Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

03/12/2025

Statistical Presentation

Data description

The Healthcare Statistics Publication presents data on healthcare in Saudi Arabia.
The Healthcare Statistics is a publication based on the main characteristics as follows:
•    Coverage of basic and additional healthcare expenses.
•    Medical Consultations.
•    Dentistry.
•    Unmet health needs.
•    Home care and assistance services.
•    Long-term care services.
•    Digital health services.
Data is also used to estimates:
•    Self-reporting of the most recent visit to a healthcare provider.
•    The percentage of individuals who reported spending sufficient time with the doctor during their last visit.
•    The percentage of individuals who consulted a dentist.
•    The average number of reported medical consultations in the last 12 months.
•    The percentage of individuals who received dental filling treatment.
•    The percentage of individuals aged 60, who reported having 20 or more natural teeth.
•    The percentage of individuals who benefited from home care services to meet personal needs in the past 12 months.
•    The percentage of adults aged 65 and older, who receive long-term care services.
•    The percentage of individuals benefiting from long-term care services.
•    The percentage of individuals aged 65 and older who reported unmet needs in daily life.
•    The percentage of individuals aged 65 and older reported that their daily activities are severely or limited due to health issues.
•    The percentage of caregivers among the population aged 50 and older.
•    The percentage of service beneficiaries and caregivers who find it easy to access information related to support (caregivers).
•    The percentage of individuals aged 16–74 who have searched for health information online in the last three months.
•    The percentage of individuals who have access to their health records online.
•    The percentage of individuals who feel they are at least moderately involved in decisions about their treatment and care.
•    The percentage of individuals who feel that doctors often or always provide explanations that are easy to understand.
•    The percentage of insurance coverage for healthcare services.
•    Self-reporting of unmet healthcare needs.
•    Self-reporting of unmet dental check-up needs.

Classifications

The following classifications are applied in Healthcare Statistics.
Saudi Classification of Specializations and Educational Levels:
A statistical classification based on the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED_11) and (ISCED_13) for education and training, issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It serves as the reference classification for organizing educational programs and qualifications according to their levels and fields of study. It comprehensively covers all educational programs, levels, and methods, spanning from early childhood education to higher education levels.
This classification is used in the Healthcare Statistics to categorize individuals aged 15 and older according to their fields of study and levels of education.
National Code of Countries and Nationalities (3166 ISO – codes Country):
A statistical classification based on the international standard  (ISO 3166_Country codes), which is a standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO of the UN), and this classification gives numeric and literal codes for the world’s (248) countries, based on the classification of countries.
This classification is used in the Healthcare Statistics to categorize individuals as Saudi or non-Saudi.
Metadata is collected through interviews, so that outputs can be produces in accordance with all relevant classifications.
The classifications are available on the GASTAT’s website   www.stats.gov.sa

Statistical concepts and definitions

Concepts and Terminology of the Healthcare Statistics publication:
•    Healthcare coverage:
It is a service provided by governments or insurance companies to cover the costs of medical visits, treatments, and medications needed by individuals to maintain their health or to treat an illness. This cover usually includes routine doctor visits, medical examinations, and surgical operations. 
•    Medical Consultations:
It is a visit by an individual to a specialist doctor to obtain advice or treatment for a specific health condition.
•    Dentistry:
It is a field of medicine that focuses on the health of the mouth, teeth, and gums, including examinations, cleaning, fillings, and dental prosthetics.
•    Unmet health needs:
It refers to health services that a person needs but does not receive for reasons such as inability to afford the cost or unavailability of the service.
•    Home care and assistance services:
It refers to services provided at home for individuals who require assistance with daily activities such as: Bathing, eating, and mobility.
•    Long-term care services:
The health services provided to individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities that require ongoing long-term care.
•    Digital health services:
The health services are delivered online or through applications, including telehealth consultations, health tracking, and the ability to obtain electronic prescriptions.
•    Preventive services: 
Services that aim to prevent disease, such as vaccinations, regular check-ups, and health education.
•    Self-reporting:
It is a process in which an individual voluntarily provides information about themselves, typically for use in study, research, or assessment. This information may pertain to their behaviors, opinions, experiences, or health status. 

