Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 … tertiary 5 both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 … tertiary 5 both sexes was 370,514 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1998–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 370,514 for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 252.7% on the previous year and up 141.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 370,514 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 24,605, in 1998.
That places Saudi Arabia 19th out of 149 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, ISCED 5 … tertiary 5 both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 24,605 | — |
| 1999 | 38,252 | +55.5% |
| 2000 | 47,916 | +25.3% |
| 2001 | 55,611 | +16.1% |
| 2002 | 58,092 | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 68,982 | +18.7% |
| 2004 | 79,159 | +14.8% |
| 2005 | 84,992 | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 93,968 | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 113,372 | +20.6% |
| 2008 | 120,175 | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 127,385 | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 127,148 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 115,396 | -9.2% |
| 2012 | 127,948 | +10.9% |
| 2013 | 153,119 | +19.7% |
| 2014 | 153,492 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 155,494 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 167,608 | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 203,449 | +21.4% |
| 2018 | 195,374 | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 256,004 | +31.0% |
| 2020 | 282,786 | +10.5% |
| 2021 | 328,988 | +16.3% |
| 2022 | 105,057 | -68.1% |
| 2024 | 370,514 | +252.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 370,514 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,736, 34.5× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 370,514 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 32,696, 11.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 … tertiary 5 both sexes in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +252.7% | 105,057 | 370,514 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31,428 | 24,605 | 38,252 | 2 |
| 2000s | 84,965 | 47,916 | 127,385 | 10 |
| 2010s | 165,503 | 115,396 | 256,004 | 10 |
| 2020s | 271,836 | 105,057 | 370,514 | 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, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 370,514 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 370,514 in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,605 in 1998.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 19th out of 149 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 141.4%. 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, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release