School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) was 3.91 years in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.91 years
Change on year
up 11.4%
World rank
30th
of 196 countries
All-time high
3.91 years
in 2024
All-time low
0.1396 years
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2024
School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Saudi Arabia is 3.91 years, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.4% on the previous year and up 59.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.91 years in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1396 years, in 1971.
That places Saudi Arabia 30th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.1396 years | — |
| 1972 | 0.1449 years | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 0.1626 years | +12.2% |
| 1974 | 0.2 years | +23.0% |
| 1975 | 0.2498 years | +24.9% |
| 1976 | 0.315 years | +26.1% |
| 1977 | 0.3678 years | +16.8% |
| 1978 | 0.4653 years | +26.5% |
| 1979 | 0.473 years | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 0.4984 years | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 0.5573 years | +11.8% |
| 1982 | 0.5995 years | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 0.6587 years | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 0.6681 years | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 0.7471 years | +11.8% |
| 1986 | 0.7887 years | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 0.7697 years | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 0.7542 years | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 0.8163 years | +8.2% |
| 1991 | 0.8605 years | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 0.8734 years | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 0.9797 years | +12.2% |
| 1994 | 0.974 years | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 1.08 years | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 1.1 years | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 1.13 years | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 1.16 years | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.38 years | +18.4% |
| 2000 | 1.42 years | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 1.36 years | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 1.26 years | -7.8% |
| 2003 | 1.33 years | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 1.31 years | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 1.26 years | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 1.23 years | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 1.33 years | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 1.33 years | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 1.25 years | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 1.53 years | +22.1% |
| 2011 | 1.5 years | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 1.81 years | +20.6% |
| 2013 | 2.11 years | +16.5% |
| 2014 | 2.45 years | +16.3% |
| 2015 | 2.66 years | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 2.66 years | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 2.98 years | +11.8% |
| 2018 | 3.09 years | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 3.42 years | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 3.32 years | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.37 years | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.51 years | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 3.91 years | +11.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.91 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.58 years, 1.1× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.91 years is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.31 years, 1.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.2798 years | 0.1396 years | 0.473 years | 9 |
| 1980s | 0.6713 years | 0.4984 years | 0.7887 years | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.04 years | 0.8163 years | 1.38 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.31 years | 1.23 years | 1.42 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.42 years | 1.5 years | 3.42 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.53 years | 3.32 years | 3.91 years | 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 life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
- School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 3.91 years in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.91 years in 2024.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1396 years in 1971.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 30th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.3%. 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 life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release