Comparison

Saudi Arabia vs Chile

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

At a glance

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.

Chile

In Chile, every newborn receives a free 'Chile Crece Contigo' box with baby supplies from the government.

This universal program, inspired by Finland's baby box, delivers diapers, clothes, and parenting guides to every family โ€” a rare social policy achievement in South America.

Indicators side by side
Under-5 mortality rate
6.6
Saudi Arabia
6.8
Chile
per 1,000
Education spending (% of GDP)
5.6%
Saudi Arabia
5.4%
Chile
%
Child poverty rate
n/a
Saudi Arabia
13.7%
Chile
%
Corporal punishment
Not fully banned
Saudi Arabia
Banned
Chile
Childcare enrollment (0-2)
8%
Saudi Arabia
30%
Chile
%
Paid parental leave
10 wk
Saudi Arabia
30 wk
Chile
weeks
Child stunting rate
4.9%
Saudi Arabia
1.8%
Chile
%
Immunization (DPT3)
98%
Saudi Arabia
93%
Chile
%
Adolescent birth rate
7.2
Saudi Arabia
23.1
Chile
per 1,000
PISA average score
389
Saudi Arabia
412
Chile
points
Secondary completion rate
83%
Saudi Arabia
85%
Chile
%
Early childhood education enrollment
23%
Saudi Arabia
85%
Chile
%
Birth registration rate
94%
Saudi Arabia
100%
Chile
%
Child labor rate
2%
Saudi Arabia
1%
Chile
%
Child benefit spending (% of GDP)
0.5%
Saudi Arabia
1.2%
Chile
% of GDP
How they compare
Child independence expectations
Saudi Arabia
Chile
Low High
Structured enrichment emphasis
Saudi Arabia
Chile
Low High
Risk tolerance in play
Saudi Arabia
Chile
Low High
School systems
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.

Marketized South American model

Chile

School starts at age 6. Chile has one of the most market-driven education systems in South America, with public, subsidized-private, and fully private schools competing for students. School runs roughly 8 AM to 4 PM under the extended school day policy.

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