Civil liberties rating in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Civil liberties rating was 6 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
6
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
16th
of 199 countries
All-time high
6
in 2003
All-time low
5
in 1972
Years of data
53
1972–2025
Civil liberties rating in United Arab Emirates, 1972–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for civil liberties rating in United Arab Emirates is 6, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, civil liberties rating in United Arab Emirates peaked at 6 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 5, in 1972.
That places United Arab Emirates 16th out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Civil liberties rating in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 5 | — |
| 1973 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2004 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2007 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2012 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 6 | +0.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 6 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1, 6.0× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 6 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| 1980s | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| 1990s | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 16 Bahrain 6 compare
- 16 Burundi 6 compare
- 16 Cameroon 6 compare
- 16 Chad 6 compare
- 16 China 6 compare
- 16 Congo 6 compare
- 16 Cuba 6 compare
- 16 Democratic Republic of Congo 6 compare
- 16 Egypt 6 compare
- 16 Eswatini 6 compare
- 16 Ethiopia 6 compare
- 16 Iraq 6 compare
- 16 Laos 6 compare
- 16 Libya 6 compare
- 16 Nicaragua 6 compare
- 16 Russia 6 compare
- 16 Rwanda 6 compare
- 16 Saudi Arabia 6 compare
- 16 Syria 6 compare
- 16 Turkey 6 compare
- 16 Uzbekistan 6 compare
- 16 Venezuela 6 compare
- 16 Vietnam 6 compare
- 16 Yemen 6 compare
More reference data data for United Arab Emirates
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0407 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4839 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.6291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.6291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1364 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0486 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0008 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is civil liberties rating in United Arab Emirates?
- Civil liberties rating in United Arab Emirates was 6 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest civil liberties rating recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 6 in 2003.
- What is the lowest civil liberties rating recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 1972.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for civil liberties rating?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 16th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is civil liberties rating rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Civil liberties rating. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Identifies the extent of freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy. Lower ratings indicate more liberties.