | 0.532 % change on previous year | -62.7% |
| 2020 | 0.95 % change on previous year | +78.6% |
| 2021 | 3.8 % change on previous year | +300.1% |
| 2022 | 4.82 % change on previous year | +26.8% |
| 2023 | 4.09 % change on previous year | -15.1% |
| 2024 | 3.8 % change on previous year | -7.2% |
| 2025 | 3.07 % change on previous year | -19.3% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 3.07 % change on previous year is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4434 % change on previous year, 6.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 3.07 % change on previous year is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.97 % change on previous year, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +300.1% | 0.95 % change on previous year | 3.8 % change on previous year |
| 1968 | +186.1% | 4.15 % change on previous year | 11.88 % change on previous year |
| 1969 | +78.6% | 11.88 % change on previous year | 21.22 % change on previous year |
| 2020 | +78.6% | 0.532 % change on previous year | 0.95 % change on previous year |
| 2007 | +60.3% | 7.83 % change on previous year | 12.56 % change on previous year |
| 2019 | -62.7% | 1.43 % change on previous year | 0.532 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.3 % change on previous year | 7.25 % change on previous year | 11.59 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 7.98 % change on previous year | 4.15 % change on previous year | 21.22 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.52 % change on previous year | 11.3 % change on previous year | 20.65 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.59 % change on previous year | 5.22 % change on previous year | 10.44 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.22 % change on previous year | 4.53 % change on previous year | 8.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.05 % change on previous year | 6.28 % change on previous year | 12.56 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.65 % change on previous year | 0.532 % change on previous year | 5.55 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.42 % change on previous year | 0.95 % change on previous year | 4.82 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More population data for United Arab Emirates
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4807 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 11,450 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6462 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.9% (2100)
- Population density 367.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.66 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in United Arab Emirates?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in United Arab Emirates was 3.07 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 21.22 % change on previous year in 1969.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.532 % change on previous year in 2019.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 42nd out of 234 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.