Map of Saudi Arabia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: In 1902 ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. In the 1930s the discovery of oil transformed the country. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. A burgeoning population aquifer depletion and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns.


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Location: Middle East bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea north of Yemen

Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N 45 00 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 1,960,582 km²
Water: 0 km²
Land: 1,960,582 km²
Comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Land boundaries
Total: 4,431 km
Border countries: (7) Iraq 814 km; , Jordan 744 km; , Kuwait 222 km; , Oman 676 km; , Qatar 60 km; , UAE 457 km; , Yemen 1,458 km

Coastline: 2,640 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 18 NM
Continental shelf: not specified
Territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: harsh dry desert with great temperature extremes

Terrain: mostly uninhabited sandy desert

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Extremes highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Natural resources: petroleum natural gas iron ore gold copper

Land use
Arable land: 1.72%
Permanent crops: 0.06%
Other: 98.22% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 16,200 km² (1998 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms

Geography
Note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal


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Population
Note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Growth rate: 3.27% (2003 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Saudi
Adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Ethnic groups: Arab 90% Afro-Asian 10%

Languages: Arabic

Religions: Muslim 100%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 5,245,413; female 5,028,595)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 7,700,121; female 5,622,099)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 393,173; female 304,443) (2003 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 18.8 years
Male: 20.9 years
Female: 16.8 years (2002)

Population growth rate: 3.27% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 37.2 births/1000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.23 migrant(s)/1000 population (2003 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female
15-64 years: 1.37 male/female
65 years and over: 1.29 male/female
Total population: 1.22 male/female (2003 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 47.94 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 45.67 deaths/1000 live births (2003 est.)
Male: 50.1 deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 68.73 years
Male: 66.99 years
Female: 70.55 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 78.8%
Male: 84.7%
Female: 70.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
Local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Government type: monarchy

Capital: Riyadh

Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqat singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah Al Jawf Al Madinah Al Qasim Ar Riyad Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province) 'Asir Ha'il Jizan Makkah Najran Tabuk

Dependent areas

Independence: 23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)

National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom 23 September (1932)

Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Legal system: based on Islamic law several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: none

Executive branch
Chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members

Legislative branch: Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders: none allowed

International organization participation: ABEDA AfDB AFESD AL AMF BIS ESCWA FAO G-19 G-77 GCC IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC ISO ITU NAM OAPEC OAS (observer) OIC OPCW OPEC PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
In the us chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us consulates general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 342-3,800
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. JORDAN
From the us embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61,307, APO AE 9,803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94,309, Riyadh 11,693
From the us telephone: [966] (1) 488-3,800
From the us fax: [966] (1) 488-7,360
From the us consulates general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved reserves) ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues 45% of GDP and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy for example in the oil and service sectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is supporting private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Priorities for government spending in the short term include additional funds for the water and sewage systems and for education. Water shortages and rapid population growth constrain the government's efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 1% (2002 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.2%
Industry: 51.2%
Services: 43.6% (2001 est.)

Agriculture products: wheat barley tomatoes melons dates citrus; mutton chickens eggs milk

Industries: crude oil production petroleum refining basic petrochemicals cement construction fertilizer plastics

Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)

Labor force
Note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
By occupation agriculture: 12%
By occupation industry: 25%
By occupation services: 63% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 25% (2002)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $46 billion
Expenditures: $56.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1% (2002 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $71 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Partners: US 18.6% Japan 15.6% South Korea 10.1% Singapore 5.1% China 4.6% (2002)

Imports: $39.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs chemicals motor vehicles textiles
Partners: US 11.2% Japan 8.8% Germany 7.6% UK 4.9% France 4.9% Italy 4.1% (2002)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $25.9 billion (2003 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.75 (2002) 3.75 (2001) 3.75 (2000) 3.75 (1999) 3.75 (1998)


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Electricity
Production: 122.4 billion kWh (2001)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (2001)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 113.8 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Imports: 0 kWh (2001)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 53.69 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Consumption: 53.69 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Proven reserves: 6.339 trillion m³ (37,257)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 3.9 million (2002 est.)
Mobile cellular: 2.9 million (2002 est.)

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system
Domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems
International: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .sa
Service providers isps: 22 (2003)
Users: 1.453 million (2002)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $18.3 billion (FY00)
Percent of gdp: 13% (FY00)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 209 (2002)
With paved runways total: 71
With paved runways over 3047 m: 31
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 12
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2002)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 24
With unpaved runways total: 138
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 13 (2002)
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 39
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 79

Heliports: 5 (2002)

Pipelines: condensate 212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1187 km; oil 5,062 km; refined products 69 km (2003)

Railways
Total: 1,392 km
Standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2002)

Roadways

Waterways: none

Merchant marine
Total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,461,964 GRT/2,301,258 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 11, container 4, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 8
Note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Egypt 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1, UK 3 (2002 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: nomadic groups on border region with Yemen resist demarcation of boundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been negotiating a long-contested maritime boundary with Iran; because the treaties have not been made public the exact alignment of the boundary with the UAE is still unknown and labeled approximate

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin cocaine and hashish