Rural population growth in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Rural population growth was 3.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in United Arab Emirates, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in United Arab Emirates stood at 3.7%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in United Arab Emirates peaked at 17.5% in 1978 and was at its lowest, -1.6%, in 2020.
That places United Arab Emirates 3rd out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.9% | — |
| 1962 | 1.2% | +24.8% |
| 1963 | 1.4% | +16.8% |
| 1964 | 1.5% | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 1.3% | -8.3% |
| 1966 | 0.9% | -31.7% |
| 1967 | 0.1% | -84.3% |
| 1968 | 7.3% | +4931.4% |
| 1969 | 14.9% | +105.6% |
| 1970 | 14.0% | -6.0% |
| 1971 | 11.6% | -16.9% |
| 1972 | 10.0% | -13.8% |
| 1973 | 9.1% | -9.4% |
| 1974 | 8.8% | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 9.0% | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 12.8% | +42.3% |
| 1977 | 17.2% | +34.3% |
| 1978 | 17.5% | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 16.7% | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 14.4% | -13.3% |
| 1981 | 10.3% | -28.6% |
| 1982 | 7.7% | -25.7% |
| 1983 | 7.3% | -4.9% |
| 1984 | 6.9% | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 6.4% | -6.6% |
| 1986 | 7.2% | +11.9% |
| 1987 | 7.9% | +9.5% |
| 1988 | 7.4% | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 7.0% | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 6.6% | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 6.2% | -6.1% |
| 1992 | 5.8% | -6.5% |
| 1993 | 5.4% | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 5.0% | -7.7% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 6.4% | +39.2% |
| 1997 | 7.6% | +18.3% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | -12.9% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | -13.6% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | -14.6% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | -15.4% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | -16.3% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | -18.7% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | -22.6% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | -48.7% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | +362.1% |
| 2007 | 10.4% | +102.6% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | -50.7% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -76.2% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | +80.8% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +28.0% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | +23.5% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | +21.3% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -10.5% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | -46.3% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -90.6% |
| 2019 | -0.1% | -138.0% |
| 2020 | -1.6% | +2093.5% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -146.4% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | +443.5% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | -27.3% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.3% | 0.1% | 14.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 12.7% | 8.8% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 6.4% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 4.6% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 1.1% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | -0.1% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | -1.6% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More agriculture & rural data for United Arab Emirates
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0077 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 386.83 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1404 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.8% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in United Arab Emirates?
- Rural population growth in United Arab Emirates was 3.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 1978.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.6% in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for rural population growth?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 3rd out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. 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 Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.