Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 15.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Saudi Arabia, 1981–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 15.6% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2024.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Saudi Arabia peaked at 24.0% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.
Saudi Arabia ranks 55th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 14.7% | — |
| 1992 | 14.7% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 14.6% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 16.8% | +15.4% |
| 1995 | 16.8% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 15.3% | -9.5% |
| 1997 | 12.3% | -19.4% |
| 1998 | 24.0% | +95.0% |
| 1999 | 23.3% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | -23.5% |
| 2001 | 20.9% | +17.2% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 21.5% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 20.2% | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 19.3% | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 21.6% | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 15.8% | -17.7% |
| 2024 | 15.6% | -1.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 15.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.3× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 15.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 14.3%, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +95.0% | 12.3% | 24.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 16.9% | 12.3% | 24.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.2% | 17.8% | 21.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 15.7% | 15.6% | 15.8% | 2 |
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 expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Saudi Arabia?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Saudi Arabia was 15.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 1998.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 55th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (%) (UIS calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release