Secondary education, pupils in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Secondary education, pupils was 3.36 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Secondary education, pupils in Saudi Arabia, 1979–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils in Saudi Arabia is 3.36 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.40 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 296,340, in 1979.
That places Saudi Arabia 35th out of 206 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Secondary education, pupils in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 296,340 | — |
| 2005 | 2.61 million | +780.6% |
| 2007 | 2.83 million | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 3.00 million | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 2.48 million | -17.2% |
| 2014 | 2.58 million | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 2.65 million | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 2.70 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 2.73 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 2.74 million | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 2.71 million | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 2.78 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 2.85 million | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 3.40 million | +19.4% |
| 2024 | 3.36 million | -1.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.36 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 307,015, 11.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.36 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.03 million, 3.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Secondary education, pupils 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 | +780.6% | 296,340 | 2.61 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 296,340 | 296,340 | 296,340 | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.81 million | 2.61 million | 3.00 million | 3 |
| 2010s | 2.66 million | 2.48 million | 2.74 million | 7 |
| 2020s | 3.10 million | 2.78 million | 3.40 million | 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 secondary education, pupils in Saudi Arabia?
- Secondary education, pupils in Saudi Arabia was 3.36 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.40 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 296,340 in 1979.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for secondary education, pupils?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 35th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.