Data sources

The primary source of data for Healthcare Statistics is the National Health Survey and the Women and Child Health Survey.
The key variables published for the Healthcare Statistics Publication include:
•    Sex
•    Nationality
•    Age groups.

Designing the data collection tool

The data for Healthcare Statistics were collected from two surveys: The National Health Survey and the Women and Child Health Survey. The data for both surveys were collected using forms that were prepared and designed by specialists from the Health and Education Statistics Department at the General Authority for Statistics. The forms were developed to meet local needs and international requirements, applying all relevant data collection tools for each indicator according to the adopted methodology. They were reviewed by judges and experts in the field of health statistics and aligned with the relevant authorities, taking into account their feedback and comments. 
It was programmed using (CAPI) system with validation and error-checking rules implemented to ensure data quality.

Questionnaire test (cognitive test)

Communication and coordination were carried out with a group of participants to conduct the cognitive interview, all of whom were men and women aged 15 to 49 years. These interviews were held remotely via Microsoft Teams, during which notes were taken, and suggestions were provided regarding unclear terms and explanations to the participants.
Similarly, coordination was conducted with parents of children aged 0 to 14 years, to discuss their children’s health. Remote interviews were also conducted via Microsoft Teams and notes and suggestions were recorded concerning unclear terms and explanations for the participants.

Statistical population

The statistical population of the Healthcare Statistics Publication consists of households, whether they are Saudi or non-Saudi, who normally reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Sample Design

The sample for Healthcare Statistics is based on the Women and Child Health Survey, conducted from24/06/2025 - 30/07/2025, and the National Health Survey, conducted from06/07/2025 - 11/08/2025
The sample for the Women and Child Health Survey and the National Health Survey 2025 was designed from the Census 2022 framework to ensure an accurate representation of the statistical community at the level of Saudi Arabia, including different administrative regions, age groups, sex, and nationality. A stratified, clustered, and systematic random sampling method was used, where enumeration areas were considered as the primary sampling units, and households within the selected enumeration areas were considered as the final sampling units.
Stratification:
To increase the efficiency of the sample and its representativeness of the target population, the primary sampling units in the sample frame were classified into homogeneous strata. This approach was aimed at obtaining more accurate results compared to a simple random sample of the same size. The stratification was carried out as follows:
Sample size and allocation across strata:
The sample size was estimated at the level of administrative regions (study domain). The sample for the administrative regions was then distributed across strata using proportional allocation to improve the precision of estimates and optimize the design effect by reducing weight variance.
Woman and Child Health Survey 2025
The total sample size amounted to 44,953 households. The sample size was calculated using the following parameters and determinants:
•    The allowable coefficient of variation (CV) used in calculating the sample size was less than 1% at the national level, 2.1% at the administrative region level, and 7.7% at the governorate level.
•    The design effect used was 2.43
•    The expected response rate was80%
•    A confidence level of (1-α) = 0.95 was used in estimating the mean.

Table of sample distribution at the level of administrative regions:

National Health Survey 2025:
The total sample size amounted to48,375households, and the sample size was calculated using the following parameters and determinants:
•    to obtain estimates with a specified level of precision and a predetermined coefficient of variation (CV). The allowable coefficient of variation (CV) used in calculating the sample size was less than 1% at the national level, 2% at the administrative region level, and 6.4% at the governorate level.
•    The design effect used in the sample was 5.44
•    The response rate was 80%
•    A confidence level of (1–α) = 0.95 was used in estimating the percentage.
Distribution of data at the level of administrative regions:

Statistical unit (sampling unit)

The statistical unit in the Healthcare Statistics publication is the individual.

Data collection

The data for the Healthcare Statistics publication are collected from the following two surveys:
•    National Health Survey. 
•    Women and Child Health Survey. 
which were conducted through ( CAPI )

Data collection frequency 

The data collection process for Healthcare Statistics is conducted on an annual basis. 

Reference area

The Healthcare Statistics Publication covers 13 administrative regions in Saudi Arabia.

Reference period (time reference)

References period to the variables or dataset as following:
•    Data on the number of household members and their demographic characteristics are based on the date of contact with the household and interviews conducted with its members.
•    The data on home care services to meet personal needs are based on information from the past six months.
•    The data for healthcare indicators are referenced to the start date of data collection on 06/07/2025.

