United Arab Emirates: School enrollment, primary (% gross)

Key figures

Over five years it is up 0.51 percentage points from 107.53% in 2019. Since 1971 it is up 39.41 percentage points from 68.63% in 1971. 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' school enrollment, primary (% gross) rose 1.78 percentage points on 2023 (from 106.26% to 108.04%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2023), the average change was +0.42 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 4.45 percentage points 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 17.3 percentage points in 2000 and the biggest yearly fall was 6.57 percentage points in 2004. 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 23rd 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

• Fiji — 20th of 119: 110.38%
• Cambodia — 21st of 119: 108.97%
• Tonga — 22nd of 119: 108.79%
• Aruba — 24th of 119: 107.72%
• Moldova — 25th of 119: 107.61%
• Mauritius — 26th of 119: 107.35%

What this measures

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.

Limitations: Enrollment indicators are based on annual school surveys, but do not necessarily reflect actual attendance or dropout rates during the year. Also, the length of education differs across countries and can influence enrollment rates, although the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) tries to minimize the difference. For example, a shorter duration for primary education tends to increase the rate; a longer one to decrease it (in part because older children are more at risk of dropping out). Moreover, age at enrollment may be inaccurately estimated or misstated, especially in communities where registration of births is not strictly enforced.

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

All 43 values

School enrollment, primary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 112.23% (2023)
• Algeria — 105.48% (2025)
• Bahrain — 96.88% (2024)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 96.71% (2024)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 101.96% (2023)
• Israel — 97.44% (2024)
• Jordan — 98.55% (2024)
• Kuwait — 82.36% (2021)
• Lebanon — 81.77% (2024)
• Malta — 97.71% (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)
• Primary education, pupils — 586,477 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 107.54% (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is United Arab Emirates's school enrollment, primary (% gross)?

108.04% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 39.41 percentage points from 68.63% in 1971. The highest value was 122.87% in 2001 and the lowest 68.63% in 1971.

How does United Arab Emirates rank?

23rd highest of 119 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, primary (% gross) unusual for United Arab Emirates?

In 2024, United Arab Emirates' school enrollment, primary (% gross) rose 1.78 percentage points on 2023 (from 106.26% to 108.04%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2023), the average change was +0.42 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 4.45 percentage points 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.ENRR, 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.

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