Government expenditure on education, US$ in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Government expenditure on education, US$ was 26,706 millions in 2008. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, US$ in Saudi Arabia, 1981–2008
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2008, government expenditure on education, us$ in Saudi Arabia stood at 26,706 millions. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 20.3% on the previous year and up 119.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, us$ in Saudi Arabia peaked at 26,706 millions in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6,401 millions, in 1981.
That places Saudi Arabia 26th out of 181 countries with data for 2008, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, US$ in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 6,401 millions | — |
| 1982 | 7,634 millions | +19.3% |
| 1983 | 9,161 millions | +20.0% |
| 1984 | 7,892 millions | -13.9% |
| 1986 | 6,499 millions | -17.6% |
| 1991 | 6,798 millions | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 6,802 millions | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 8,224 millions | +20.9% |
| 1994 | 8,435 millions | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 7,695 millions | -8.8% |
| 1996 | 7,087 millions | -7.9% |
| 1997 | 7,264 millions | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 12,155 millions | +67.3% |
| 1999 | 11,437 millions | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 11,200 millions | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 14,213 millions | +26.9% |
| 2002 | 14,480 millions | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 15,333 millions | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 16,242 millions | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 17,838 millions | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 22,204 millions | +24.5% |
| 2008 | 26,706 millions | +20.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7,517 millions | 6,401 millions | 9,161 millions | 5 |
| 1990s | 8,433 millions | 6,798 millions | 12,155 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 17,277 millions | 11,200 millions | 26,706 millions | 8 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, us$ in Saudi Arabia?
- Government expenditure on education, us$ in Saudi Arabia was 26,706 millions in 2008, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 26,706 millions in 2008.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,401 millions in 1981.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for government expenditure on education, us$?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 26th out of 181 countries with data for 2008.
- Is government expenditure on education, us$ rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 119.7%. 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, published as part of Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release