Population in the largest city in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Population in the largest city was 31.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
31.3%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
70th
of 153 countries
All-time high
36.4%
in 1975
All-time low
30.6%
in 2008
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in United Arab Emirates is 31.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in United Arab Emirates peaked at 36.4% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 30.6%, in 2008.
That places United Arab Emirates 70th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Population in the largest city in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 34.8% | — |
| 1961 | 34.4% | -1.2% |
| 1962 | 34.0% | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 33.7% | -0.8% |
| 1964 | 33.5% | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 33.4% | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 33.5% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 33.9% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 33.0% | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 32.1% | -2.8% |
| 1970 | 31.3% | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 31.3% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 31.8% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 32.8% | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 34.4% | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 36.4% | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 36.2% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 34.1% | -5.8% |
| 1978 | 32.6% | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 31.6% | -3.2% |
| 1980 | 30.9% | -2.2% |
| 1981 | 30.7% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 30.8% | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 31.0% | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 31.2% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 31.5% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 31.5% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 31.3% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 31.3% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 31.4% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 31.6% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 32.0% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 32.4% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 32.9% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 33.5% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 34.1% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 34.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 33.6% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 33.2% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 32.9% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 32.7% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 32.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 32.6% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 32.7% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 32.9% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 33.1% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 33.0% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 31.7% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 30.6% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 31.0% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 33.2% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 33.4% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 33.7% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 33.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 33.5% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 33.4% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 33.9% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 35.1% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 35.3% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 35.9% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 35.7% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 34.4% | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 33.5% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 32.4% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 31.3% | -3.4% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 31.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 28.2%, 1.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 31.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.8%, 1.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 33.6% | 32.1% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 33.2% | 31.3% | 36.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 31.2% | 30.7% | 31.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.0% | 31.6% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.3% | 30.6% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.8% | 32.7% | 35.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.9% | 31.3% | 35.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More urban development data for United Arab Emirates
- Population density 147.62 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.5753 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 6.62 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 90.19 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 3.09 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 4.84 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 217.12 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in United Arab Emirates?
- Population in the largest city in United Arab Emirates was 31.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 36.4% in 1975.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.6% in 2008.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for population in the largest city?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 70th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.