Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 2.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia stood at 2.6%.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 26.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2015.
Saudi Arabia ranks 118th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.9% | — |
| 2001 | 23.9% | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 20.0% | -16.3% |
| 2003 | 15.7% | -21.5% |
| 2004 | 11.8% | -24.8% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | -22.9% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | -20.9% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | -19.4% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -15.5% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | -12.2% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | -10.5% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | -14.7% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -17.2% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -12.5% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +20.0% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | +16.7% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +14.3% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +9.4% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -9.1% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | -10.0% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.1%, 2.5× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.8%, 45% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.0% | 4.3% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 1.9% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.6% | 3.5% | 6 |
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 rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 2.6% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2015.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 118th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. 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 rate for children of primary school age, both sexes (modelled data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release