Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 2.01 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.01 million
Change on year
up 27.9%
World rank
26th
of 200 countries
All-time high
2.01 million
in 2024
All-time low
8,492
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia stood at 2.01 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 27.9% on the previous year and up 34.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.01 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8,492, in 1971.
That places Saudi Arabia 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 8,492 | — |
| 1972 | 9,471 | +11.5% |
| 1973 | 11,337 | +19.7% |
| 1974 | 14,882 | +31.3% |
| 1975 | 19,773 | +32.9% |
| 1976 | 26,437 | +33.7% |
| 1977 | 32,729 | +23.8% |
| 1978 | 43,897 | +34.1% |
| 1979 | 47,242 | +7.6% |
| 1980 | 52,610 | +11.4% |
| 1981 | 62,074 | +18.0% |
| 1982 | 70,657 | +13.8% |
| 1983 | 82,132 | +16.2% |
| 1984 | 87,821 | +6.9% |
| 1985 | 102,983 | +17.3% |
| 1986 | 113,529 | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 116,208 | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 123,848 | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 139,790 | +12.9% |
| 1991 | 153,967 | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 163,688 | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 192,625 | +17.7% |
| 1994 | 201,090 | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 233,710 | +16.2% |
| 1996 | 251,945 | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 273,992 | +8.8% |
| 1998 | 296,927 | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 371,522 | +25.1% |
| 2000 | 404,094 | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 432,348 | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 444,800 | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 525,344 | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 573,803 | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 603,771 | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 636,445 | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 674,412 | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 714,877 | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 757,770 | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 903,567 | +19.2% |
| 2011 | 1.02 million | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 1.21 million | +18.1% |
| 2013 | 1.36 million | +12.5% |
| 2014 | 1.50 million | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 1.53 million | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.62 million | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 1.68 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.62 million | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 1.65 million | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.60 million | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 1.57 million | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 1.57 million | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 2.01 million | +27.9% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2.01 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 12.6× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2.01 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 375,028, 5.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23,807 | 8,492 | 47,242 | 9 |
| 1980s | 90,207 | 52,610 | 123,848 | 9 |
| 1990s | 227,926 | 139,790 | 371,522 | 10 |
| 2000s | 576,766 | 404,094 | 757,770 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.41 million | 903,567 | 1.68 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.69 million | 1.57 million | 2.01 million | 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 enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 2.01 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.01 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,492 in 1971.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release