Rural population in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Rural population was 1.62 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in United Arab Emirates is 1.62 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 1.62 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 34,804, in 1960.
That places United Arab Emirates 110th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 34,804 | — |
| 1961 | 35,133 | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 35,548 | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 36,039 | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 36,571 | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 37,066 | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 37,408 | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 37,462 | +0.1% |
| 1968 | 40,282 | +7.5% |
| 1969 | 46,763 | +16.1% |
| 1970 | 53,803 | +15.1% |
| 1971 | 60,449 | +12.4% |
| 1972 | 66,834 | +10.6% |
| 1973 | 73,199 | +9.5% |
| 1974 | 79,893 | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 87,411 | +9.4% |
| 1976 | 99,345 | +13.7% |
| 1977 | 117,981 | +18.8% |
| 1978 | 140,613 | +19.2% |
| 1979 | 166,103 | +18.1% |
| 1980 | 191,925 | +15.5% |
| 1981 | 212,782 | +10.9% |
| 1982 | 229,724 | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 247,094 | +7.6% |
| 1984 | 264,677 | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 282,220 | +6.6% |
| 1986 | 303,233 | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 328,045 | +8.2% |
| 1988 | 353,287 | +7.7% |
| 1989 | 378,849 | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 404,591 | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 430,344 | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 455,907 | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 481,040 | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 505,470 | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 529,349 | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 564,477 | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 609,066 | +7.9% |
| 1998 | 650,785 | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 689,119 | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 723,621 | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 754,142 | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 780,660 | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 802,900 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 820,558 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 829,760 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 873,642 | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 969,765 | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 1.07 million | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 1.13 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 1.14 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 1.17 million | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 1.20 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 1.23 million | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 1.28 million | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 1.33 million | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 1.38 million | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 1.41 million | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 1.42 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.41 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 1.39 million | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 1.40 million | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.46 million | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 1.50 million | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 1.56 million | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 1.62 million | +3.7% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 1.62 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 456,529, 3.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 1.62 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.62 million, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 37,708 | 34,804 | 46,763 | 10 |
| 1970s | 94,563 | 53,803 | 166,103 | 10 |
| 1980s | 279,184 | 191,925 | 378,849 | 10 |
| 1990s | 532,015 | 404,591 | 689,119 | 10 |
| 2000s | 875,743 | 723,621 | 1.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.30 million | 1.14 million | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.49 million | 1.39 million | 1.62 million | 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 in United Arab Emirates?
- Rural population in United Arab Emirates was 1.62 million 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 1.62 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,804 in 1960.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for rural population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 110th 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 up 21.3%. 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. 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
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. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.