Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education was 9 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
9
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
43rd
of 73 countries
All-time high
9
in 2004
All-time low
9
in 2004
Years of data
22
2004–2025
Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia stood at 9. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia peaked at 9 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 9, in 2004.
That places Saudi Arabia 43rd out of 73 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 9 | — |
| 2005 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 9 | +0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 9 is below the median for high income countries, which is 10, 90% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 9 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.5, 95% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 2010s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 43 Kuwait 9 compare
- 43 Tunisia 9 compare
- 43 Republic of Moldova 9 compare
- 43 Sweden 9 compare
- 43 Cyprus 9 compare
- 43 Greece 9 compare
- 43 Bulgaria 9 compare
- 43 Kazakhstan 9 compare
- 43 Estonia 9 compare
- 43 Yemen 9 compare
- 43 Montenegro 9 compare
- 43 Syrian Arab Republic 9 compare
- 43 Georgia 9 compare
- 43 Iran, Islamic Republic of 9 compare
- 43 Azerbaijan 9 compare
- 43 Morocco 9 compare
- 43 Czechia 9 compare
- 43 Libya 9 compare
- 43 Bahrain 9 compare
- 43 Kyrgyzstan 9 compare
- 43 Latvia 9 compare
- 43 Tajikistan 9 compare
- 43 Slovenia 9 compare
- 43 Albania 9 compare
- 43 Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia?
- Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia was 9 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2004.
- What is the lowest number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9 in 2004.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 43rd out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education guaranteed in legal frameworks. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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