Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 14.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 14.0% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 26.5% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2025.
That places United Arab Emirates 175th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 26.5% | — |
| 1961 | 25.5% | -3.9% |
| 1962 | 24.5% | -3.7% |
| 1963 | 23.7% | -3.5% |
| 1964 | 22.9% | -3.3% |
| 1965 | 22.2% | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 21.5% | -3.1% |
| 1967 | 20.8% | -3.0% |
| 1968 | 20.2% | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 19.5% | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 18.8% | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 18.0% | -3.9% |
| 1972 | 17.4% | -3.8% |
| 1973 | 16.8% | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 16.3% | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 16.1% | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 16.1% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 16.6% | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 17.4% | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 18.2% | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 18.9% | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 19.3% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 19.7% | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 20.0% | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 20.3% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 20.5% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 20.7% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 20.8% | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 21.0% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 21.2% | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 21.3% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 21.4% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 21.6% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 21.6% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 21.7% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 21.7% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 21.7% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 21.6% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 21.4% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 21.1% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 20.7% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 20.3% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 19.7% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 19.2% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 18.5% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 17.4% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 17.2% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 17.0% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 16.8% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 16.4% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 16.2% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 16.0% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 15.9% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 15.7% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 15.3% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 15.1% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 15.0% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 14.6% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 14.5% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 14.3% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 14.2% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 14.0% | -1.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 14.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 75% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 14.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.5%, 68% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.7% | 19.5% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.2% | 16.1% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.2% | 18.9% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.5% | 21.1% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.5% | 16.8% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.8% | 15.0% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 14.0% | 14.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More agriculture & rural data for United Arab Emirates
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0086 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.5232 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.0347 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in United Arab Emirates?
- Rural population in United Arab Emirates was 14.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 26.5% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2025.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for rural population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 175th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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.