Which has higher political rights rating, United Arab Emirates or Western Sahara?

United Arab Emirates, at 7 against 7 in Western Sahara as of 2025.

What is the difference in political rights rating between United Arab Emirates and Western Sahara?

0, with United Arab Emirates ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for United Arab Emirates and Western Sahara?

37 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Political Rights Rating. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

United Arab Emirates vs Western Sahara: Political Rights Rating

United Arab Emirates

in 2025

Western Sahara

in 2025

United Arab Emirates rank

1st

Western Sahara rank

1st

Political Rights Rating over time

United Arab Emirates
Western Sahara

How they compare

United Arab Emirates currently reports 7 against 7 in Western Sahara, a difference of 0.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 37 shared years of data; in 1989 it was United Arab Emirates ahead.

United Arab Emirates ranks 1st and Western Sahara ranks 1st of 199 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, United Arab Emirates averaged higher in 1 and Western Sahara in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade	United Arab Emirates	Western Sahara	Difference	Ahead
1980s	6	5	1	United Arab Emirates
1990s	6.1	6.7	0.6	Western Sahara
2000s	6	7	1	Western Sahara
2010s	6.3	7	0.7	Western Sahara
2020s	7	7	0	—

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher political rights rating, United Arab Emirates or Western Sahara?: United Arab Emirates, at 7 against 7 in Western Sahara as of 2025.
What is the difference in political rights rating between United Arab Emirates and Western Sahara?: 0, with United Arab Emirates ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for United Arab Emirates and Western Sahara?: 37 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2025.
How do United Arab Emirates and Western Sahara rank globally for political rights rating?: United Arab Emirates ranks 1st and Western Sahara ranks 1st of 199 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Political Rights Rating. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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United Arab Emirates vs Western Sahara: Political Rights Rating. Statizoid, drawing on Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/political-rights-rating-fh/united-arab-emirates/western-sahara/

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About this data

Indicator: Political Rights Rating
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 199 places, 10,083 data points, 1972–2025
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Identifies the extent of free and fair elections, political pluralism and participation, and a functioning government. Lower ratings indicate more rights.