GASTAT Reports High Development Rates For Children Aged 24–59 Months In Saudi Arabia

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has published the Early Childhood Development and Child Well-Being Statistics Bulletin for 2024. It reveals that 82.33% of children aged 24-59 months are progressing well in health, learning, and psychosocial aspects. The bulletin also highlights various statistics related to early childhood education and home environments.

Among children aged 36–59 months, only 9.54% are enrolled in early childhood education programs. Within this group, boys account for 10.68%, while girls make up 8.35%. Participation in organized learning, one year before starting primary school, is at 64.03%. This figure is higher for Saudi girls aged five, reaching 65.58% compared to other groups.

A supportive home environment plays a crucial role in early childhood development. For children aged 36–59 months, a positive setting involves parents or guardians engaging them in activities like reading, storytelling, singing, outdoor play, and drawing. The report shows that 82.9% of children live in such environments, with girls slightly ahead at 83.4% compared to boys at 82.42%.

Ownership of children's books is another factor considered in the bulletin. It notes that 33.4% of children under five have one or two children's books at home. Additionally, the use of digital devices is widespread among older children; about 90.58% of those aged between five and seven use digital gadgets daily.

Early childhood development encompasses various dimensions including motor skills, cognitive abilities, language acquisition, social interactions, emotional growth, and self-regulation skills. These areas develop gradually during the initial years of a child's life.

The GASTAT bulletin underscores the importance of these developmental aspects by providing detailed statistics on how children are faring across different parameters of well-being and education.

This comprehensive data serves as a valuable resource for understanding the current state of early childhood development in Saudi Arabia and highlights areas where improvements can be made to support young children's growth effectively.

With inputs from SPA