Democracy Index in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Democracy Index was -8 in 2018. ▬ Flat
Democracy Index in United Arab Emirates, 1971–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for democracy index in United Arab Emirates is -8, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in United Arab Emirates peaked at -8 in 1971 and was at its lowest, -8, in 1971.
That places United Arab Emirates 158th out of 167 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -8 | -8 | -8 | 9 |
| 1980s | -8 | -8 | -8 | 10 |
| 1990s | -8 | -8 | -8 | 10 |
| 2000s | -8 | -8 | -8 | 10 |
| 2010s | -8 | -8 | -8 | 9 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 158 Oman -8 compare
- 158 Turkmenistan -8 compare
- 161 Syria -9 compare
- 161 Uzbekistan -9 compare
- 161 Vatican -9 compare
More social development data for United Arab Emirates
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 1,377 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 252 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Key features of liberal democracy 0.077 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.104 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.063 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.04 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.104 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 0 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in United Arab Emirates?
- Democracy index in United Arab Emirates was -8 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy index recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was -8 in 1971.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -8 in 1971.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for democracy index?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 158th out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from -10 to 10 (fully democratic).