Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 4.91 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia stood at 4.91 million. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 4.91 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.93 million, in 2012.
That places Saudi Arabia 47th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4.12 million | — |
| 2005 | 4.15 million | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 4.13 million | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.09 million | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 4.04 million | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 4.00 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 3.96 million | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 3.93 million | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 3.93 million | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.95 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 4.01 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 4.10 million | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 4.23 million | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 4.33 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 4.39 million | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 4.41 million | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 4.56 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 4.62 million | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 4.71 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 4.82 million | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 4.91 million | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.09 million | 4.00 million | 4.15 million | 6 |
| 2010s | 4.12 million | 3.93 million | 4.41 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.72 million | 4.56 million | 4.91 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.45 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.53 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0976 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.69 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 4.91 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.91 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.93 million in 2012.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 47th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release