Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 83.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia is 83.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.7% on the previous year and up 57.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 83.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1971.
That places Saudi Arabia 22nd out of 194 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.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.8% | — |
| 1972 | 2.9% | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 3.3% | +12.2% |
| 1974 | 4.0% | +23.0% |
| 1975 | 5.0% | +24.9% |
| 1976 | 6.3% | +26.1% |
| 1977 | 7.4% | +16.8% |
| 1978 | 9.3% | +26.5% |
| 1979 | 9.5% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 10.0% | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 11.1% | +11.8% |
| 1982 | 12.0% | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 13.2% | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 13.4% | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 14.9% | +11.8% |
| 1986 | 15.8% | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 15.4% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 15.1% | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 16.3% | +8.2% |
| 1991 | 17.2% | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 17.5% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 19.6% | +12.2% |
| 1994 | 19.5% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 21.5% | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 22.0% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 22.7% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 23.3% | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 27.5% | +18.4% |
| 2000 | 28.4% | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 27.2% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 25.1% | -7.8% |
| 2003 | 26.6% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 26.3% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 25.2% | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 24.5% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 24.3% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 24.5% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 25.0% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 29.3% | +17.1% |
| 2011 | 28.9% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 36.0% | +24.5% |
| 2013 | 43.2% | +19.8% |
| 2014 | 53.2% | +23.2% |
| 2015 | 57.1% | +7.4% |
| 2016 | 64.0% | +12.1% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | +10.6% |
| 2018 | 73.2% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 78.0% | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 73.8% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 74.4% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 73.7% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 83.9% | +13.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.6% | 2.8% | 9.5% | 9 |
| 1980s | 13.4% | 10.0% | 15.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 20.7% | 16.3% | 27.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 24.3% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.4% | 28.9% | 78.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.4% | 73.7% | 83.9% | 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 gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 83.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 83.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1971.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 22nd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.7%. 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 Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release