Arab World vs Saudi Arabia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

Arab World
11.44 million number
in 2019
Saudi Arabia
1.65 million number
in 2019
Arab World rank
30th
Saudi Arabia rank
28th

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

  • Arab World
  • Saudi Arabia
02.5M5.0M7.5M10.0M12.5M197019942019

How they compare

Arab World currently reports 11.44 million number against 1.65 million number in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 9.79 million number.

That makes Arab World's figure about 6.9 times Saudi Arabia's.

Across all 48 years both countries report, Arab World has been ahead every year.

Arab World ranks 30th and Saudi Arabia ranks 28th of 43 groups.

Arab World has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Arab World Saudi Arabia Difference Ahead
1970s 1.10 million number 23,807 number 1.07 million number Arab World
1980s 2.00 million number 90,207 number 1.91 million number Arab World
1990s 3.35 million number 227,926 number 3.12 million number Arab World
2000s 6.68 million number 576,766 number 6.11 million number Arab World
2010s 10.24 million number 1.41 million number 8.83 million number Arab World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, Arab World or Saudi Arabia?
Arab World, at 11.44 million number against 1.65 million number in Saudi Arabia as of 2019.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Arab World and Saudi Arabia?
9.79 million number, with Arab World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Arab World and Saudi Arabia?
48 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2019.
How do Arab World and Saudi Arabia rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Arab World ranks 30th and Saudi Arabia ranks 28th of 43 groups.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Arab World vs Saudi Arabia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/arab-world/saudi-arabia/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.