Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 1.16 million number in 2017. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia is 1.16 million number, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.91 million number in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1.16 million number, in 2017.
That places Saudi Arabia 45th out of 87 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 2.91 million number | — |
| 2000 | 2.63 million number | -9.7% |
| 2004 | 2.59 million number | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 1.23 million number | -52.7% |
| 2017 | 1.16 million number | -5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.91 million number | 2.91 million number | 2.91 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.61 million number | 2.59 million number | 2.63 million number | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.19 million number | 1.16 million number | 1.23 million number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 242,375 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 26,900 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 215,559 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,840 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.36 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.45 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.53 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0976 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 1.16 million number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.91 million number in 1992.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.16 million number in 2017.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 45th out of 87 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.