Adult Literacy Rate in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Adult Literacy Rate was 97.93 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
97.93
World rank
18th
of 110 countries
All-time high
97.93
in 2024
All-time low
70.82
in 1992
Years of data
7
1992–2024
Adult Literacy Rate in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 97.93 for adult literacy rate in 2024. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 97.93 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 70.82, in 1992.
Saudi Arabia ranks 18th of 110 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Adult Literacy Rate in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 70.82 | — |
| 2000 | 79.35 | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 82.86 | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 94.43 | +14.0% |
| 2017 | 95.33 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 97.59 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 97.93 | +0.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 97.93 is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.47, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 97.93 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.42, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.82 | 70.82 | 70.82 | 1 |
| 2000s | 81.1 | 79.35 | 82.86 | 2 |
| 2010s | 94.88 | 94.43 | 95.33 | 2 |
| 2020s | 97.76 | 97.59 | 97.93 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 15 Philippines 98.47 compare
- 16 Bosnia and Herzegovina 98.3 compare
- 17 West Bank and Gaza 98 compare
- 19 Maldives 97.86 compare
- 20 Bahrain 97.82 compare
- 21 Qatar 97.75 compare
More gender data for Saudi Arabia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 8,519 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.7629 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 28,924 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 28,924 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.65 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 275,243 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 288,722 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 275,525 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 288,548 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 263,011 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate in Saudi Arabia?
- Adult literacy rate in Saudi Arabia was 97.93 in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 97.93 in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.82 in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for adult literacy rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 18th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult literacy rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Adult Literacy Rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on educational outcomes.