Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 11.97 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 11.97 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Saudi Arabia peaked at 11.97 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.87 years, in 1990.
That places Saudi Arabia 44th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.87 years | — |
| 1991 | 6.94 years | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 7 years | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 7.07 years | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 7.13 years | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 7.2 years | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 7.31 years | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 7.42 years | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 7.52 years | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 7.63 years | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 7.74 years | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 7.82 years | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 7.9 years | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 7.98 years | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 8.06 years | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 8.28 years | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 8.51 years | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 8.73 years | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 8.95 years | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 9.18 years | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 9.4 years | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 9.62 years | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 9.85 years | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 10.07 years | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 10.18 years | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 10.29 years | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 10.41 years | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 10.52 years | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 10.9 years | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 11.29 years | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 11.67 years | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 11.97 years | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 11.97 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.97 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.21 years | 6.87 years | 7.63 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.32 years | 7.74 years | 9.18 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.25 years | 9.4 years | 11.29 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.89 years | 11.67 years | 11.97 years | 4 |
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 average years of schooling, males vs. females in Saudi Arabia?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Saudi Arabia was 11.97 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.97 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.87 years in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 44th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.