Base period

Not applicable.

Measurement unit

•    Most results are measured by numbers (e.g.: Average number of consultations).
•    Some results are reported as percentage (e.g.: The percentage of individuals who consulted a psychiatrist).

Time coverage

The data is available from the year 2023 to 2025. 

Publication frequency

The results of the Healthcare Statistics are published annually according to the approved statistical plan.

Statistical processing

Error detection

Meticulous processes were implemented to detect errors in the data collected using automated and manual methods aimed at ensuring quality and accuracy. These included the following:
•    Identification of illogical or out-of-range values (such as impossible ages or contradictory data).
•    Detecting missing or incomplete data and handling it according to established policies.
•    Reviewing the internal consistency of the questionnaire responses to ensure data compatibility.
•    Data are reviewed and matched to ensure their accuracy and precision in a way that suits their nature, with the aim of giving the presented statistics quality and accuracy.
•    Data processing and tabulation to verify accuracy before analysis.
All the outputs are stored and uploaded to the database after being calculated by GASTAT to be reviewed and processed by specialists in the Health and Education Statistics Department through modern technologies and software designed for this purpose.

Data integration and matching from multiple sources 

In the National Health Survey and the Women and Child Health Survey, the national ID of the head of the household is collected and linked with data from the National Information Center during the household interview. This is used to complete data on name, sex, date of birth, age, and relationship to the head of the household, which helps improve the quality of the household’s demographic data.

Imputation and calibration

Donor record method:
It is a statistical method used to compensate for missing values in records, by replacing the missing value in a specific record with a value taken from another similar record within the same sample.
Implementation steps:
•    Identifying the records that contain missing values.
•    Identifying similar donor records based on common characteristics such as: Age, sex, nationality, and administrative region.
•    Selecting the donor record either randomly or according to the closest match in characteristics.
•    Copying the required value from the donor record to the target record to compensate for the missing value.

Seasonal adjustments

Not applicable, only final results will be published. 

Adjustment of preliminary results 

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

Used Resources

Quality dimensions

Suitability

A criterion that indicates how well the product meets users’ needs.

User needs 

Internal users in GASTAT for the Healthcare Statistics data:
Social statistics:
•    Population, gender, and diversity statistics.
•    Living conditions, lifestyles, and justice statistics
•    Health and education statistics.
Several external users and beneficiaries who rely on Healthcare Statistics data, including:
•    Government entities.
•    Regional and international organizations.
•    Research institutions.
•    Media.
•    Individuals.
The disseminated key variables that are mostly used by external users:

Completeness 

The data of the Healthcare Statistics Publication are based on survey data from:
•    National Health Survey.
•    Child Health and Child Wellbeing Survey.
And the data is in a complete state.

Accuracy and reliability 

A standard that measures how close the calculations or estimates are to the exact or true values that reflect reality.

Overall accuracy 

•    The data collected is improved through the researchers, that have been selected according to a set of practical and objective criteria and training program related to the field of work.
•    Alert, prevention, and correction rules are applied during the data collection process on the electronic questionnaire for the Health Determinants Statistics to improve data quality.
•    Data is checked with previous years to identify any significant changes in the data.
•    The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalized.
•    The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data series is confirmed.

Timeliness and punctuality 

A standard that measures the time gap between the availability of information and the occurrence of the event.
However, timeliness reflects the time difference between the date of data publication and the target date when it is actually published.

Timeliness 

GASTAT uses the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) issued by the International Monetary Fund. According to this Standard, all statistics agencies are required to publish data on an annual basis, and with a delay of not more than mid of year (180 days) after the end of the reference period. If the data are from different source, they may be published in a different frequency.

Punctuality 

Publication takes place in accordance with the published release dates for 
Healthcare Statistics in the GASTAT webpage.
The data are available at the expected time, as scheduled in the statistical release calendar, If the publication is delayed, reasons shall be provided.

Coherence and comparability

The ability for users to access data, the availability of accurate or complete data, and the availability of a methodology and quality report.

Comparability - geographical

The data are comparable both nationally and internationally.

Comparability - over time 

The Healthcare Statistics publication started in 2023 as an annual publication until 2025.

