Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 51.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Arab Emirates, 1980–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Arab Emirates is 51.9%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Arab Emirates peaked at 52.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 20.3%, in 1980.
That places United Arab Emirates 22nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.1% | 20.3% | 31.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 36.1% | 35.5% | 36.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.4% | 42.1% | 52.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 37.0% | 47.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 51.9% | 51.9% | 51.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 19 Costa Rica 56.6% compare
- 20 Gambia 56.6% compare
- 21 Guinea-Bissau 52.2% compare
- 23 French Polynesia 51.8% compare
- 24 Latvia 50.8% compare
- 25 East Timor 50.7% compare
More population data for United Arab Emirates
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.9% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 1,377 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.2 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.19 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Arab Emirates?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Arab Emirates was 51.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 52.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.3% in 1980.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 22nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.