United Arab Emirates: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

Over five years it is down 10.42% from 654,732 in 2019 (2.18% a year on average, compounded). Since 1971 it is up 2,565% from 22,009 in 1971 (6.39% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 11 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, United Arab Emirates' primary education, pupils rose 5.7% on 2023 (from 554,644 to 586,477).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2023), the average change was +3.5% and a typical year strayed about 6.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 29.8% in 1976 and the biggest yearly fall was 18.6% in 2020. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, United Arab Emirates had the 54th highest value of the 119 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to United Arab Emirates in the 2024 ranking

• Azerbaijan — 51st of 119: 603,966
• El Salvador — 52nd of 119: 594,860
• Namibia — 53rd of 119: 590,029
• Switzerland — 55th of 119: 556,945
• Lebanon — 56th of 119: 533,550
• Costa Rica — 57th of 119: 460,126

What this measures

Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 43 values

Primary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 7.51 million (2023)
• Algeria — 5.3 million (2025)
• Bahrain — 122,305 (2024)
• Djibouti — 69,705 (2023)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 15.4 million (2024)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 9.09 million (2023)
• Israel — 1.05 million (2024)
• Jordan — 1.12 million (2024)
• Kuwait — 265,113 (2021)
• Lebanon — 533,550 (2024)
• Malta — 27,337 (2023)
• Morocco

More education data for United Arab Emirates

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 4 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 10 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 8 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils (% female) — 49.03% (2017)
• Pupil-teacher ratio, primary — 24.52 (2016)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 94.21% (2020)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 108.04% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 107.54% (2024)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is United Arab Emirates's primary education, pupils?

586,477 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 2,565% from 22,009 in 1971 (6.39% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 654,732 in 2019 and the lowest 22,009 in 1971.

How does United Arab Emirates rank?

54th highest of 119 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in primary education, pupils unusual for United Arab Emirates?

In 2024, United Arab Emirates' primary education, pupils rose 5.7% on 2023 (from 554,644 to 586,477). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2023), the average change was +3.5% and a typical year strayed about 6.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.ENRL, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.