Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 27,470 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Saudi Arabia, 1979–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Saudi Arabia is 27,470, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 71.9% on the previous year and down 85.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Saudi Arabia peaked at 398,768 in 1979 and was at its lowest, 27,470, in 2024.
Saudi Arabia ranks 97th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 398,768 | — |
| 2013 | 299,739 | -24.8% |
| 2014 | 192,311 | -35.8% |
| 2015 | 139,294 | -27.6% |
| 2016 | 122,432 | -12.1% |
| 2020 | 79,406 | -35.1% |
| 2021 | 125,171 | +57.6% |
| 2022 | 97,877 | -21.8% |
| 2024 | 27,470 | -71.9% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 27,470 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6,064, 4.5× the median. (69 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 27,470 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 87,248, 31% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 398,768 | 398,768 | 398,768 | 1 |
| 2010s | 188,444 | 122,432 | 299,739 | 4 |
| 2020s | 82,481 | 27,470 | 125,171 | 4 |
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 out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Saudi Arabia?
- Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Saudi Arabia was 27,470 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 398,768 in 1979.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,470 in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 97th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.7%. 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, published as part of Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release