Urban Population: United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates's urban population is currently 85.8% as of 2024. # United Arab Emirates Urban Population The UAE's urban population reached 85.
Current (2024)
85.8%
+0.2% y/y
Peak (2024)
85.8%
Low (1960)
73.5%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — United Arab Emirates
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — United Arab Emirates
Analysis# United Arab Emirates Urban Population
The UAE's urban population reached 85.817% in 2024, marking its all-time peak. This represents a dramatic 16.8 percentage point increase since 1960, when only 73.5% of the population lived in urban areas. The country has transformed from a predominantly rural nation into one of the world's most urbanized states over six decades.
The steady upward trajectory accelerated notably between 2015 and 2024, with urban population growing from 84.328% to 85.817%—a gain of 1.489 percentage points in just nine years. This reflects continued rapid development and migration to major urban centers like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Given the consistent year-over-year growth pattern, the UAE's urbanization rate shows no signs of plateauing, suggesting further concentration in urban areas ahead.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 85.8% | +0.17% |
| 2023 | 85.7% | +0.18% |
| 2022 | 85.5% | +0.19% |
| 2021 | 85.4% | +0.19% |
| 2020 | 85.2% | +0.20% |
| 2019 | 85.0% | +0.20% |
| 2018 | 84.9% | +0.20% |
| 2017 | 84.7% | +0.21% |
| 2016 | 84.5% | +0.21% |
| 2015 | 84.3% | +0.22% |
| 2014 | 84.1% | +0.22% |
| 2013 | 84.0% | +0.23% |
| 2012 | 83.8% | +0.23% |
| 2011 | 83.6% | +0.24% |
| 2010 | 83.4% | +0.24% |
| 2009 | 83.2% | +0.25% |
| 2008 | 83.0% | +0.25% |
| 2007 | 82.8% | +0.24% |
| 2006 | 82.6% | +0.42% |
| 2005 | 82.2% | +0.91% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 81.5% | +0.77% |
| 2003 | 80.8% | +0.72% |
| 2002 | 80.3% | +0.66% |
| 2001 | 79.7% | +0.58% |
| 2000 | 79.3% | +0.49% |
| 1999 | 78.9% | +0.39% |
| 1998 | 78.6% | +0.27% |
| 1997 | 78.4% | +0.14% |
| 1996 | 78.3% | +0.01% |
| 1995 | 78.3% | -0.04% |
| 1994 | 78.3% | -0.08% |
| 1993 | 78.4% | -0.11% |
| 1992 | 78.4% | -0.14% |
| 1991 | 78.6% | -0.17% |
| 1990 | 78.7% | -0.19% |
| 1989 | 78.8% | -0.20% |
| 1988 | 79.0% | -0.21% |
| 1987 | 79.2% | -0.22% |
| 1986 | 79.3% | -0.23% |
| 1985 | 79.5% | -0.27% |
| 1984 | 79.7% | -0.33% |
| 1983 | 80.0% | -0.38% |
| 1982 | 80.3% | -0.43% |
| 1981 | 80.7% | -0.55% |
| 1980 | 81.1% | -0.84% |
| 1979 | 81.8% | -1.01% |
| 1978 | 82.6% | -0.91% |
| 1977 | 83.4% | -0.57% |
| 1976 | 83.9% | -0.03% |
| 1975 | 83.9% | +0.28% |
| 1974 | 83.7% | +0.53% |
| 1973 | 83.2% | +0.71% |
| 1972 | 82.6% | +0.83% |
| 1971 | 82.0% | +0.90% |
| 1970 | 81.2% | +0.91% |
| 1969 | 80.5% | +0.86% |
| 1968 | 79.8% | +0.82% |
| 1967 | 79.2% | +0.83% |
| 1966 | 78.5% | +0.87% |
| 1965 | 77.8% | +0.93% |
| 1964 | 77.1% | +1.02% |
| 1963 | 76.3% | +1.12% |
| 1962 | 75.5% | +1.26% |
| 1961 | 74.5% | +1.41% |
| 1960 | 73.5% | — |
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