Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 99.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Saudi Arabia, 1979–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Saudi Arabia stood at 99.7%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Saudi Arabia peaked at 99.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 50.4%, in 1979.
Saudi Arabia ranks 8th of 190 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 50.4% | — |
| 2013 | 95.3% | +89.1% |
| 2014 | 96.7% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 98.6% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 98.5% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 97.2% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 97.3% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 99.7% | +2.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 99.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.4%, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 99.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 96.2%, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50.4% | 50.4% | 50.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 96.9% | 95.3% | 98.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 98.2% | 97.2% | 99.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 5 United Arab Emirates 99.9% compare
- 6 Switzerland 99.9% compare
- 7 United Kingdom 99.7% compare
- 9 Cyprus 99.7% compare
- 10 Netherlands 99.6% compare
- 11 Luxembourg 99.6% compare
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 gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Saudi Arabia?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Saudi Arabia was 99.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 99.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.4% in 1979.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 8th out of 190 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.