School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: School age population, tertiary education, both sexes was 2.49 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.49 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
52nd
of 221 countries
All-time high
3.53 million
in 2011
All-time low
287,705
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2025
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia is 2.49 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.53 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 287,705, in 1970.
Saudi Arabia ranks 52nd of 221 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 287,705 | — |
| 1971 | 304,158 | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 326,699 | +7.4% |
| 1973 | 348,650 | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 371,978 | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 395,731 | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 419,624 | +6.0% |
| 1977 | 444,937 | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 471,709 | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 499,420 | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 527,791 | +5.7% |
| 1981 | 556,903 | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 589,261 | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 623,457 | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 657,246 | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 689,182 | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 719,684 | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 754,912 | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 790,407 | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 821,056 | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 856,228 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 894,638 | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 937,075 | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 983,039 | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 1.03 million | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 1.09 million | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 1.14 million | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 1.21 million | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 1.28 million | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 1.35 million | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 1.42 million | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 1.59 million | +11.5% |
| 2002 | 1.77 million | +11.6% |
| 2003 | 1.97 million | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 2.18 million | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 2.40 million | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 2.60 million | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 2.78 million | +6.9% |
| 2008 | 2.92 million | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 3.03 million | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 3.08 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 3.53 million | +14.5% |
| 2012 | 3.35 million | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 3.14 million | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 2.92 million | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 2.70 million | -7.6% |
| 2016 | 2.51 million | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 2.32 million | -7.6% |
| 2018 | 2.17 million | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 2.08 million | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 2.14 million | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 2.11 million | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 2.13 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 2.38 million | +11.8% |
| 2025 | 2.49 million | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 387,061 | 287,705 | 499,420 | 10 |
| 1980s | 672,990 | 527,791 | 821,056 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.08 million | 856,228 | 1.35 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.27 million | 1.42 million | 3.03 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.78 million | 2.08 million | 3.53 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.25 million | 2.11 million | 2.49 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 244,652 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 2.49 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.53 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 287,705 in 1970.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 52nd out of 221 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. 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 School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release