Education Spending: Saudi Arabia

Analysis# Saudi Arabia Education Spending Saudi Arabia allocated 4.481% of its GDP to education in 2023, down significantly from its peak of 8.281% in 1998. The country's education spending has declined 15.2% since 1981, when it reached its lowest point of 3.89% of GDP. Current spending levels represent a substantial retreat from the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the nation consistently committed over 5% of GDP annually to the education sector. A dramatic decline began around 2001, when spending dropped from 7.719% to 5.91% by 2002. This downward trajectory accelerated through the 2000s and 2010s, with spending falling below 5% by 2008 and continuing to erode through 2023. The recent data suggests education's share of Saudi Arabia's budget priorities has contracted considerably, potentially reflecting shifting fiscal priorities or economic adjustments over the past two decades.