Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
44 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
14.5 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-controlled broadcast media; state-run TV operates 4 networks; major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio with several networks; multiple international broadcasters available
Communications: Internet country code
.sa
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
100.00% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
20 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
6.788 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
132 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
52.5 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, dates, chicken, wheat, tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, olives, eggs, onions (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
20.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$388.489 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$378.413 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$141.060 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$77.651 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$55.045 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$26.969 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$9.084 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$70.029 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$32.399 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$34.688 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$44.905 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$150.353 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$35.133 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$5.685 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
3.7500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
3.7500 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
3.7500 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
3.7500 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
3.7500 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
3.7500 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
3.7500 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
3.7500 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
3.7500 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
3.7500 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
3.7500 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
3.7500 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
3.7500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, alcohols, ships (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$376.224 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$354.973 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$218.010 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$200.877 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$239.893 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$314.917 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$285.860 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$182.848 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$286.501 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$445.881 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$368.731 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$360.897 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
29.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
21.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
45% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-25.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
28.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
2.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
44.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
47.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$71,375 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.238 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$2.520 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$174.203 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$247.307 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$198.365 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$201.398 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$209.069 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$218.975 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$182.184 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$213.515 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$258.371 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$289.91 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$317.012 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-1.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.22% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.05% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
-0.83% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.47% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
-1.19% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
3.37% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.06% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.47% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.33% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.69% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
17.168 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
13.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$1.772 trillion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$1.608 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$1.546 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$1.646 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$1.791 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$1.499 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$1.930 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$2.161 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$2.173 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$2.213 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.66% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.70% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
1.18% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.23% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.65% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-3.80% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.52% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
12.00% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.54% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.00% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$62,578 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$53,931 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$49,937 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$53,120 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$59,560 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$47,518 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$62,690 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$71,968 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$71,565 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$268.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$273.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$295.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$302.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$294.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
$287.0 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
$312.3 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$338.5 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$626.990 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$547.267 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$509.457 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$509.469 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$514.963 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$472.851 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$473.890 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$478.232 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$457.949 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$463.87 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
7.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
5.64% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
7.66% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
6.62% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.59% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.01% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.52% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
23.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
9.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
13.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
66,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
223,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
99.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
383.512 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
352 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
308 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
119.62 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
38.23 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
349.692 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
121.219 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
121.219 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
9.423 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
3.524 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
11.174 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
384,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
237.801 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
418.326 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
656.511 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Environment: Environmental issues
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; limited freshwater resources; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
North Riyadh; Salma (2025)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
2 (2025)
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
80.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 79.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
1.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
17.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
162.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
1,743.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
28.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
927.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
60.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
2.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
21.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
3.392 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
84.46% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
16.126 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
18.8% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Geography: Area: land
2,149,690 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
2,640 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
As Sarawat range, 3,000 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
665 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
Geography: Irrigated land
7,575 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,272 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
80.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 79.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
1.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
17.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
18 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
not specified
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
frequent sand and dust storms volcanism: little activity in the past few centuries, despite many volcanic formations; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
Geography: Population distribution
historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since oil was discovered in the 1930s; most of the country's population is now concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east through Riyadh in the interior to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Geography: Terrain
mostly sandy desert
Government: Administrative divisions
13 regions ( manatiq , singular - mintaqah ); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk
Government: Capital: etymology
the name derives from the Arabic word riyadh , meaning "gardens;" the city was built around a small oasis
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
24 39 N, 46 42 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the king directly or proposed to the king by the Consultative Assembly or by the Council of Ministers; passage by the king through royal decree
Government: Constitution: history
1 March 1992 -- Basic Law of Government, issued by royal decree, serves as the constitutional framework and is based on the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Saudi Arabia
Government: Country name: etymology
named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Romans, who referred to the peninsula as "Arabia Felix" (Arabia the Fortunate)
Government: Country name: local long form
Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government: Country name: local short form
Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alison DILWORTH (since January 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Dhahran, Jeddah
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
RiyadhACS@state.gov https://sa.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Riyadh 11564
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[966] (11) 488-7360
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6300 Riyadh Place, Washington DC 20521-6300
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[966] (11) 835-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan AL SAUD (since 8 July 2019)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
saudisusemb@mofa.gov.sa https://www.saudiembassy.net/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 295-3625
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 342-3800
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes who have a voice in selecting future Saudi kings
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Crown Prince and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 27 September 2022)
Government: Flag
description: green (traditional Islamic color) with the Shahada, or Muslim creed, in large white Arabic script that translates as, "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God;" the text is above a white horizontal saber pointing to the left history: design dates to the early 20th century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family that established the kingdom in 1932; the flag has different sides so that the text reads correctly from right to left and the saber points in the same direction on both sides
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
High Court (consists of the court chief; organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high-level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2-year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeals; Specialized Criminal Court, first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts; Labor Court; a hierarchy of administrative courts
Government: Legal system
Islamic (sharia) system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; commercial disputes handled by special committees
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
August 2028
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Shura Council (Majlis Ash-Shura)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
9/2/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
151 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
19.9%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
Government: National color(s)
green, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā ͐ in Ṣāliḥ) (c); At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah (c); Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah (c); Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia (c); Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape (c); Ḥimā Cultural Area (c); ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid (n);The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
7 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)
Government: National symbol(s)
palm tree over two crossed swords
Government: Political parties
none
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal for municipal elections
Introduction: Background
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) founded the modern Saudi state in 1932 after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia took in the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees, while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil and liberate Kuwait the following year. Major terrorist attacks in 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom through a series of social and economic initiatives that included expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the private sector's role in the economy, and discouraging the hiring of foreign workers. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region; Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach, arresting and quickly releasing some protesters and using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis voted for municipal councilors. King ABDALLAH's reforms accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015 and lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving, implemented education reforms, funded green initiatives, and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. In 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal elections, with 19 women winning seats. King SALMAN initially named his nephew, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Crown Prince, but a palace coup in 2017 resulted in King SALMAN's son, Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, taking over as Crown Prince. King SALMAN appointed MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN as prime minister in 2022. In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore Yemen's legitimate government, which had been ousted by Houthi forces. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. The same year, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia would lead a multi-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism, and in 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal"). The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2020. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification -- particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005 -- and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In 2016, the Saudi Government announced broad socio-economic reforms known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices in 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue, prompting cuts to subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government-employee compensation; and new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed to cut oil output in 2017 to regulate supply and help boost global prices. In 2020, this agreement collapsed, and Saudi Arabia launched a price war by flooding the market with low-priced oil before returning to the negotiating table to agree to a major output cut that helped buoy prices.
