Average years of schooling in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Average years of schooling was 11.31 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Saudi Arabia, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 11.31 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 33.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Saudi Arabia peaked at 11.31 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
Saudi Arabia ranks 53rd of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.2063 years | +106.3% |
| 1925 | 0.4127 years | +100.0% |
| 1929 | 1.22 years | +195.8% |
| 1933 | 1.55 years | +26.8% |
| 1938 | 1.81 years | +16.7% |
| 1950 | 2.75 years | +52.4% |
| 1955 | 2.87 years | +4.3% |
| 1960 | 2.99 years | +4.2% |
| 1965 | 3.21 years | +7.5% |
| 1970 | 3.26 years | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 3.81 years | +16.8% |
| 1980 | 4.38 years | +14.9% |
| 1985 | 5.27 years | +20.3% |
| 1990 | 5.91 years | +12.3% |
| 1995 | 6.36 years | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 7.06 years | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 7.65 years | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 8.48 years | +10.8% |
| 2015 | 9.63 years | +13.6% |
| 2020 | 11.31 years | +17.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.2063 years | 0.2063 years | 0.2063 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.8167 years | 0.4127 years | 1.22 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.68 years | 1.55 years | 1.81 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.81 years | 2.75 years | 2.87 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.1 years | 2.99 years | 3.21 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.53 years | 3.26 years | 3.81 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.82 years | 4.38 years | 5.27 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.14 years | 5.91 years | 6.36 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.35 years | 7.06 years | 7.65 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.05 years | 8.48 years | 9.63 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.31 years | 11.31 years | 11.31 years | 1 |
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 average years of schooling in Saudi Arabia?
- Average years of schooling in Saudi Arabia was 11.31 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.31 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for average years of schooling?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 53rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.