Coherence- Cross domain

The consistency of health care statistics data is verified by comparing it with the results of data publications issued by the National Health Survey and the Women's and Children's Health Survey, ensuring the consistency of indicators and preventing contradictions across different statistical publications.

Coherence- Sub-annual and annual statistics 

The consistency of health care statistics data is checked across time series, as health status data is published annually.

Coherence- National Accounts 

health care statistics data do not overlap with national accounts.

Coherence- Internal 

Healthcare Statistics estimates have full internal coherence for their reference period, as they are all based on the same corpus of microdata, and they are calculated using the same estimation methods.

Accessibility and clarity

The ability for users to access data, the availability of accurate or complete data, and the availability of a methodology and quality report.

Press releases

The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar as mentioned in 10.1. The press releases can be viewed on the website of GASTAT on the link: 
Press release

Publications

GASTAT issues the Healthcare Statistics on a regular basis within a pre-prepared dissemination plan and publishes them on GASTAT’s website. GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, metadata, methodology, and questionnaires) in both English and Arabic.
The results of Healthcare Statistics are available on:
Healthcare Statistics

Online database

The data is published on the statistical database:
GASTAT (stats.gov.sa)

Microdata accessibility

Accurate data is unit-level disaggregated data obtained from multiple sources such as sample statistical surveys, general population and housing censuses, and administrative systems, providing detailed information about the characteristics of individuals, families, business entities, and geographical areas, supporting the construction and development of statistical indicators and scientific research.
The different types of microdata files to meet different information needs:
•    Public use: 
It consists of sets of records containing information on individuals, households, or business entities anonymized in such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly such as (name, address, contact number, identity number etc.) or indirectly (by combining different - especially rare - characteristics of respondents) such as (age, occupation, education etc.).
•    Scientific use:
These files are established based on a specific methodology requested by the data requester to extract the datasets with specific characteristics used for strategic studies and decision-making, as well as scientific research purposes on individuals, households, and enterprises with no direct identifiers, which have been subject to control methods to protect confidentiality.
Qualified users who meet the standards and procedures of confidentiality protection can access the files of scientific use of accurate data through the platform "ITAHA" of the General Authority for Statistics, while the most sensitive data for use is shared by visiting the accurate data laboratory within a secure environment managed by the Authority.

References and standards

•    The methodology (Eurostat) was used to calculate indicators of health care use, such as (ratio of healthcare coverage, ratio of medical consultations, ratio of prescription drug use, ratio of use of home care services).
•    The  Eurostat (methodology) was used to calculate indicators of unmet needs for self-reported health care.

Quality assurance

GASTAT considers the following principles: Impartiality, ensuring that the statistical product is user-oriented, maintaining the quality of processes and outputs, enhancing the effectiveness of statistical operations, and reducing the burden on respondents. 
Data is validated through procedures and quality controls that are applied during the process at various stages, such as (data entry, data collection, and other final controls).

Quality assessment

GASTAT performs all statistical activities according to a national model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final stage of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each stage or sub-process. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report, which outlines all the quality issues related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality - Policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1379, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only.
Therefore, the data is protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

Confidentiality - Data Treatment

Data of SMEs survey are presented in right tables in order to summarize, understand, as well as extract their results. Moreover, to compare them with other data, and to obtain statistical significance about the selected study population. However, referring to such data indicated in tables is much easier than going back to check the original questionnaire that may include some data like names and addresses of individuals, and names of data providers, which violates data confidentiality of statistical data.
“Anonymity of data” is one of the most important procedures. To keep data confidential,
GASTAT removed information on individual persons, households, or business entities such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly such as: (name, address, contact number, identity number etc.) or indirectly (by combining different - especially rare - characteristics of respondents) such as: (age, occupation, education etc.).

Dissemination policy

Statistical calendar

Healthcare Statistics are included in the statistical calendar.
Statistical Calendar

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to meet its clients' needs, so it immediately provides them with the results of the publication once the Healthcare Statistics Publication is published.
It also receives questions and inquiries from clients about the publication and its results through various communication channels, such as:
•    GASTAT official website: www.stats.gov.sa
•    GASTAT official email address:  info@stats.gov.sa
•    Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
•    Official letters.
•    Statistical telephone: (199009).