Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 96.2% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
96.2%
World rank
32nd
of 83 countries
All-time high
96.2%
in 2017
All-time low
67.1%
in 1992
Years of data
5
1992–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2017

0204060801001992200420171992: 67.1 %2000: 76.3 %2004: 81 %2013: 95.2 %2017: 96.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia recorded 96.2% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2017. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of up 18.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia peaked at 96.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 67.1%, in 1992.

That places Saudi Arabia 32nd out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Saudi Arabia, 1992 to 2017.
Year % Change
1992 67.1%
2000 76.3% +13.8%
2004 81.0% +6.2%
2013 95.2% +17.5%
2017 96.2% +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 67.1% 67.1% 67.1% 1
2000s 78.7% 76.3% 81.0% 2
2010s 95.7% 95.2% 96.2% 2

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 29 Mexico 96.5% compare
  2. 30 Panama 96.3% compare
  3. 31 Kuwait 96.3% compare
  4. 33 Oman 96.0% compare
  5. 34 Malta 95.9% compare
  6. 35 Colombia 95.8% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia was 96.2% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 96.2% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 67.1% in 1992.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Saudi Arabia ranks 32nd out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/saudi-arabia/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.