Form of Government: Absolute monarchy
Area: 2 149 690 sq km
Population: 35 013 414 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 16.29 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 32° - 15° N; long. 35° - 56° E
Capital: Riyadh=Ar-Riyāḍ (capital) 6 906 595 inhab. (2018);
Currency: riyal (100 halalas)
Human development index: 0.854 (rank: 40)
Sovereign: King Salmān bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd, since 23 January 2015
Internet: www.stats.gov.sa/en (General Authority for Statistics)
Member of Arab League, GCC, OAS observer, OIC, OPEC, UN, WTO
Saudi Arabia

International license plate code KSA
International dialling code 00966
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission); malaria prophylaxis (recommended for some areas)
Electricity (Voltage) 127/220
Driving side rigth
Internet code .sa
GMT +3
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Riyadh 25.5; Jeddah 28.2
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Riyadh 14/35; Jeddah 25/32
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Riyadh 11/7; Jeddah /
Annual average precipitation (mm) Riyadh 101; Jeddah 55
Days of rainfall (annual average) Riyadh 20; Jeddah 14

The country continues to grapple with the financial crisis caused by the low crude oil prices, exacerbated by the ongoing involvement in the war in Yemen. The international image of Prince Muḥammad bin Salmān is damaged by accusations of failing to respect human rights.
Geography.
It is bordered to the north by Jordan and Iraq, to the northeast by Kuwait, to the south-east by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and to the south by Oman and Yemen. It faces the Arabian Gulf to the east and the Red Sea to the west. The mountainous area known as Al-Ḥijāz in the north and ‘Asīr in the south flanks the Red Sea coast. Beyond this lies the desert, which is sandy in the north (An-Nafūd) and stony in the centre (Nejd). To the east of Nejd the plateau descends to the Arabian Gulf in steep steps at the foot of which runs a line of springs forming densely populated oases. The sand desert called Ar-Rub’ al-Khālī extends to the south-east. The climate is arid.
Government
An independent kingdom, created on 23 September, 1932, upon the union of the kingdoms of Nejd (Najd) and Hejaz (Al-Ḥijāz) and the emirates of ‘Asīr, Najrān and Al-Aḥsā’.
After the death of the country’s founder Abdul Aziz (1953), as is the custom the power went to his sons, from one to the next in order of age. The health conditions of King Salmān has given a lot of freedom to his son, Muḥammad bin Salmān, Crown Prince since 2017, who has arrested many members of the royal family and promoted sometimes rash initiatives, such as the armed intervention in Yemen.
The Basic Law (1992) stipulates that the king, “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” (Mecca and Medina), holds all power (legislative, executive and judicial); there is no distinction between the assets and wealth of the royal family and those of the state. The King is advised by a Consultative Assembly, whose 150 members are appointed by the king himself (in 2013, he allocated 30 seats to women). In 2015 the right to vote, only exercised in administrative elections, was extended to women and the minimum age was lowered to 18 years. The official religion is Sunni Islam.
Defence and justice.
Military spending in relation to GDP is among the highest in the world. Military service is voluntary. The judicial system is based on Islamic Law (sharia).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 15.8 | % | 2015 |
Army | 33$ | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Crimes | 406 | per 100 000 pop. | 2002 |
Homicides | 1.5 | per 100 000 pop. | 2015 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Riyadh=Ar-Riyāḍ | 6 906 595 | inhab. | 2018 |
Jeddah=Jiddah | 3 430 697 | inhab. | 2010 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
Foreigners account for approximately one third of the total population and more than half of the active population.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 17.297 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 3.505 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Arab | 74$ | % | 2005 |
Asian | 16$ | % | 2005 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Muslim | 93$ | % | 2010 |
Christian | 4.4 | % | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Arabic |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 24.9 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 23.7 | % | 2020 |
Economy
Economic situation.
The fall in oil prices caused a budget deficit in 2015, aggravated by the cost of the war in Yemen. The country turned to huge foreign currency reserves and the issuing of government bonds. Cuts were made to high public spending (also reducing subsidies for energy, water and fuel), and in 2018, a 5% value-added tax was introduced, increased to 15% from July 1, 2020, though this led to an increase in prices and a reduction in growth, which became a recession in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All this compromised an ambitious investment plan (“Vision 2030”) approved in 2016, focused on diversifying the economy and social development. A slow recovery began in 2021.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 106.49 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 132.48 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 14 455 502 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 15.8 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 8.2 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 59$ | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 1 075 734 | M LCU | 2020 |
Revenues | 781 834 | M LCU | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 2.4 | % | 2019 |
industry | 24.7 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 2.231 | % | 2019 |
industry | 47.381 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 1 488.9 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 472 850.971 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
Primary and secondary sector.
