Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 98.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in United Arab Emirates, 2005–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in United Arab Emirates is 98.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in United Arab Emirates peaked at 98.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 92.3%, in 2005.
United Arab Emirates ranks 11th of 57 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 92.3% | — |
| 2019 | 97.8% | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 98.1% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 98.3% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 98.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 98.8% | +0.8% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 98.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 98.2%, 1.0× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 98.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.7%, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 92.3% | 92.3% | 92.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 97.8% | 97.8% | 97.8% | 1 |
| 2020s | 98.3% | 98.1% | 98.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More education data for United Arab Emirates
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 106,178 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 305 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 119,159 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 125,307 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 894,302 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 586,477 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0534 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in United Arab Emirates?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in United Arab Emirates was 98.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 98.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 92.3% in 2005.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 11th out of 57 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release