Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 93.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia is 93.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia peaked at 99.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 93.4%, in 2022.
Saudi Arabia ranks 24th of 155 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 99.9% | — |
| 2001 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 99.7% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 97.0% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 97.0% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 97.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 96.1% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 95.6% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 95.1% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 94.5% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 95.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 94.8% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 94.5% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 94.9% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 95.2% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 95.5% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 94.5% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 94.7% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 93.4% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 93.6% | +0.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 93.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 80.5%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 93.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 76.9%, 1.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.4% | 97.0% | 99.9% | 6 |
| 2010s | 95.1% | 94.5% | 96.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 94.1% | 93.4% | 94.7% | 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 percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia?
- Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia was 93.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 99.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 93.4% in 2022.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 24th out of 155 countries with data for 2024.
- Is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release