Literacy rate, adult total in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Literacy rate, adult total was 98.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult total in United Arab Emirates, 1975–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15 and above.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rate, adult total in United Arab Emirates stood at 98.8%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult total in United Arab Emirates peaked at 98.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 53.5%, in 1975.
United Arab Emirates ranks 10th of 89 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rate, adult total in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 53.5% | — |
| 1985 | 71.2% | +33.1% |
| 2005 | 90.0% | +26.4% |
| 2019 | 97.8% | +8.6% |
| 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 97.7%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 98.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.4%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 53.5% | 53.5% | 53.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 71.2% | 71.2% | 71.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.0% | 90.0% | 90.0% | 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 literacy rate, adult total in United Arab Emirates?
- Literacy rate, adult total in United Arab Emirates was 98.8% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult total recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 98.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult total recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.5% in 1975.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for literacy rate, adult total?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 10th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, adult total 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 Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.