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
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 2.01 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in 2024. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.2% on the previous year and up 34.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.01 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8,492, in 1971.
Saudi Arabia ranks 26th of 200 countries on this measure, 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% |
| 1988 | 120,028 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 123,848 | +3.2% |
| 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% |
| 2023 | 1.79 million | +13.9% |
| 2024 | 2.01 million | +12.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23,807 | 8,492 | 47,242 | 9 |
| 1980s | 93,189 | 52,610 | 123,848 | 10 |
| 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 | 1.71 million | 1.57 million | 2.01 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 18.25 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 430,399 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 77.4 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -0.0795 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 143,804 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 100,848 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 944,740 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.4 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.07 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Saudi Arabia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Saudi Arabia was 2.01 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 (number) 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 (number)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.