Comparison

Saudi Arabia vs Indonesia

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.

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.

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

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.

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