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United Arab Emirates — Urban population
Urban Population (% of Total) for United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025.
Latest value · 2025
85.96%
Urban Population (% of Total) · % of total population · +17.0% since 1960
Urban population for United Arab Emirates was 85.96% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 73.50% in 1960 (about 1.2× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.24% per year.
United Arab Emirates ranks 44 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 20%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 79.48%, so United Arab Emirates sits above it. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 2%.
Key figures
Latest (2025)
85.96%
First (1960)
73.50%
Change
+17.0%
Highest
85.96%
in 2025
Lowest
73.50%
in 1960
Average
81.13%
Annual growth (CAGR)
0.24%
Years of data
66
Recent years
| Year | % of total population |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 85.96% |
| 2024 | 85.82% |
| 2023 | 85.67% |
| 2022 | 85.51% |
| 2021 | 85.36% |
| 2020 | 85.2% |
| 2019 | 85.03% |
| 2018 | 84.86% |
| 2017 | 84.69% |
| 2016 | 84.51% |
| 2015 | 84.33% |
| 2014 | 84.14% |
Reading this correctly. Share of the population living in urban areas, as defined by national statistical offices. Not directly comparable across countries because definitions of 'urban' differ. Figures are in % of total population. Comparing this series with a different measure of the same concept (for example a nominal figure against a purchasing-power-parity figure) will give misleading results.
Related data
Source. World Bank Open Data, indicator
SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS — Urban Population (% of Total). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.