Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 1.65 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
1.65 million number
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
28th
of 193 countries
All-time high
1.68 million number
in 2017
All-time low
8,492 number
in 1971
Years of data
48
1971–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia stood at 1.65 million number.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 118.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 1.68 million number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 8,492 number, in 1971.
Saudi Arabia ranks 28th of 193 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 in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 8,492 number | — |
| 1972 | 9,471 number | +11.5% |
| 1973 | 11,337 number | +19.7% |
| 1974 | 14,882 number | +31.3% |
| 1975 | 19,773 number | +32.9% |
| 1976 | 26,437 number | +33.7% |
| 1977 | 32,729 number | +23.8% |
| 1978 | 43,897 number | +34.1% |
| 1979 | 47,242 number | +7.6% |
| 1980 | 52,610 number | +11.4% |
| 1981 | 62,074 number | +18.0% |
| 1982 | 70,657 number | +13.8% |
| 1983 | 82,132 number | +16.2% |
| 1984 | 87,821 number | +6.9% |
| 1985 | 102,983 number | +17.3% |
| 1986 | 113,529 number | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 116,208 number | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 123,848 number | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 139,790 number | +12.9% |
| 1991 | 153,967 number | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 163,688 number | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 192,625 number | +17.7% |
| 1994 | 201,090 number | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 233,710 number | +16.2% |
| 1996 | 251,945 number | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 273,992 number | +8.8% |
| 1998 | 296,927 number | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 371,522 number | +25.1% |
| 2000 | 404,094 number | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 432,348 number | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 444,800 number | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 525,344 number | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 573,803 number | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 603,771 number | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 636,445 number | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 674,412 number | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 714,877 number | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 757,770 number | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 903,567 number | +19.2% |
| 2011 | 1.02 million number | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 1.21 million number | +18.1% |
| 2013 | 1.36 million number | +12.5% |
| 2014 | 1.50 million number | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 1.53 million number | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.62 million number | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 1.68 million number | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.62 million number | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 1.65 million number | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23,807 number | 8,492 number | 47,242 number | 9 |
| 1980s | 90,207 number | 52,610 number | 123,848 number | 9 |
| 1990s | 227,926 number | 139,790 number | 371,522 number | 10 |
| 2000s | 576,766 number | 404,094 number | 757,770 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.41 million number | 903,567 number | 1.68 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 244,652 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 73.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 23.6% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
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 1.65 million number in 2019, 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 1.68 million number in 2017.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,492 number in 1971.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 28th out of 193 countries with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 118.1%. 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
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.