Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

22-10-2025 

Statistical Presentation

Data description

Physical Activity Statistics present data on physical activity in Saudi Arabia.
The Physical Activity Statistics report is a product conducted to collect data on the main characteristics as follows:
•    Statistics on Physical Activity
Data is also used to estimates:
•    Effort exerted in performing work-related physical activity. 
•    Engaging in work-related physical activity for at least 10 continuous minutes daily, by type of activity.
•    Engaging in vigorous (intense) or moderate non-work-related physical activity for at least 10 continuous minutes daily.
•    Percentage of individuals who participate in sports and physical activities weekly (at least 150 minutes per week).
•    Percentage of individuals who engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, or at least 75 minutes of high-intensity physical activity per week.
•    Percentage of insufficient physical activity.
•    Average number of hours spent daily in sedentary behavior, excluding sleep time.
•    Regular walking or cycling to and from places. 
•    Percentage of children under 15 years who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 60 minutes (one hour) daily during the week, by age and sex.
•    Total daily moderate to vigorous physical activities practiced by children under 15, by age and sex.
•    Average number of hours spent daily by children under 15 under 15 in sedentary activities (such as watching TV, movies, videos, or spending time on a computer, tablet, or any portable electronic device).

Classifications

The following classifications are applied in Physical Activity Statistics.
The National Classification for Economic Activities (ISIC4):
It is a statistical classification based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC4) used to describe the productive activities of an establishment. 
Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO_08):
A statistical classification based on the International Classification (ISCO_08) that provides a system for the classification and compilation of professional information obtained through censuses, statistical surveys, and administrative records.
This classification is used in Physical Activity Statistics to classify employees based on their occupations.
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 Physical Activity Statistics to classify individuals 15 years and older according to their majors and education levels.
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. 
The classification is used in the Physical Activity Statistics to classify Saudi or non-Saudi individuals.
Metadata is collected through interviews so that outputs can be produced in accordance with all relevant classifications.
The classifications are available on the GASTAT’s website  www.stats.gov.sa

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terms and concepts of Physical Activity Statistics:
•    (Physical Activity):
Percentage of children under 15 years who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 60 minutes (one hour) daily during the week, by age and sex.
•    (Occupational Physical Activity):
All physical movements performed by an individual while carrying out job tasks or household work that require physical effort.
•    (Non-occupational Physical Activity):
Physical activity performed during leisure time, such as exercising or recreational walking, which is not part of work or study.
•    (Moderate Physical Activity):
An activity that increases heart rate and breathing, such as brisk walking or cycling at a comfortable pace, and lasts for at least 10 minutes.
•    (Vigorous/Intense Physical Activity):
An activity that significantly increases heart rate and breathing, such as running or engaging in high-intensity sports, and lasts for at least 10 minutes.
•    (Sufficient Physical Activity):
Engaging in physical activity at a level that meets global recommendations: at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity.
•    (Insufficient Physical Activity):
Any level of physical activity below the minimum recommended threshold.
•    (Sedentary Behavior):
Time spent in low-movement activities such as sitting, watching television, or using electronic devices, excluding sleep.
•    (Children’s Physical Activity):
All physical movements performed by children under 17 years of age, including play, sports, and walking. It is recommended that physical activity be moderate to vigorous intensity for at least 60 minutes daily.
•    (Self-report):
a process in which an individual voluntarily provides information about themselves, usually in the context of a study, health survey, or research assessment. This information includes the individual’s behaviors, daily activities, health status, opinions, or life experiences.

Data sources

Physical Activity Statistics data are based on two sources:
First source: The main source of Physical Activity Statistics data is the National Health Survey.
 The disseminated key variables of disability survey data are:
•    Sex.
•    Age groups.
•    Administrative regions
Second source: The source of Physical Activity Statistics data is the Women and Child Health Survey:
•    Sex.
•    Age groups.

