Freedom of Association Index in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Freedom of Association Index was 0.04 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
0.04
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
167th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.043
in 1987
All-time low
0.033
in 2020
Years of data
55
1971–2025
Freedom of Association Index in United Arab Emirates, 1971–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of association index in United Arab Emirates is 0.04, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of association index in United Arab Emirates peaked at 0.043 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 0.033, in 2020.
That places United Arab Emirates 167th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Freedom of Association Index in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.037 | — |
| 1972 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.042 | +13.5% |
| 1984 | 0.035 | -16.7% |
| 1985 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.043 | +22.9% |
| 1988 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.037 | -14.0% |
| 2005 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.043 | +16.2% |
| 2008 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.042 | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 0.037 | -11.9% |
| 2012 | 0.034 | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.037 | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.043 | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 0.033 | -23.3% |
| 2021 | 0.038 | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.04 | +5.3% |
| 2025 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 0.04 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.868, 5% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 0.04 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.29, 14% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.037 | 0.037 | 0.037 | 9 |
| 1980s | 0.0387 | 0.035 | 0.043 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.043 | 0.043 | 0.043 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0412 | 0.037 | 0.043 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0369 | 0.034 | 0.043 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0378 | 0.033 | 0.04 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More social development data for United Arab Emirates
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,377 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 252 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 252 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of association index in United Arab Emirates?
- Freedom of association index in United Arab Emirates was 0.04 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of association index recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 0.043 in 1987.
- What is the lowest freedom of association index recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.033 in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for freedom of association index?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 167th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of association index rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Freedom of Association Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which parties, including opposition parties, are allowed to form and participate in elections and the extent to which civil society organizations are allowed to form and operate freely.