Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — United Arab Emirates

Rural population share in the United Arab Emirates in 2025 — 14%. Ranked 174 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 12.5 pp.

2025 14% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 174of 217
Period maximum 26.5%1960
Period minimum 14%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — United Arab Emirates, 1960–2025101520253019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 26.5%1962: 24.5%1964: 22.9%1966: 21.5%1968: 20.2%1970: 18.8%1972: 17.4%1974: 16.3%1976: 16.1%1978: 17.4%1980: 18.9%1982: 19.7%1984: 20.3%1986: 20.7%1988: 21%1990: 21.3%1992: 21.6%1994: 21.7%1996: 21.7%1998: 21.4%2000: 20.7%2002: 19.7%2004: 18.5%2006: 17.4%2008: 17%2010: 16.6%2012: 16.2%2014: 15.9%2016: 15.5%2018: 15.1%2020: 14.8%2022: 14.5%2024: 14.2%2025: 14%
Change over the period: −12.5 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates 14%
World 42.2%
Western Asia computed 23.8%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — United Arab Emirates, by year United Arab Emirates All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 14 −0.1 pp
2024 14.2 −0.1 pp
2023 14.3 −0.2 pp
2022 14.5 −0.2 pp
2021 14.6 −0.2 pp
2020 14.8 −0.2 pp
2019 15 −0.2 pp
2018 15.1 −0.2 pp
2017 15.3 −0.2 pp
2016 15.5 −0.2 pp
2015 15.7 −0.2 pp
2014 15.9 −0.2 pp
2013 16 −0.2 pp
2012 16.2 −0.2 pp
2011 16.4 −0.2 pp
2010 16.6 −0.2 pp
2009 16.8 −0.2 pp
2008 17 −0.2 pp
2007 17.2 −0.2 pp
2006 17.4 −0.3 pp
2005 17.8 −0.7 pp
2004 18.5 −0.6 pp
2003 19.2 −0.6 pp
2002 19.7 −0.5 pp
2001 20.3 −0.5 pp
2000 20.7 −0.4 pp
1999 21.1 −0.3 pp
1998 21.4 −0.2 pp
1997 21.6 −0.1 pp
1996 21.7 −0 pp
1995 21.7 +0 pp
1994 21.7 +0.1 pp
1993 21.6 +0.1 pp
1992 21.6 +0.1 pp
1991 21.4 +0.1 pp
1990 21.3 +0.1 pp
1989 21.2 +0.2 pp
1988 21 +0.2 pp
1987 20.8 +0.2 pp
1986 20.7 +0.2 pp
1985 20.5 +0.2 pp
1984 20.3 +0.3 pp
1983 20 +0.3 pp
1982 19.7 +0.3 pp
1981 19.3 +0.5 pp
1980 18.9 +0.7 pp
1979 18.2 +0.8 pp
1978 17.4 +0.8 pp
1977 16.6 +0.5 pp
1976 16.1 +0 pp
1975 16.1 −0.2 pp
1974 16.3 −0.4 pp
1973 16.8 −0.6 pp
1972 17.4 −0.7 pp
1971 18 −0.7 pp
1970 18.8 −0.7 pp
1969 19.5 −0.7 pp
1968 20.2 −0.6 pp
1967 20.8 −0.7 pp
1966 21.5 −0.7 pp
1965 22.2 −0.7 pp
1964 22.9 −0.8 pp
1963 23.7 −0.8 pp
1962 24.5 −0.9 pp
1961 25.5 −1 pp
1960 26.5

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.