Rural population growth in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Rural population growth was 3.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in United Arab Emirates, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in United Arab Emirates stood at 3.7%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in United Arab Emirates peaked at 17.5% in 1978 and was at its lowest, -1.6%, in 2020.
That places United Arab Emirates 3rd out of 207 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.3% | 0.1% | 14.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 12.7% | 8.8% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 6.4% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 4.6% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 1.1% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | -0.1% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | -1.6% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More agriculture & rural data for United Arab Emirates
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2023)
- Rural population 14.0% (2025)
- Rural population 1.62 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 0.8% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 4.25 billion current US$ (2024)
- Land under cereal production 945 hectares (2023)
- Cereal yield 23,306 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal production 22,014 metric tons (2023)
- Fertilizer consumption 326.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in United Arab Emirates?
- Rural population growth in United Arab Emirates was 3.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 1978.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.6% in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for rural population growth?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 3rd out of 207 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. 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 growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. 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.