Substantial investment has been made in agriculture. The main farming produce is wheat, chicken meat and dates (Saudi Arabia is among the leading exporters of dates). The largest oil fields are in the eastern region bordering on the Arabian Gulf (Al-Ghawār, As Saffānīyah, Abqaiq, Al-Kharsānīyah, Abū Ḥadrīyah, Al-Qaṭīf, Ad-Dammām, Al-Fāḍilī, Khurayṣ, Abū Sa‘fah, Al-Barrī, Munīfah, Fazrān and Zuluf).
Crude oil is pumped through a network of pipelines to the major refineries (Ra’s Tannūrah, Riyadh, Yanbu‘ al-Baḥr, Rābigh, Al-Jubayl and Jeddah) and to the terminals at Mīnā’ az Zawr (Kuwait) and Awālī (Bahrain). Most of the natural gas is consumed in the country itself. Other industrial activities include heavy engineering (Jeddah), steel (Yanbu‘ al-Baḥr, Al-Jubayl), aluminium founding (Ras al-Khaīr) and construction materials (about 25 cement factories).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 1.688 | % | 2018 |
forests | 0.454 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 627.982 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 1 344.892 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 472.127 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 472.127 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 11.181 | 1000 t | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 13.39 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grapes | 117.639 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 1.509 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sesame seed | 4.119 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coffee | 0$ | 1000 t | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 3 195.046 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 34.971 | 1000 t | 2019 |
citrus fruits, nes | 34.971 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dates | 1 539.756 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 91.619 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 7.839 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 19.062 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 10.366 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 0.663 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grape | 5.377 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 0.373 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sesame seed | 1.629 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coffee | 0$ | 1000 ha | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 3.929 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
citrus fruits, nes | 3.929 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dates | 117.881 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 307 825 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 567.04 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 567.04 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 9 419.686 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 3 711.155 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 98.803 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 98.803 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
camels | 492.853 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 196 989 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 0.137 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 6.756 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cheese | 100.5 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 74 441.525 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 9 165 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural gas | 113 776 | M m³ | 2020 |
oil, crude | 469 110.6 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bauxite | 4 305 | 1000 t | 2020 |
copper | 18$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barite | 41$ | 1000 t | 2016 |
clay | 9.7 | 1000 t | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dolomite | 2 341 | 1000 t | 2020 |
granite | 1 157 | 1000 t | 2020 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 355 318.12 | M kWh | 2018 |
- other renew. | 159.8 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 85 460 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- other renew. | 397 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 355 477.92 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 85 547.39 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
alumina | 1 800 | 1000 t | 2020 |
aluminium | 790 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
tractors | 118 | no. | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
air conditioners | 148 000 | no. | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 2 365.1 | 1000 t | 2019 |
petrol | 25 988.4 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ammonia | 4 000 | 1000 t | 2020 |
nitrogen fertilizers | 2 760.8 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
carpets | 562 | 1000 m² | 2016 |
cotton fabrics | 0.25 | M m² | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cottonseed oil | 16.718 | 1000 t | 2018 |
fish, frozen | 4.57 | 1000 t | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
other paper | 1 186 | 1000 t | 2019 |
paper | 1 186 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 53 418 | 1000 t | 2020 |
sheet glass | 8 542 | 1000 m² | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 27 772.394 | M US$ | 2018 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 13 998.037 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
Tertiary sector.
With several big banks and a stock exchange in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is the main financial centre in the Middle East. Religious tourism is extremely important, albeit affected by the pandemic; more than 2 million pilgrims go to Mecca and Medina every year.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fuels | 80.369 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
manufactures | 16.574 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
China | 7 830 | M US$ | 2020 |
United Arab Emirates | 4 923 | M US$ | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
China | 26 509 | M US$ | 2020 |
United States | 14 103 | M US$ | 2020 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 16 415 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 16 214 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 135 500 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 39 350.3 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 198.49 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 693 | per 1000 pop. | 2008 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 16.026 | years | 2019 |
Gradautes, percentage | 23.854 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 3 390 589 | units | 2019 |
Students, secondary level | 3 159 358 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 2.2 | per 1000 pop. | 2020 |
Physicians | 3.3 | per 1000 pop. | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | -0.1 | % of adults | 2016 |
Malaria | 2 152 | cases | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.82 | % of GDP | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 3.8 | % | 2018 |
education | 2.6 | % | 2018 |