Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 88.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in United Arab Emirates, 1975–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in United Arab Emirates stood at 88.9%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 88.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 1975.
That places United Arab Emirates 19th out of 85 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 8.8% | — |
| 1985 | 17.4% | +98.5% |
| 2005 | 42.1% | +142.2% |
| 2019 | 87.5% | +107.9% |
| 2021 | 85.9% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 86.7% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 87.2% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 88.9% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 1 |
| 1980s | 17.4% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 42.1% | 42.1% | 42.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 87.5% | 87.5% | 87.5% | 1 |
| 2020s | 87.2% | 85.9% | 88.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More education data for United Arab Emirates
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in United Arab Emirates?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in United Arab Emirates was 88.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 1975.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 19th out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates of older vs. younger population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 65 years and older who can read and write.