Literacy Rate: Saudi Arabia

Analysis# Saudi Arabia Literacy Rate Saudi Arabia's literacy rate reached 97.93% in 2024, matching its all-time peak and representing a dramatic 38.3-point improvement since 1992, when the rate stood at 70.82%. Over three decades, the nation transformed from a country where nearly 30% of the population lacked basic literacy skills to one approaching near-universal literacy. The steady upward trajectory reflects sustained investment in education and widespread access to schooling. The most significant gains occurred between 1992 and 2013, when the literacy rate jumped from 70.82% to 94.43%—a 23.6-point increase in just two decades. Growth moderated considerably after 2013, with improvements of only 3.5 percentage points across the following eleven years. The narrowing gains suggest Saudi Arabia has largely achieved its literacy expansion goals, with further increases constrained by the already-high baseline and the challenge of reaching remaining segments of the population.