Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 921,160 people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in United Arab Emirates, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in United Arab Emirates is 921,160 people, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in United Arab Emirates peaked at 921,160 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 33,056 people, in 1950.
That places United Arab Emirates 132nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 33,056 people | — |
| 1955 | 42,056 people | +27.2% |
| 1960 | 52,204 people | +24.1% |
| 1965 | 64,179 people | +22.9% |
| 1970 | 100,068 people | +55.9% |
| 1975 | 174,720 people | +74.6% |
| 1980 | 212,023 people | +21.4% |
| 1985 | 249,083 people | +17.5% |
| 1990 | 302,728 people | +21.5% |
| 1995 | 354,196 people | +17.0% |
| 2000 | 415,416 people | +17.3% |
| 2005 | 494,207 people | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 673,586 people | +36.3% |
| 2015 | 792,345 people | +17.6% |
| 2020 | 921,160 people | +16.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 37,556 people | 33,056 people | 42,056 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 58,192 people | 52,204 people | 64,179 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 137,394 people | 100,068 people | 174,720 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 230,553 people | 212,023 people | 249,083 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 328,462 people | 302,728 people | 354,196 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 454,812 people | 415,416 people | 494,207 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 732,966 people | 673,586 people | 792,345 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 921,160 people | 921,160 people | 921,160 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More population data for United Arab Emirates
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4807 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.9% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.66 million people (2100)
- Population density 367.99 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.9% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6462 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in United Arab Emirates?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in United Arab Emirates was 921,160 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 921,160 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 33,056 people in 1950.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 132nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.