School-age population (pre-primary level) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: School-age population (pre-primary level) was 1.59 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
School-age population in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school-age population in Saudi Arabia is 1.59 million, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school-age population in Saudi Arabia peaked at 1.71 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 230,644, in 1970.
That places Saudi Arabia 10th out of 72 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School-age population (pre-primary level) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 230,644 | — |
| 1971 | 240,378 | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 251,099 | +4.5% |
| 1973 | 262,319 | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 274,162 | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 287,538 | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 302,403 | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 319,360 | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 338,189 | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 358,300 | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 380,084 | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 403,696 | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 429,782 | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 458,450 | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 489,197 | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 519,880 | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 550,243 | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 582,248 | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 615,107 | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 647,906 | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 679,160 | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 706,453 | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 730,355 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 751,888 | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 769,523 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 783,770 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 797,297 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 810,220 | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 1.24 million | +53.4% |
| 1999 | 1.26 million | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 1.27 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 1.29 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1.30 million | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 1.29 million | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 1.29 million | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 1.29 million | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.30 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.33 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 1.35 million | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.38 million | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 1.42 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 1.44 million | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 1.48 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 1.52 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 1.56 million | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 1.60 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 1.64 million | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 1.66 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 1.66 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.66 million | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.71 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 1.70 million | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 1.68 million | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.63 million | -2.9% |
| 2025 | 1.59 million | -2.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1.59 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 182,828, 8.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1.59 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 417,816, 3.8× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School-age population (pre-primary level) in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +53.4% | 810,220 | 1.24 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 286,439 | 230,644 | 358,300 | 10 |
| 1980s | 507,659 | 380,084 | 647,906 | 10 |
| 1990s | 853,150 | 679,160 | 1.26 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.31 million | 1.27 million | 1.38 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.56 million | 1.42 million | 1.66 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.66 million | 1.59 million | 1.71 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.72 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.47 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school-age population in Saudi Arabia?
- School-age population in Saudi Arabia was 1.59 million in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest school-age population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.71 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest school-age population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 230,644 in 1970.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for school-age population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 10th out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school-age population rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of School-age population (pre-primary level). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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