Saudi Arabia’s Female Literacy Rate Rises from 57% in 1992 to 96% in 2020

Riyadh, October 5 — Saudi Arabia has achieved one of the most significant educational transformations in the Arab world, with female literacy rising from about 57% in 1992 to 96% in 2020, according to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the World Bank. The sharp rise reflects decades of investment in girls’ education and policy reforms aligned with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of social inclusion and economic diversification, according to details available with The Chenab Times.

In 1992, UNESCO placed Saudi Arabia’s female literacy rate at 57.3%, compared to 71% for men, revealing a gender gap of nearly 14 percentage points. At that time, girls’ education remained limited, especially in rural areas, and schooling opportunities were largely restricted by social norms.

By 2020, female literacy had reached 96%, nearly matching the male rate of 98%, bringing overall national literacy to about 97.6%. The 39-point increase over 28 years underscores the impact of sustained education reforms launched since the 1990s and accelerated under Vision 2030, which links women’s education directly to workforce participation and national growth.

The foundation for this progress dates back to 1960, when the government established the General Presidency for Girls’ Education, later merged with the Ministry of Education in 2002 to unify the system. Subsequent reforms expanded access to primary and secondary education for girls, with World Bank data showing female enrollment in primary education exceeding 90% by the late 2000s.

Under King Abdullah’s education initiatives in the 2000s and later through Vision 2030, the government prioritised infrastructure, curriculum modernisation, and teacher training. These policies, combined with a growing emphasis on science and technology, helped bridge gender disparities in literacy and learning outcomes.

Women now form a majority of university students nationwide, with increasing participation in professional fields such as medicine, pharmacy, and engineering. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, female labour force participation rose from around 19% in 2016 to over 35% by 2022 — a shift strongly linked to educational advancement.

Despite these gains, challenges persist in remote regions, where literacy rates remain slightly below national averages. Early school dropouts and child marriage, though declining, still affect a small segment of rural girls. To bridge these gaps, the government continues to promote adult literacy programmes and flexible learning initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital platforms such as Madrasati played a key role in maintaining learning continuity.

Saudi Arabia now ranks among the regional leaders in female education within the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside Qatar and the UAE, both of which report near-universal literacy. The country’s progress aligns closely with UNESCO’s Education for All framework, which aims to eliminate gender disparities in literacy.

While Vision 2030 targets a near-universal national literacy rate by the end of the decade, education authorities have emphasised that future priorities will focus on quality, digital integration, and inclusivity in rural education.

Saudi Arabia’s journey from 57% to 96% female literacy stands as one of the most comprehensive social reforms in its modern history — a measure not only of expanding educational opportunity but of a society in transition toward greater equity and participation.

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