Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 86.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Arab Emirates, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 86.0% for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Arab Emirates peaked at 86.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
United Arab Emirates ranks 54th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
| 1810s | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 1 |
| 1830s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 1840s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 11.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 1 |
| 1860s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
| 1870s | 15.9% | 15.9% | 15.9% | 1 |
| 1880s | 18.5% | 18.5% | 18.5% | 1 |
| 1890s | 21.6% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 1 |
| 1900s | 25.2% | 25.2% | 25.2% | 1 |
| 1910s | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 34.3% | 34.3% | 34.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 40.0% | 40.0% | 40.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 46.7% | 46.7% | 46.7% | 1 |
| 1950s | 64.2% | 54.5% | 72.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 77.3% | 73.5% | 80.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 82.8% | 81.2% | 83.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 79.8% | 78.8% | 81.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.5% | 78.3% | 78.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.5% | 79.3% | 83.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.2% | 83.4% | 85.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.6% | 85.2% | 86.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 51 Palestine 87.4% compare
- 52 Western Sahara 86.9% compare
- 53 French Guiana 86.6% compare
- 55 Switzerland 85.7% compare
- 56 Peru 85.6% compare
- 57 Saudi Arabia 84.6% 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 population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Arab Emirates?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Arab Emirates was 86.0% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 86.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 54th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modelled historical data.