Self-reported life satisfaction in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Self-reported life satisfaction was 6.82 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Self-reported life satisfaction in United Arab Emirates, 2011–2025
Source: Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, self-reported life satisfaction in United Arab Emirates stood at 6.82.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-reported life satisfaction in United Arab Emirates peaked at 7.14 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 6.56, in 2020.
United Arab Emirates ranks 19th of 157 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Self-reported life satisfaction in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 6.98 | — |
| 2012 | 7.14 | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 6.9 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 6.57 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 6.65 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 6.77 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 6.83 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 6.79 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 6.56 | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 6.58 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 6.57 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 6.73 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 6.76 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 6.82 | +0.9% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 6.82 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.63, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 6.82 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.15, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.83 | 6.57 | 7.14 | 8 |
| 2020s | 6.67 | 6.56 | 6.82 | 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 self-reported life satisfaction in United Arab Emirates?
- Self-reported life satisfaction in United Arab Emirates was 6.82 in 2025, according to Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest self-reported life satisfaction recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 7.14 in 2012.
- What is the lowest self-reported life satisfaction recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.56 in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for self-reported life satisfaction?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 19th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-reported life satisfaction rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Self-reported life satisfaction. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average of survey responses. The survey question asks respondents their current position on a hypothetical ladder, where the best possible life for them is a 10, and the worst possible life is a 0.