Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 46.9% 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
In 2024, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia stood at 46.9%. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Saudi Arabia peaked at 55.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 46.9%, in 2024.
Saudi Arabia ranks 120th of 149 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 | 55.9% | — |
| 2001 | 54.9% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 55.9% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 55.0% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 55.0% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 55.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 52.6% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 51.4% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 49.3% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 47.9% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 48.5% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 48.9% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 47.9% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 49.3% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 49.6% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 49.9% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 47.8% | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 50.2% | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 46.9% | -6.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 46.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.0%, 82% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 46.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 58.0%, 81% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.3% | 54.9% | 55.9% | 6 |
| 2010s | 49.4% | 47.9% | 52.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.7% | 46.9% | 50.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 117 Madagascar 48.6% compare
- 118 Cambodia 48.0% compare
- 119 San Marino 47.3% compare
- 121 Bangladesh 46.8% compare
- 122 Cameroon 46.7% compare
- 123 Côte d'Ivoire 45.3% 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 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 46.9% 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 55.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.9% in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 120th out of 149 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 3.2%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release