Urban population in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Urban population was 9.90 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 9.90 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 38.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 9.90 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 96,530, in 1960.
United Arab Emirates ranks 68th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 96,530 | — |
| 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 | 409,194 | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 455,445 | +11.3% |
| 1976 | 516,521 | +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 | 5.73 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 5.94 million | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 6.19 million | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 6.46 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 6.78 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 7.17 million | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 7.55 million | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 7.81 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 7.93 million | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 8.03 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 8.01 million | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 8.17 million | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 8.62 million | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 8.98 million | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 9.43 million | +5.0% |
| 2025 | 9.90 million | +5.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 9.90 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.24 million, 4.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 9.90 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.90 million, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6.96 million | 5.73 million | 8.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.85 million | 8.01 million | 9.90 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More climate change data for United Arab Emirates
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 20.45 million kg (2050)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in United Arab Emirates?
- Urban population in United Arab Emirates was 9.90 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 9.90 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 96,530 in 1960.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for urban population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 68th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.0%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.