GASTAT Reports That 82.4% Of Children In Saudi Arabia Are On Track For Healthy Development By 2025

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released the Early Childhood Development and Child Well-being Statistics for 2025. The findings reveal that 82.4% of children aged 24–59 months are progressing well in health, learning, and psychosocial areas, according to the Early Childhood Development Index 2023 (ECDI2030). This data is crucial for understanding early childhood development in Saudi Arabia.

Among children aged 36–59 months, 90% experience a positive home learning environment. This includes 90.1% of girls and 89.8% of boys. Additionally, book ownership statistics show that 31% of children under five own one to two books, while 9.2% have three or more books.

The data highlights gender differences in early childhood development. It shows that 83.2% of girls are on track compared to 81.6% of boys. Furthermore, participation in organized learning for five-year-olds stands at 73%, with girls at 74.5% and boys at 71.5%. These figures underscore the importance of addressing gender disparities in early education.

Enrollment in early childhood education programs for children aged 36–59 months is at 17.3%. The rate is slightly higher among girls at 18.2%, compared to boys at 16.5%. These statistics emphasize the need for increased access to early education programs.

The survey also examined digital device usage among children aged five to seven years old. It found that 35.1% use digital devices for one to two hours daily, while 28.8% use them for less than an hour each day. Understanding these patterns can help guide policies on children's screen time.

The Early Childhood Development and Child Well-being Statistics rely on data from the Women and Child Health Survey conducted in 2025 and administrative records from the Ministry of Education for the academic year 2024–2025. These statistics are vital indicators used to support national policies aimed at enhancing children's quality of life during their formative years.

This comprehensive data serves as a foundation for improving early childhood development strategies across Saudi Arabia, ensuring that all children have access to supportive environments conducive to their growth and learning.

With inputs from SPA