United Arab Emirates - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in United Arab Emirates was 87.05 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 87.05 in 2020, while its lowest value was 73.50 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 73.50
1961 74.38
1962 75.25
1963 76.09
1964 76.92
1965 77.72
1966 78.51
1967 79.27
1968 79.80
1969 79.80
1970 79.80
1971 79.80
1972 79.80
1973 79.80
1974 79.80
1975 79.80
1976 79.90
1977 80.11
1978 80.31
1979 80.51
1980 80.71
1981 80.68
1982 80.47
1983 80.25
1984 80.03
1985 79.80
1986 79.62
1987 79.48
1988 79.34
1989 79.20
1990 79.05
1991 78.91
1992 78.76
1993 78.61
1994 78.47
1995 78.32
1996 78.49
1997 78.94
1998 79.38
1999 79.81
2000 80.24
2001 80.66
2002 81.07
2003 81.47
2004 81.87
2005 82.26
2006 82.65
2007 83.02
2008 83.39
2009 83.74
2010 84.09
2011 84.42
2012 84.75
2013 85.07
2014 85.38
2015 85.67
2016 85.97
2017 86.25
2018 86.52
2019 86.79
2020 87.05

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization