Urban and rural population in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Urban and rural population was 9.75 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9.75 million
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
69th
of 236 countries
All-time high
9.75 million
in 2025
All-time low
40,609
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in United Arab Emirates, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in United Arab Emirates is 9.75 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 9.75 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 40,609, in 1950.
That places United Arab Emirates 69th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 40,609 | — |
| 1951 | 45,316 | +11.6% |
| 1952 | 50,304 | +11.0% |
| 1953 | 55,544 | +10.4% |
| 1954 | 60,989 | +9.8% |
| 1955 | 66,604 | +9.2% |
| 1956 | 72,361 | +8.6% |
| 1957 | 78,239 | +8.1% |
| 1958 | 84,233 | +7.7% |
| 1959 | 90,337 | +7.2% |
| 1960 | 96,530 | +6.9% |
| 1961 | 102,856 | +6.6% |
| 1962 | 109,398 | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 116,172 | +6.2% |
| 1964 | 123,121 | +6.0% |
| 1965 | 130,037 | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 136,568 | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 142,238 | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 159,134 | +11.9% |
| 1969 | 192,897 | +21.2% |
| 1970 | 232,733 | +20.7% |
| 1971 | 274,578 | +18.0% |
| 1972 | 318,180 | +15.9% |
| 1973 | 363,200 | +14.1% |
| 1974 | 409,193 | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 455,445 | +11.3% |
| 1976 | 516,522 | +13.4% |
| 1977 | 592,228 | +14.7% |
| 1978 | 668,661 | +12.9% |
| 1979 | 745,907 | +11.6% |
| 1980 | 823,775 | +10.4% |
| 1981 | 887,073 | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 936,646 | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 988,211 | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 1.04 million | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 1.10 million | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 1.16 million | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 1.25 million | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 1.33 million | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 1.41 million | +6.2% |
| 1990 | 1.49 million | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 1.58 million | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 1.66 million | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 1.74 million | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 1.82 million | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 1.91 million | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 2.03 million | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 2.21 million | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 2.39 million | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 2.58 million | +7.8% |
| 2000 | 2.77 million | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 2.97 million | +7.2% |
| 2002 | 3.18 million | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 3.39 million | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 3.61 million | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 3.84 million | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 4.14 million | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 4.65 million | +12.6% |
| 2008 | 5.23 million | +12.3% |
| 2009 | 5.58 million | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 5.78 million | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 6.02 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 6.28 million | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 6.58 million | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 6.93 million | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 7.32 million | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 7.63 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 7.82 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 7.93 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 7.97 million | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 8.05 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 8.36 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 8.76 million | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 9.12 million | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 9.46 million | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 9.75 million | +3.1% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 9.75 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 4.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 9.75 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.75 million, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 64,454 | 40,609 | 90,337 | 10 |
| 1960s | 130,895 | 96,530 | 192,897 | 10 |
| 1970s | 457,665 | 232,733 | 745,907 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.09 million | 823,775 | 1.41 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.94 million | 1.49 million | 2.58 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.93 million | 2.77 million | 5.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.03 million | 5.78 million | 7.97 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.92 million | 8.05 million | 9.75 million | 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)
- Population growth rate 0.911 (2100)
- Population density 367.99 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.66 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in United Arab Emirates?
- Urban and rural population in United Arab Emirates was 9.75 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 9.75 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 40,609 in 1950.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for urban and rural population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 69th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).