School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: School enrollment, primary (% gross) was 104.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat
School enrollment, primary in Saudi Arabia, 1979–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
In 2024, school enrollment, primary in Saudi Arabia stood at 104.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Saudi Arabia peaked at 129.3% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 91.9%, in 1979.
That places Saudi Arabia 67th out of 205 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 91.9% | — |
| 2005 | 115.5% | +25.7% |
| 2007 | 120.9% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 123.5% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 125.8% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 128.1% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 128.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 129.3% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 99.4% | -23.2% |
| 2014 | 100.8% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 101.6% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 103.4% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 106.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 105.8% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 102.7% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 103.2% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 100.9% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 102.1% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 104.0% | +1.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 104.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 99.8%, 1.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 104.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 97.6%, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School enrollment, primary (% gross) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +25.7% | 91.9% | 115.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 91.9% | 91.9% | 91.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 121.4% | 115.5% | 125.8% | 4 |
| 2010s | 110.6% | 99.4% | 129.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 102.5% | 100.9% | 104.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
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 school enrollment, primary in Saudi Arabia?
- School enrollment, primary in Saudi Arabia was 104.0% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 129.3% in 2012.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 91.9% in 1979.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 67th out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.