Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 84.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Saudi Arabia stood at 84.6%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 64.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Saudi Arabia peaked at 84.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 27th out of 85 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 13.1% | — |
| 2000 | 20.7% | +57.3% |
| 2004 | 25.9% | +25.1% |
| 2013 | 51.4% | +98.8% |
| 2017 | 62.5% | +21.5% |
| 2020 | 81.2% | +29.9% |
| 2024 | 84.6% | +4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.1% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 23.3% | 20.7% | 25.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 56.9% | 51.4% | 62.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 82.9% | 81.2% | 84.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.36 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 19.42 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 244,652 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -2.16 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 20.66 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 18.25 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 430,399 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 77.4 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Saudi Arabia?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Saudi Arabia was 84.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 84.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 27th out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.6%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates of older vs. younger population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 65 years and older who can read and write.