Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 12.99 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United Arab Emirates, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United Arab Emirates stood at 12.99 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United Arab Emirates peaked at 12.99 years in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.76 years, in 1990.
United Arab Emirates ranks 16th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.76 years | — |
| 1991 | 6.06 years | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 6.36 years | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 6.65 years | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 6.95 years | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 7.25 years | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 7.5 years | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 7.74 years | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 7.99 years | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 8.23 years | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 8.48 years | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 8.58 years | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 8.68 years | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 8.79 years | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 8.89 years | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 8.99 years | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 9.16 years | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 9.33 years | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 9.49 years | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 9.66 years | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 9.83 years | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 10 years | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 10.17 years | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 10.34 years | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 10.5 years | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 10.67 years | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 10.84 years | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 12.06 years | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 12.48 years | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 12.69 years | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 12.73 years | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 12.77 years | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 12.99 years | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 12.99 years | +0.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 12.99 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 12.99 years is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.13 years, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.05 years | 5.76 years | 8.23 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 9 years | 8.48 years | 9.66 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.96 years | 9.83 years | 12.69 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.87 years | 12.73 years | 12.99 years | 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 average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United Arab Emirates?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United Arab Emirates was 12.99 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 12.99 years in 2022.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.76 years in 1990.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 16th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.