Urban population growth in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Urban population growth was 4.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in United Arab Emirates, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 4.9% for urban population growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in United Arab Emirates peaked at 19.2% in 1969 and was at its lowest, -0.3%, in 2020.
United Arab Emirates ranks 6th of 217 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.3% | — |
| 1962 | 6.2% | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 6.0% | -2.6% |
| 1964 | 5.8% | -3.3% |
| 1965 | 5.5% | -5.9% |
| 1966 | 4.9% | -10.3% |
| 1967 | 4.1% | -17.0% |
| 1968 | 11.2% | +175.9% |
| 1969 | 19.2% | +71.4% |
| 1970 | 18.8% | -2.4% |
| 1971 | 16.5% | -11.9% |
| 1972 | 14.7% | -10.9% |
| 1973 | 13.2% | -10.2% |
| 1974 | 11.9% | -9.9% |
| 1975 | 10.7% | -10.2% |
| 1976 | 12.6% | +17.5% |
| 1977 | 13.7% | +8.7% |
| 1978 | 12.1% | -11.3% |
| 1979 | 10.9% | -9.9% |
| 1980 | 9.9% | -9.2% |
| 1981 | 7.4% | -25.4% |
| 1982 | 5.4% | -26.5% |
| 1983 | 5.4% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 5.2% | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 5.1% | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 6.1% | +19.1% |
| 1987 | 6.8% | +12.4% |
| 1988 | 6.4% | -6.1% |
| 1989 | 6.0% | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 5.7% | -5.5% |
| 1991 | 5.4% | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | -5.2% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | -5.3% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 6.5% | +46.5% |
| 1997 | 8.3% | +27.4% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | +23.8% |
| 2007 | 11.8% | +56.9% |
| 2008 | 11.6% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 6.5% | -44.4% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | -59.2% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | +36.3% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | +16.5% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 4.9% | +15.4% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | +14.9% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -8.2% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -34.2% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -54.6% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | -18.3% |
| 2020 | -0.3% | -122.3% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | -822.7% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | +160.4% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -21.2% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | +16.9% |
| 2025 | 4.9% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.7% | 4.1% | 19.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 13.5% | 10.7% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.4% | 5.1% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 4.4% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 6.1% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 1.3% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | -0.3% | 5.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 3 Rwanda 5.6% compare
- 4 Niger 5.0% compare
- 5 Mozambique 4.9% compare
- 7 Saudi Arabia 4.8% compare
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 4.8% compare
- 9 Uganda 4.8% compare
More climate change data for United Arab Emirates
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,596 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 556.37 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,039 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.1 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 37.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 113.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 113.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.0084 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.4265 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0003 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in United Arab Emirates?
- Urban population growth in United Arab Emirates was 4.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 19.2% in 1969.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.3% in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for urban population growth?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 6th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.