What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in United Arab Emirates?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1971.

What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in United Arab Emirates?

The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1971.

How does United Arab Emirates rank for distribution of democracy index?

United Arab Emirates ranks 158th out of 167 countries with data for 2018.

Is distribution of 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) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Distribution of Democracy Index in United Arab Emirates

Name: Distribution of Democracy Index in United Arab Emirates
Creator: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

United Arab Emirates: Distribution of Democracy Index was 2 in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

158th

of 167 countries

All-time high

in 1971

All-time low

in 1971

Years of data

1971–2018

Distribution of Democracy Index in United Arab Emirates, 1971–2018

Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for distribution of democracy index in United Arab Emirates is 2, 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, distribution of democracy index in United Arab Emirates peaked at 2 in 1971 and was at its lowest, 2, in 1971.

United Arab Emirates ranks 158th of 167 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	2	2	2	9
1980s	2	2	2	10
1990s	2	2	2	10
2000s	2	2	2	10
2010s	2	2	2	9

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More social development data for United Arab Emirates

Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
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)
Key features 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)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.031 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.077 (2025)

All data for United Arab Emirates →

Frequently asked questions

What is distribution of democracy index in United Arab Emirates?: Distribution of democracy index in United Arab Emirates was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in United Arab Emirates?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1971.
What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in United Arab Emirates?: The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1971.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for distribution of democracy index?: United Arab Emirates ranks 158th out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
Is distribution of 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) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution 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

Indicator: Distribution of Democracy Index
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 18,366 data points, 1800–2018
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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 0 to 20 (fully democratic).