Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 97.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
97.7%
World rank
28th
of 87 countries
All-time high
98.0%
in 2020
All-time low
67.1%
in 1992
Years of data
7
1992–2024
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 97.7% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 98.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 67.1%, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 28th out of 87 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 67.1% | — |
| 2000 | 76.3% | +13.8% |
| 2004 | 81.0% | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 95.2% | +17.5% |
| 2017 | 96.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 98.0% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 97.7% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.1% | 67.1% | 67.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 78.7% | 76.3% | 81.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 95.7% | 95.2% | 96.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 97.9% | 97.7% | 98.0% | 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 literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 97.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 98.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.1% in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 28th out of 87 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release