Saudi women make strides

Saudi Arabia has witnessed advancements in the education, employment, and health of its female population. The Saudi Arabia General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) highlights the numbers in the Saudi Women’s Report 2022. The report highlights significant steps towards gender equality. The data comes from surveys conducted by GASTAT and administrative data released by other official bodies. The data assesses Saudi women 15 years and older. 

Academia

The agency reported an increase in the percentage of women pursuing higher education, with female enrollment in universities rising 30.8 percent compared to the previous year. Vision 2030 prioritizes education as a pillar in the empowerment and economic involvement of women. As of 2022, nearly half of higher education students in Saudi were women. 

Economic participation

Moreover, GASTAT’s data reflects the positive impact of education on female employment. The report indicates that the female labor force participation rate has risen to 32.6 percent, showcasing a substantial 8.6 percent increase compared to last year. In 2021, the count of freelance certificates granted to women reached 961,189, a significant rise from the 105,518 issued in 2020.

Read more: Significant increase, integration of women in GCC workforce

Numbers also show that the unemployment rate among Saudi women is now at 15.4 percent. Statistics also show that women are taking up more space in the stock market. The number of Saudi women investors rose above 1.5 million, higher than the past two years. 

Fitness

Women’s health is key to their healthy participation in the society and economy. The report reveals that in 2021, 38.7 percent of young women aged 15 and above were involved in physical activity for at least 30 minutes per week. Among different age groups, those aged 20-24 had the highest engagement in physical activity, with 43.13 percent, followed by the 25-29 age group with 42.88 percent.

Medical

Healthcare is another sector where Saudi women have seen significant improvements. The nation’s strides in healthcare have resulted in a notable increase in life expectancy for women. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, the average life expectancy for women has now reached 78 years. This accomplishment underscores the commitment of the country’s healthcare system to ensuring the well-being and longevity of its female citizens.

For more news on Saudi Arabia, click here.