School age population, primary education, both sexes in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 496,340 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
496,340
Change on year
down 8.6%
World rank
113th
of 222 countries
All-time high
608,865
in 2019
All-time low
28,913
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School age population, primary education, both sexes in United Arab Emirates, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in United Arab Emirates is 496,340, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in United Arab Emirates peaked at 608,865 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 28,913, in 1970.
United Arab Emirates ranks 113th of 222 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School age population, primary education, both sexes in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 28,913 | — |
| 1971 | 32,068 | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 35,026 | +9.2% |
| 1973 | 38,319 | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 42,474 | +10.8% |
| 1975 | 48,600 | +14.4% |
| 1976 | 55,759 | +14.7% |
| 1977 | 61,861 | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 68,740 | +11.1% |
| 1979 | 77,132 | +12.2% |
| 1980 | 87,633 | +13.6% |
| 1981 | 100,376 | +14.5% |
| 1982 | 109,378 | +9.0% |
| 1983 | 119,703 | +9.4% |
| 1984 | 132,035 | +10.3% |
| 1985 | 146,535 | +11.0% |
| 1986 | 162,860 | +11.1% |
| 1987 | 178,670 | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 190,881 | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 201,063 | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 210,605 | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 220,256 | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 230,001 | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 240,092 | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 248,604 | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 255,194 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 260,126 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 267,751 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 268,044 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 264,015 | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 228,085 | -13.6% |
| 2001 | 228,085 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 240,575 | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 211,812 | -12.0% |
| 2004 | 230,005 | +8.6% |
| 2005 | 248,588 | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 271,630 | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 291,971 | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 334,938 | +14.7% |
| 2009 | 388,523 | +16.0% |
| 2010 | 405,598 | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 419,876 | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 442,686 | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 457,041 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 472,343 | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 502,246 | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 527,062 | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 594,243 | +12.7% |
| 2018 | 608,455 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 608,865 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 492,924 | -19.0% |
| 2021 | 485,357 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 498,557 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 521,969 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 542,811 | +4.0% |
| 2025 | 496,340 | -8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 48,889 | 28,913 | 77,132 | 10 |
| 1980s | 142,913 | 87,633 | 201,063 | 10 |
| 1990s | 246,469 | 210,605 | 268,044 | 10 |
| 2000s | 267,421 | 211,812 | 388,523 | 10 |
| 2010s | 503,842 | 405,598 | 608,865 | 10 |
| 2020s | 506,326 | 485,357 | 542,811 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More education data for United Arab Emirates
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 292,776 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 5.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0266 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 293,701 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 6.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0267 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 894,302 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 39,735 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 6.27 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in United Arab Emirates?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in United Arab Emirates was 496,340 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 608,865 in 2019.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,913 in 1970.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 113th out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. 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, published as part of School age population, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release