School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes was 1.49 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.49 million
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
52nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.66 million
in 2011
All-time low
204,500
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2025
School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia stood at 1.49 million.
The figure is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 1.66 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 204,500, in 1970.
Saudi Arabia ranks 52nd of 220 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, upper secondary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 204,500 | — |
| 1971 | 215,048 | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 226,324 | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 238,330 | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 250,726 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 263,512 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 276,517 | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 290,256 | +5.0% |
| 1978 | 304,578 | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 319,642 | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 335,461 | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 351,838 | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 369,480 | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 388,013 | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 407,017 | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 426,187 | +4.7% |
| 1986 | 446,217 | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 469,728 | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 495,918 | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 522,382 | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 552,494 | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 584,676 | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 619,675 | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 657,546 | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 698,695 | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 743,299 | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 789,105 | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 835,527 | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 882,435 | +5.6% |
| 1999 | 930,741 | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 980,097 | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 1.10 million | +12.6% |
| 2002 | 1.23 million | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 1.34 million | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 1.44 million | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 1.53 million | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 1.59 million | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 1.62 million | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 1.62 million | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 1.60 million | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 1.56 million | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 1.66 million | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 1.51 million | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 1.40 million | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 1.33 million | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 1.30 million | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 1.28 million | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 1.26 million | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 1.25 million | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 1.25 million | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 1.29 million | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 1.31 million | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 1.35 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 1.41 million | +4.8% |
| 2025 | 1.49 million | +5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 258,943 | 204,500 | 319,642 | 10 |
| 1980s | 421,224 | 335,461 | 522,382 | 10 |
| 1990s | 729,419 | 552,494 | 930,741 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.40 million | 980,097 | 1.62 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.38 million | 1.25 million | 1.66 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.37 million | 1.29 million | 1.49 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -0.0795 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 143,804 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 100,848 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 944,740 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.4 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -4.23 % change on previous year (2022)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 1.49 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.66 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 204,500 in 1970.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 52nd out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. 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, upper secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release