Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 6.62 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 6.62 million for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in United Arab Emirates peaked at 6.62 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 56,992, in 1960.
United Arab Emirates ranks 46th of 121 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 56,992 | — |
| 1961 | 62,187 | +9.1% |
| 1962 | 67,984 | +9.3% |
| 1963 | 74,453 | +9.5% |
| 1964 | 81,695 | +9.7% |
| 1965 | 89,777 | +9.9% |
| 1966 | 98,849 | +10.1% |
| 1967 | 109,031 | +10.3% |
| 1968 | 122,096 | +12.0% |
| 1969 | 141,174 | +15.6% |
| 1970 | 163,310 | +15.7% |
| 1971 | 188,970 | +15.7% |
| 1972 | 218,765 | +15.8% |
| 1973 | 253,227 | +15.8% |
| 1974 | 293,258 | +15.8% |
| 1975 | 339,713 | +15.8% |
| 1976 | 386,053 | +13.6% |
| 1977 | 430,379 | +11.5% |
| 1978 | 480,348 | +11.6% |
| 1979 | 536,655 | +11.7% |
| 1980 | 600,258 | +11.9% |
| 1981 | 649,068 | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 682,078 | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 716,927 | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 753,780 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 792,594 | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 834,671 | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 880,083 | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 928,205 | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 978,995 | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 1.03 million | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 1.09 million | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 1.15 million | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 1.21 million | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 1.28 million | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 1.35 million | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 1.44 million | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 1.53 million | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 1.64 million | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 1.75 million | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 1.87 million | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 2.00 million | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 2.13 million | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 2.28 million | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 2.43 million | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 2.60 million | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 2.78 million | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 2.99 million | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 3.20 million | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 3.44 million | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 3.69 million | +7.3% |
| 2011 | 3.90 million | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 4.12 million | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 4.36 million | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 4.61 million | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 4.88 million | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 5.16 million | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 5.46 million | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 5.78 million | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 5.91 million | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 6.05 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 6.17 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 6.29 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 6.41 million | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 6.52 million | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 6.62 million | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 90,424 | 56,992 | 141,174 | 10 |
| 1970s | 329,068 | 163,310 | 536,655 | 10 |
| 1980s | 781,666 | 600,258 | 978,995 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.35 million | 1.03 million | 1.75 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.57 million | 1.87 million | 3.44 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.79 million | 3.69 million | 5.91 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.34 million | 6.05 million | 6.62 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More urban development data for United Arab Emirates
- Population in the largest city 31.3% (2025)
- 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, 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in United Arab Emirates?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in United Arab Emirates was 6.62 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 6.62 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 56,992 in 1960.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 46th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. 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 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.