{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

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. 

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "25 00 N, 45 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Middle East" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "2,149,690 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "2,149,690 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "4,272 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "2,640 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "18 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "not specified" } }, "Climate": { "text": "harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes" }, "Terrain": { "text": "mostly sandy desert" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "As Sarawat range, 3,000 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Persian Gulf 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "665 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "80.7% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "0.5% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "18.8% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "11,910 sq km (2018)" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Arabian Aquifer System" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is 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" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "

frequent sand and dust storms

volcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar

" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "36,544,431" }, "male": { "text": "20,700,838" }, "female": { "text": "15,843,593 (2024 est.)" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Saudi(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Saudi or Saudi Arabian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Arabic (official)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information." } }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-12% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2020 est.)", "note": "note: despite having a large expatriate community of various faiths (more than 30% of the population), most forms of public religious expression inconsistent with the government-sanctioned interpretation of Sunni Islam are restricted; non-Muslims are not allowed to have Saudi citizenship and non-Muslim places of worship are not permitted (2013)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "22.9% (male 4,266,720/female 4,097,270)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "72.7% (male 15,577,133/female 10,994,061)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "4.4% (2024 est.) (male 856,985/female 752,262)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "40.4" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "36.8" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "3.7" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "27.4 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "32.4 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "34.6 years" }, "female": { "text": "29.3 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "1.68% (2024 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "13.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "6.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is 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" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "85% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "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)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "1.42 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "1.14 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1.31 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "16 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "12.8 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "10.5 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "77.2 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "75.6 years" }, "female": { "text": "78.8 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.87 children born/woman (2024 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.91 (2024 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "27.9% (2019)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "5.5% of GDP (2018)" }, "Physician density": { "text": "2.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "35.4% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "14.3% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "26.5% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "2% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "3.5% (2020) NA" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "63.2% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "7.8% of GDP (2020) NA" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "97.6%" }, "male": { "text": "98.6%" }, "female": { "text": "96% (2020)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "17 years" }, "male": { "text": "17 years" }, "female": { "text": "16 years (2021)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "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; air pollution; waste management" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "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" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Climate": { "text": "harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "80.7% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "0.5% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "18.8% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "85% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "57.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "563.45 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "45.47 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "16,125,701 tons (2015 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "2,418,855 tons (2015 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "15% (2015 est.)" } }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Arabian Aquifer System" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "3.39 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "1.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "21.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "2.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Saudi Arabia" }, "local long form": { "text": "Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah" }, "local short form": { "text": "Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah" }, "etymology": { "text": "named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name \"Arabia\" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as \"Ar Rabi\"" } }, "Government type": { "text": "absolute monarchy" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Riyadh" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "24 39 N, 46 42 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name derives from the Arabic word \"riyadh,\" meaning \"gardens,\" and refers to various oasis towns in the area that merged to form the city" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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" }, "Independence": { "text": "23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)" }, "Legal system": { "text": "Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note - several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "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" }, "amendments": { "text": "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; Basic Law amended many times, last in 2017" } }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "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" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal for municipal elections", "note": "https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/saudi-women-go-to-the-polls-finally" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Crown Prince and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 27 September 2022)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes for a voice in selecting future Saudi kings" } }, "Legislative branch": { "legislature name": { "text": "Shura Council (Majlis Ash-Shura)" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "unicameral" }, "number of seats": { "text": "151 (all appointed)" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "4 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "9/2/2024" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "19.9%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "August 2028" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "High Court (consists of the court chief and organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree upon 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" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "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" } }, "Political parties": { "text": "none" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan AL SAUD (since 8 July 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 342-3800" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 295-3625" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
saudisusemb@mofa.gov.sa

https://www.saudiembassy.net/" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Houston, Los Angeles, New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alison DILWORTH (since January 2025)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Riyadh 11564" }, "mailing address": { "text": "6300 Riyadh Place, Washington DC  20521-6300" }, "telephone": { "text": "[966] (11) 835-4000" }, "FAX": { "text": "[966] (11) 488-7360" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
RiyadhACS@state.gov

https://sa.usembassy.gov/" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Dhahran, Jeddah" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides", "note": "note: the only national flag to display an inscription as its principal design; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "palm tree surmounting two crossed swords; national colors: green, white" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Aash Al Maleek\" (Long Live Our Beloved King)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB" }, "note": "note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "7 (7 cultural, 1 natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "

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)

" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "high-income, oil-based Middle Eastern economy; OPEC leader; diversifying portfolio; declining per-capita incomes; young labor force; key human capital gaps; heavy bureaucracy and increasing corruption; substantial poverty; low innovation economy" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$1.831 trillion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$1.845 trillion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$1.717 trillion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "-0.75% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "7.49% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "5.08% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$55,100 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$57,400 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$55,800 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$1.068 trillion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "2.33% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "2.47% (2022 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "3.06% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "A (2019)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "A1 (2016)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "A- (2016)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "2.7% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "47% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "44.9% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "40% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "23.3% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "27.9% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "1.4% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "34.7% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-27.4% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "milk, dates, chicken, wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, olives, eggs, onions (2022)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "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": { "text": "-6.23% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "15.553 million (2023 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "4.88% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "5.59% (2022 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "6.62% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "16.3% (2023 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "12.9% (2023 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "24.4% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "20.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.03% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.03% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.03% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$398.023 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$315.007 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "17.2% of GDP (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "7.77% (of GDP) (2022 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "$34.07 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "$151.519 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "$41.718 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2023": { "text": "$370.974 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$445.881 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$286.502 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 19%, India 13%, Japan 10%, South Korea 10%, US 7% (2022)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, refined petroleum, ethylene polymers, plastics, fertilizers (2022)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2023": { "text": "$291.565 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$258.213 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$213.516 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 22%, UAE 16%, US 6%, India 6%, Germany 4% (2022)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "cars, broadcasting equipment, garments, gold, refined petroleum (2022)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$457.949 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$478.232 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": { "text": "$473.89 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "3.75 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "3.75 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "3.75 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "3.75 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "3.75 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "80.11 million kW (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "393.213 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "382.556 million kWh (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "334.737 million kWh (2022 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "38.658 billion kWh (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "99.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "consumption": { "text": "164,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "200 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "164,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "11.113 million bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "3.649 million bbl/day (2022 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "121.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "121.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "9.423 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "638.449 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "437,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "398.933 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "239.078 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": { "text": "313.903 million Btu/person (2022 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "6.788 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "20 (2023 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "52.5 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "132 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "Saudi Arabia’s telecom and ICT sectors continue to benefit from the range of programs aimed at diversifying the economy away from a dependence on oil, and establishing a wider digital transformation over the next decade; an essential element of this has been the widening reach of 5G networks, which by mid-2021 reached about half of the population and the majority of cities; the MNOs have focused investment on upgrading LTE infrastructure and further developing 5G; this in part is aimed at generating additional revenue from mobile data services, and also to their contribution to the Vision 2030 program; the ongoing pandemic has resulted in more people working and schooling from home during periods of restricted travel; this has stimulated growth in mobile data traffic, while the government has encouraged non-cash transactions and so helped develop the vast e-commerce market; while Saudi Arabia’s fixed broadband penetration remains relatively low, there has been a concentration of fiber infrastructure and the Kingdom has developed one of the fastest services in the region (2022)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line are 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership is 126 per 100 persons (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 966; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, EIG, FALCON, FEA, IMEWE, MENA/Gulf Bridge International, SEACOM, SAS-1, -2, GBICS/MENA, and the Tata TGN-Gulf submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; 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) (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4 networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple international broadcasters are available" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".sa" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "100% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "14.5 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "44 (2023 est.)" } }, "Communications - note": { "text": "the innovative King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (informally known as Ithra, meaning \"enrichment\") opened on 1 December 2017 in Dhahran, Eastern Region; its facilities include a grand library, several museums, an archive, an Idea Lab, a theater, a cinema, and an Energy Exhibit, all which are meant to provide visitors an immersive and transformative experience" } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "12 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "230" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "39,141,660 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "1,085,470,000 (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "HZ" }, "Airports": { "text": "86 (2024)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "67 (2024)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "209 km condensate, 2,940 km gas, 1,183 km liquid petroleum gas, 5,117 km oil, 1,151 km refined products (2013)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "5,410 km (2016)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "221,372 km" }, "paved": { "text": "47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "173,843 km (2006)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "433 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 20, oil tanker 55, other 348" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "16 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "0" }, "medium": { "text": "1" }, "small": { "text": "7" }, "very small": { "text": "8" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "10" }, "key ports": { "text": "Dammam, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Ju Aymah Oil Terminal, Ras Tannurah, Ras Al Khafji, Ras Al Mishab" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "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: Special Forces for Security and Protection; Special Forces for Environmental Security; Special Forces for Roads Security; General Directorate of Border Guard