Designing the data collection tool

The data for Physical Activity 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. 
The questionnaire was programmed using the computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system, and validation and error rules were applied 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 a group of children aged 0 to 14 years, with their parents present, 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 Physical Activity 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 Physical Activity Statistics is based on the Women and Child Health Survey, conducted from 24/06/2025 to 30/07/2025, and the National Health Survey, conducted from 06/07/2025 to 11/08/2025.
The samples for the 2025 Women and Child Health Survey and the National Health Survey were designed based on the 2022 Census frame. They ensured accurate representation of the statistical population at the level of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, covering various 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), and the sample of administrative regions was then distributed across strata using Proportional Allocation, to improve the accuracy of the estimates by enhancing the design effect through reducing the variance in weights.
Women 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 was 80%
•       A confidence level of (1-α) = 0.95 was used in estimating the mean.
Distribution of data at the level of administrative regions

  
National Health Survey 2025:
The total sample size amounted to 48,375 households, 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 Physical Activity Statistics publication is the individual.

Data collection

The data for the Physical Activity Statistics publication are collected from the following two surveys:
•    National Health Survey. 
•    Women and Children's Health Survey. 
which were conducted through (CAPI).

Data collection frequency 

 The data collection process for Physical Activity Statistics is carried out on an annual basis.

Reference area

The Physical Activity Statistics cover 13 administrative regions in Saudi Arabia.

Reference period (time reference)

References to the period, to the variables or to the dataset as follows:
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.

Base period

Not applicable.

Measurement unit

Some results are calculated as percentages (such as the Percentage of physical activity).

Time coverage

The data is available from the year 2024 to 2025.

Publication frequency

The results of the Physical Activity Statistics are published on an annual basis in accordance with 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.
In addition to the data processing and tabulation to check their accuracy, 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 linkage is used to complete data on name, sex, date of birth, age, and relationship to the head of the household, contributing to improving the quality of the household’s demographic data.

Imputation and calibration

Donor record method:
A method in which a missing value in a specific record is replaced with a value taken from another similar record within the same sample.
Steps:
•    Identify records with missing values.
•    Identify similar donor records based on common characteristics such as age, sex, nationality, and administrative region.
•    Select a donor record either randomly or based on the closest match.
•    Copy the missing value from the donor record to the target record. 

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 

GASTAT's internal users of the Physical Activity Statistics data:
•    Population, gender, and diversity statistics.
•    Living conditions, lifestyles, and justice statistics.
•    Health and education statistics.
Several external users and beneficiaries rely on the Physical Activity 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 Physical Activity Statistics publication are based on survey data from:
•    National Health Survey.
•    Women and Child Health 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 who 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 Physical Activity 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, with a delay of not more than mid-year (180 days) after the end of the reference period. If the data are from different sources, they may be published at a different frequency.

Punctuality

The publication is released according to the dates specified in the statistical calendar for the Physical Activity Statistics, as published on the website of the General Authority for Statistics.
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 Physical Activity Statistics publication started in 2024 as an annual publication until 2025.

Coherence - Cross domain

Not applicable.

Coherence - Sub-annual and annual statistics 

Not applicable.

Coherence- National Accounts 

Not applicable.

Coherence - Internal 

The Physical Activity Statistics estimates have full internal coherence, 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 at the statistical calendar, as mentioned in 10.1. The press releases can be viewed on the website of GASTAT at the link:
Press release

Publications

GASTAT issues the Physical Activity Statistics publication regularly within a pre-prepared dissemination plan, and it is published 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 the Physical Activity Statistics are available at:
Physical Activity Statistics

On-line 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 by 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 created based on specific methodologies requested by the data applicant to extract datasets with particular characteristics. They are used for strategic studies, decision-making, and scientific research purposes on individuals, households, and enterprises. The files contain no direct identifiers and are subject to confidentiality protection controls.
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

 Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ): WHO

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 from the SMEs survey are presented in the 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 the 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 in such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly (such as by 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

The Physical Activity Statistics are included in the statistical calendar. 
Statistical Calendar

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients' needs, so it immediately provides them with the results once the Physical Activity Statistics publication is published.
It also receives questions and enquiries from clients about the publication and its results through various communication channels, such as:
•    GASTAT official website: www.stats.gov.sa
•    GASTAT official e-mail 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).