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

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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. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. 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. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005 King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005 and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population aquifer depletion and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing 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: 2,149,690 km²
Land: 2,149,690 km²
Water: 0 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
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Continental shelf: not specified

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: 1.67%
Permanent crops: 0.09%
Other: 98.24% (2005)

Irrigated land: 16,200 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 2.4 km³ (1997)

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 2008 est.)
Growth rate: 1.954% (2008 est.)

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: 38% (male 5,458,023/female 5,245,911)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,470,353/female 7,284,696)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 356,910/female 330,764) (2008 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 21.5 years
Male: 22.9 years
Female: 19.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.954% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 28.85 births/1000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 2.49 deaths/1000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.82 migrant(s)/1000 population (2008 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
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: 1.3 male/female
65 years and over: 1.08 male/female
Total population: 1.19 male/female (2008 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.94 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 13.58 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 10.23 deaths/1000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.09 years
Male: 74.04 years
Female: 78.25 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.89 children born/woman (2008 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: 6.8% of GDP (2004)

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
Name: Riyadh
Geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992

Legal system: based on Sharia 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: 21 years of age; male

Executive branch
Chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members
Elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king

Legislative branch: Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years to date no such elections have been held or announced

Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA AfDB (nonregional members) AFESD AMF BIS FAO G-77 GCC IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IPU ISO ITSO ITU LAS MIGA NAM OAPEC OAS (observer) OIC OPCW OPEC PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNRWA UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR
In the us chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 342-3,800
In the us fax: [1] (202) 944-3,113
In the us consulates general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ford M. FRAKER
From the us embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
From the us mailing address: American Embassy, 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 a traditional color in Islamic flags with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (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); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% of the world's proven petroleum 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 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 5.5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy particularly in the oil and service sectors. High oil prices have boosted growth government revenues and Saudi ownership of foreign assets while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in power generation telecommunications natural gas exploration and petrochemicals - to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population nearly 40% of which are youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high and the large youth population generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education infrastructure development and government salaries. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has announced plans to establish six 'economic cities' in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $546 billion (2007 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 3.5% (2007 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $19,800 (2007 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3%
Industry: 63.7%
Services: 33.3% (2007 est.)

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

Industries: crude oil production petroleum refining basic petrochemicals ammonia industrial gases sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) cement fertilizer plastics metals commercial ship repair commercial aircraft repair construction

Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force
Note: about one-third of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 12%
By occupation industry: 25%
By occupation services: 63% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

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

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $163 billion
Expenditures: $118.3 billion (2007 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 24.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate: NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate: NA

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit: $66.94 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares: $326.9 billion (2006)

Current account balance: $86.62 billion (2007 est.)

Exports: $226.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Partners: US 17.1% Japan 16.3% South Korea 9.7% China 8.1% Taiwan 4.7% Singapore 4% (2007)

Imports: $82.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs chemicals motor vehicles textiles
Partners: US 12.6% China 9.4% Germany 8.8% Japan 8.1% Italy 5% South Korea 4.9% UK 4.5% (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $34.01 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt external: $58.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.745 (2007) 3.745 (2006) 3.747 (2005) 3.75 (2004) 3.75 (2003)


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Electricity
Production: 179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption: 156.8 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 75.9 billion m³ (2007 est.)
Consumption: 75.9 billion m³ (2007 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Proven reserves: 7.167 trillion m³ (1 January 2008 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 3.996 million (2007)
Mobile cellular: 28.381 million (2007)

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system
Domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly
International: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; 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
Hosts: 141,232 (2008)
Users: 6.2 million (2007)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 10% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 213 (2007)
With paved runways total: 77
With paved runways over 3047 m: 32
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 15
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 26
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 136
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 73
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 39
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Heliports: 8 (2007)

Pipelines: condensate 212 km; gas 1880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1148 km (2007)

Railways
Total: 1,392 km
Standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2006)

Roadways
Total: 221,372 km
Paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 62
By type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 13, container 5, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8
Foreign owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 7, UAE 1)
Registered in other countries: 71 (Bahamas 16, Comoros 1, Dominica 2, France 1, Liberia 27, Marshall Islands 5, Norway 3, Panama 16) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Ad Dammam Al Jubayl Jiddah Yanbu' al Sinaiyah


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Disputes international: Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)

Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement