Literacy rates among adults in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Literacy rates among adults was 97.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults 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 among adults in Saudi Arabia stood at 97.9%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Saudi Arabia peaked at 97.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 70.8%, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 18th out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 70.8% | — |
| 2000 | 79.3% | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 82.9% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 94.4% | +14.0% |
| 2017 | 95.3% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 97.6% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 97.9% | +0.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 97.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 97.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.4%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.8% | 70.8% | 70.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 81.1% | 79.3% | 82.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 94.9% | 94.4% | 95.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 97.8% | 97.6% | 97.9% | 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 rates among adults in Saudi Arabia?
- Literacy rates among adults in Saudi Arabia was 97.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 97.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.8% in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 18th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.