State Security Presidency (SSP): General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2024)", "note": "note 1: the SANG (also known as the White Army) is a land force comprised off tribal elements loyal to the House of Saud; it is responsible for internal security, protecting the royal family, and external defense

note 2: the SAAF includes the Saudi Royal Guard Command, a unit which provides security and protection to the ruling family and other dignitaries" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "7% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "6% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "6% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "8% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "8.8% of GDP (2019 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "the Saudi Armed Forces have about 250,000 total active troops; approximately 125,000 under the Ministry of Defense (75,000 Land Forces; 15,000 Naval Forces, including about 3,000 marines; 35,000 Air Force/Air Defense/Strategic Missile Forces) and up to 125,000 in the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) (2023)", "note": "note: SANG also has an irregular force (Fowj), primarily Bedouin tribal volunteers, with a total strength of approximately 25,000" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the inventory of the Saudi military forces, including the SANG, includes a mix of mostly modern weapons and equipment from Europe and the US; the US has been the largest supplier; major European suppliers have included France, Spain, and the UK; Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest importers of arms (2024)", "note": "note: the Saudi Navy is in the midst of a multi-year and multi-billion-dollar expansion and modernization program to purchase new frigates, corvettes, and other naval craft from such suppliers as Spain and the US" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "men (17-40) and women (21-40) may volunteer for military service; no conscription (2023)", "note": "note: in 2021, women were allowed to serve in the Army, Air Defense, Navy, Strategic Missile Force, medical services, and internal security forces up to the rank of non-commissioned officer" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "continues to maintain a military presence in Yemen; has also established and supports several local militias, including the National Shield Forces in Aden and the Amajid Brigade in Abyan (2023)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) are divided into the regular forces under the Ministry of Defense and the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG); the regular forces are responsible for territorial defense, although they can be called for domestic security duties if needed; they include land, naval, air, air defense, and strategic missile forces

the SANG is responsible for both internal security and external defense; its duties include protecting the royal family, guarding against military coups, defending strategic facilities and resources, and providing security for the cities of Mecca and Medina; the SANG is primarily comprised of tribal elements loyal to the Saud family and is comprised of brigades of light infantry, mechanized or motorized infantry, and security forces; it is supplemented by combat helicopter units and tribal levies/militias known as Fowj

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; 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, the UK, and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members

in 2015, Saudi Arabia led a military intervention into Yemen by a coalition of Arab states in support of the Republic of Yemen Government against the separatist Houthis; Saudi forces from both the Ministry of Defense and the SANG participated in combat operations in Yemen; Saudi Arabia also raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen--based largely on tribal or regional affiliation--to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border (2024)" } }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { "text": "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); KACST includes the Space and Aeronautics Research Institute (SARI; established 2000) (2024)" }, "Space program overview": { "text": "has an ambitious and growing space program; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; develops a range of satellite subsystems and payload technologies; SSA's missions also include accelerating economic diversification, enhancing research and development, and raising private sector participation in the global space industry; is the main founder and financier of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat; launched in 1976; headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the primary satellite communications service provider for over 170 million persons in the Arab world); cooperates with the space agencies and industries of a wide range of countries, including those of Belarus, China, Egypt, the European Space Agency 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 (established by the UAE in 2019 and includes Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and Sudan) (2024)", "note": "note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)", "note": "note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { "text": "70,000 (2022); note - thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "regularly sentences drug traffickers to the death penalty, although a moratorium on executions for drug offences has been in place since at least 2020; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement" } } }