Literacy rate, youth total in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Literacy rate, youth total was 99.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth total in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15-24.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rate, youth total in Saudi Arabia stood at 99.9%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth total in Saudi Arabia peaked at 99.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 87.9%, in 1992.
Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd of 95 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Literacy rate, youth total in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 87.9% | — |
| 2000 | 95.9% | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 95.8% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 99.2% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 99.3% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 99.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 99.9% | +0.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 99.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 99.6%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 99.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 98.7%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 87.9% | 87.9% | 87.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 95.9% | 95.8% | 95.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 99.3% | 99.2% | 99.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 99.7% | 99.5% | 99.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 1 Uzbekistan 100.0% compare
- 2 Armenia 99.9% compare
- 2 Singapore 99.9% compare
- 5 Azerbaijan 99.9% 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 literacy rate, youth total in Saudi Arabia?
- Literacy rate, youth total in Saudi Arabia was 99.9% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 99.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 87.9% in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for literacy rate, youth total?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd out of 95 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, youth total rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.