Comparison

Indonesia vs Saudi Arabia

Side-by-side comparison of how these places approach childhood.

At a glance

Indonesia

In Bali, a baby's feet don't touch the ground for 105 days โ€” children join temple ceremonies from infancy.

Across the archipelago's 17,000 islands, childhood rituals vary dramatically โ€” but communal child-rearing and spiritual milestones are universal threads.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, gender-segregated education begins at age 7 โ€” boys and girls in separate schools.

Gender separation in schooling reflects deeply rooted cultural and religious norms, though Vision 2030 reforms are rapidly modernizing curriculum content and teaching methods.

Indicators side by side
Under-5 mortality rate
21.4
Indonesia
6.6
Saudi Arabia
per 1,000
Education spending (% of GDP)
3.5%
Indonesia
5.6%
Saudi Arabia
%
Child poverty rate
23.5%
Indonesia
n/a
Saudi Arabia
%
Corporal punishment
Not fully banned
Indonesia
Not fully banned
Saudi Arabia
Childcare enrollment (0-2)
4%
Indonesia
8%
Saudi Arabia
%
Paid parental leave
13 wk
Indonesia
10 wk
Saudi Arabia
weeks
Child stunting rate
21.6%
Indonesia
4.9%
Saudi Arabia
%
Immunization (DPT3)
80%
Indonesia
98%
Saudi Arabia
%
Adolescent birth rate
36.0
Indonesia
7.2
Saudi Arabia
per 1,000
PISA average score
379
Indonesia
389
Saudi Arabia
points
Secondary completion rate
62%
Indonesia
83%
Saudi Arabia
%
Early childhood education enrollment
62%
Indonesia
23%
Saudi Arabia
%
Birth registration rate
77%
Indonesia
94%
Saudi Arabia
%
Child labor rate
7.0%
Indonesia
2%
Saudi Arabia
%
Child benefit spending (% of GDP)
0.2%
Indonesia
0.5%
Saudi Arabia
% of GDP
How they compare
Child independence expectations
Indonesia
Saudi Arabia
Low High
Structured enrichment emphasis
Indonesia
Saudi Arabia
Low High
Risk tolerance in play
Indonesia
Saudi Arabia
Low High
School systems
Centralized national model with religious tracks

Indonesia

A dual-track system: secular schools under the Ministry of Education and Islamic schools (madrasah) under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Both follow a national curriculum. The school day starts at 7 AM and includes character education, religious instruction, and flag ceremonies every Monday.

Centralized Islamic model

Saudi Arabia

School starts at age 6. Primary lasts six years, intermediate three, and secondary three. Boys and girls attend separate schools from grade 1. Islamic studies and Arabic are core subjects at every level. English is introduced in grade 4.

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โ† Indonesia profile ยท Saudi Arabia profile โ†’