United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom
United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom: Urban population
Urban population in 2025: 86% in United Arab Emirates and 83.3% in United Kingdom, by UN estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in United Arab Emirates, by 2.6 percentage points, or 1.03 times that in United Kingdom.
% of people · UN
What the numbers say
- United Arab Emirates has been higher since 2002, when it overtook United Kingdom.
- In 2025, United Arab Emirates ranked 48 and United Kingdom ranked 54 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (World Urbanization Prospects 2025) puts United Arab Emirates at 87.9% and United Kingdom at 84.4% in 2050.
Every year
% of people · UN
| Year | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 86 | 83.3 |
| 2024 | 85.8 | 83.2 |
| 2023 | 85.7 | 83.2 |
| 2022 | 85.5 | 83.1 |
| 2021 | 85.4 | 83 |
| 2020 | 85.2 | 82.9 |
| 2019 | 85 | 82.7 |
| 2018 | 84.9 | 82.5 |
| 2017 | 84.7 | 82.2 |
| 2016 | 84.5 | 82 |
| 2015 | 84.3 | 81.8 |
| 2014 | 84.1 | 81.6 |
| 2013 | 84 | 81.5 |
| 2012 | 83.8 | 81.3 |
| 2011 | 83.6 | 81.1 |
| 2010 | 83.4 | 81 |
| 2009 | 83.2 | 80.9 |
| 2008 | 83 | 80.8 |
| 2007 | 82.8 | 80.7 |
| 2006 | 82.6 | 80.6 |
| 2005 | 82.2 | 80.5 |
| 2004 | 81.5 | 80.3 |
| 2003 | 80.9 | 80.2 |
| 2002 | 80.3 | 80.1 |
| 2001 | 79.8 | 80 |
| 2000 | 79.3 | 79.8 |
| 1999 | 78.9 | 79.6 |
| 1998 | 78.6 | 79.4 |
| 1997 | 78.4 | 79.1 |
| 1996 | 78.3 | 78.9 |
| 1995 | 78.3 | 78.7 |
| 1994 | 78.3 | 78.5 |
| 1993 | 78.4 | 78.3 |
| 1992 | 78.4 | 78.2 |
| 1991 | 78.6 | 78.1 |
| 1990 | 78.7 | 78.1 |
| 1989 | 78.8 | 78.1 |
| 1988 | 79 | 78.2 |
| 1987 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| 1986 | 79.3 | 78.3 |
| 1985 | 79.5 | 78.4 |
| 1984 | 79.7 | 78.5 |
| 1983 | 80 | 78.5 |
| 1982 | 80.3 | 78.6 |
| 1981 | 80.7 | 78.6 |
| 1980 | 81.1 | 78.6 |
| 1979 | 81.8 | 78.5 |
| 1978 | 82.6 | 78.3 |
| 1977 | 83.4 | 78.1 |
| 1976 | 83.9 | 77.8 |
| 1975 | 83.9 | 77.6 |
| 1974 | 83.7 | 77.3 |
| 1973 | 83.2 | 77.1 |
| 1972 | 82.6 | 77 |
| 1971 | 82 | 76.9 |
| 1970 | 81.2 | 76.9 |
| 1969 | 80.5 | 77 |
| 1968 | 79.8 | 77.1 |
| 1967 | 79.2 | 77.2 |
| 1966 | 78.5 | 77.4 |
| 1965 | 77.8 | 77.6 |
| 1964 | 77.1 | 77.8 |
| 1963 | 76.3 | 78 |
| 1962 | 75.5 | 78.2 |
| 1961 | 74.5 | 78.4 |
| 1960 | 73.5 | 78.6 |
| 1959 | 72.3 | 78.8 |
| 1958 | 70.9 | 79 |
| 1957 | 69.4 | 79.3 |
| 1956 | 67.7 | 79.5 |
| 1955 | 65.8 | 79.8 |
| 1954 | 63.8 | 80 |
| 1953 | 61.6 | 80.1 |
| 1952 | 59.4 | 80.2 |
| 1951 | 57 | 80.3 |
| 1950 | 54.5 | 80.3 |
UN projection (World Urbanization Prospects 2025) · 2026–2050
| Year | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 86.1 | 83.4 |
| 2027 | 86.2 | 83.5 |
| 2028 | 86.4 | 83.6 |
| 2029 | 86.5 | 83.6 |
| 2030 | 86.6 | 83.7 |
| 2031 | 86.7 | 83.8 |
| 2032 | 86.8 | 83.8 |
| 2033 | 87 | 83.9 |
| 2034 | 87.1 | 83.9 |
| 2035 | 87.2 | 84 |
| 2036 | 87.2 | 84.1 |
| 2037 | 87.3 | 84.1 |
| 2038 | 87.4 | 84.2 |
| 2039 | 87.5 | 84.2 |
| 2040 | 87.6 | 84.2 |
| 2041 | 87.6 | 84.3 |
| 2042 | 87.7 | 84.3 |
| 2043 | 87.7 | 84.3 |
| 2044 | 87.8 | 84.4 |
| 2045 | 87.8 | 84.4 |
| 2046 | 87.8 | 84.4 |
| 2047 | 87.9 | 84.4 |
| 2048 | 87.9 | 84.4 |
| 2049 | 87.9 | 84.4 |
| 2050 | 87.9 | 84.4 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people living in places the country itself counts as urban.
- Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects 2025.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (World Urbanization Prospects 2025), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
United Arab Emirates vs United Kingdom
Health
- Life expectancyUnited Arab Emirates: 82.9 years in 2023United Kingdom: 81.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityUnited Arab Emirates: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityUnited Arab Emirates: 4.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionUnited Arab Emirates: 2.88% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateUnited Arab Emirates: 5.1 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationUnited Arab Emirates: 10.6 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthUnited Arab Emirates: 3.7% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateUnited Arab Emirates: 1.2 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Median ageUnited Arab Emirates: 31.2 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overUnited Arab Emirates: 1.7% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration rateUnited Arab Emirates: 28.2 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personUnited Arab Emirates: $41,610 in 2024United Kingdom: $48,420 in 2025
- GDP growthUnited Arab Emirates: 6.2% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 1.2% a year in 2025
- InflationUnited Arab Emirates: 1.3% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 3.4% a year in 2025
- Government debtUnited Arab Emirates: 33.9% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 102.1% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingUnited Arab Emirates: 5.64% of GDP in 2014United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsUnited Arab Emirates: $27.8B in 2014United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personUnited Arab Emirates: $2,840 in 2014United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingUnited Arab Emirates: 17% of government spending in 2014United Kingdom: 5.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelUnited Arab Emirates: 63,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerUnited Arab Emirates: 0.47% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersUnited Arab Emirates: 1.02% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsUnited Arab Emirates: 868 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsUnited Arab Emirates: 33 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personUnited Arab Emirates: 18.26 tonnes in 2024United Kingdom: 4.22 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersUnited Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024United Kingdom: 95.5% in 2024
- Access to electricityUnited Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024United Kingdom: 100% in 2024
- Forest areaUnited Arab Emirates: 4.6% in 2024United Kingdom: 13.5% in 2024