Military and Security: Military - note
Saudi Arabia's security concerns include border security, cyberattacks, instability in Yemen, international terrorism, maritime security, and regional rivals such as Iran and Turkey Saudi Arabia has close security ties with the US; the SAAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and hosts US forces; the US has participated in a cooperative program to equip and train the SANG since 1973, and much of the equipment for both the regular forces and the SANG has been acquired from the US; Saudi Arabia also has defense relationships with China, France, India, Pakistan, the UK, and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members; it is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region; the force was established in 1982, and its leadership is based in Saudi Arabia (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) are divided into two ministries: Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard: Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) Other security forces include: Ministry of Interior: Facilities Security Forces, Public Security Forces (police), General Directorate of Border Guard State Security Presidency (SSP): General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 250,000 active Saudi Armed Forces, including 125,000 under the Ministry of Defense and 125,000 in the National Guard (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the inventory of the Saudi military forces, including the SANG, is comprised of imported modern armaments; major suppliers include Canada, China, France, Spain, the UK, and the US; Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest importers of arms (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
13.02% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
9.56% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
9.85% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
8.81% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
7.79% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
8.79% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
7.23% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
6.40% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
7.28% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
7.30% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
voluntary military service for men (17-40) and women (typically 21-40, although maximum age may vary by role); no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
22.9% (male 4,266,720/female 4,097,270)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
72.7% (male 15,577,133/female 10,994,061)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.4% (2024 est.) (male 856,985/female 752,262)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
13.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3.5% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.69% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.3% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
3.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
16.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
37.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
31.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.8% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.48% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
12.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
81.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
77.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
96.7% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
98.6% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
97.93% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
7.682 million RIYADH (capital), 4.863 million Jeddah, 2.150 million Mecca, 1.573 million Medina, 1.329 million Ad Dammam, 872,000 million Hufuf-Mubarraz (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
29.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
34.6 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Saudi or Saudi Arabian
People and Society: Net migration rate
7.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
35.4% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
3.41 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
35,300,280 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since oil was discovered in the 1930s; most of the country's population is now concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east through Riyadh in the interior to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.72% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
15,843,593
People and Society: Population: male
20,700,838
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
18 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
16 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
17 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.42 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
1.14 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.31 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
28.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
17.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.31 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
84.46% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
1985 - first communications satellite (Arabsat-1A) built and launched by European commercial companies; first Saudi astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 2004 - first domestically built, experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (SaudiSat-2) launched by Russia 2017-2019 - contributed to China’s robotic spacecraft mission (Chang’e-4) to the far side of the Moon 2021 - domestically built maritime-tracking satellite (Shaheen Sat) launched by Russia; began participating in Russia's astronaut training program 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration 2023 - sent two astronauts, including first Saudi woman, to the International Space Station on a US commercial spacecraft
Space: Space agency/agencies
Saudi Space Agency (SSA; elevated to agency level from previous Saudi Space Commission or SSC, which was established in 2018); King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST; established 1977) (2024)
Space: Space program overview
has a national space strategy (Vision 2030) that seeks to grow its domestic space industry and use the space sector to accelerate economic diversification, enhance scientific research and development, and raise private-sector participation in the global space industry; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; develops a range of satellite subsystems and payload technologies; is the main founder and financier of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat, launched in 1976 and headquartered in Riyadh); cooperates with the space agencies and industries of a wide range of countries, including those of Belarus, China, Egypt, the ESA and its member states (particularly France, Germany, Greece, and Hungary), India, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, the UAE, the UK, and the US; member of the Arab Space Cooperation Group (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
4,355 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
70,000 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
90 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HZ
Transportation: Heliports
69 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 20, oil tanker 55, other 348
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
433 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Dammam, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Ju Aymah Oil Terminal, Ras Tannurah, Ras Al Khafji, Ras Al Mishab
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
10
Transportation: Ports: small
7
Transportation: Ports: total ports
16 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
8
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)
Transportation: Railways: total
5,410 km (2016)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.