Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Background
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) founded the modern Saudi state in 1932 after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia took in the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees, while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil and liberate Kuwait the following year. Major terrorist attacks in 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.
From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom through a series of social and economic initiatives that included expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the private sector's role in the economy, and discouraging the hiring of foreign workers. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region; Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach, arresting and quickly releasing some protesters and using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis voted for municipal councilors. King ABDALLAH's reforms accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015 and lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving, implemented education reforms, funded green initiatives, and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. In 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal elections, with 19 women winning seats. King SALMAN initially named his nephew, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Crown Prince, but a palace coup in 2017 resulted in King SALMAN's son, Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, taking over as Crown Prince. King SALMAN appointed MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN as prime minister in 2022.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore Yemen's legitimate government, which had been ousted by Houthi forces. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. The same year, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia would lead a multi-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism, and in 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal").
The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2020. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification -- particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005 -- and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In 2016, the Saudi Government announced broad socio-economic reforms known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices in 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue, prompting cuts to subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government-employee compensation; and new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed to cut oil output in 2017 to regulate supply and help boost global prices. In 2020, this agreement collapsed, and Saudi Arabia launched a price war by flooding the market with low-priced oil before returning to the negotiating table to agree to a major output cut that helped buoy prices.
Geography
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total
2,149,690 sq km
land
2,149,690 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries
total
4,272 km
border countries
Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 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 sandy desert
Elevation
highest point
As Sarawat range, 3,000 m
lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
mean elevation
665 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use
agricultural land
80.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 79.1% (2023 est.)
forest
1.3% (2023 est.)
other
17.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
7,575 sq km (2022)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage
(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution
historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since oil was discovered in the 1930s; most of the country's population is now concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east through Riyadh in the interior to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Natural hazards
frequent sand and dust storms
volcanism: little activity in the past few centuries, despite many volcanic formations; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
volcanism: little activity in the past few centuries, despite many volcanic formations; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
Geography - note
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People and Society
Population
total
36,544,431 (2024 est.)
male
20,700,838
female
15,843,593
Nationality
noun
Saudi(s)
adjective
Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Languages
Languages
Arabic (official)
major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
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.)
Age structure
0-14 years
22.9% (male 4,266,720/female 4,097,270)
15-64 years
72.7% (male 15,577,133/female 10,994,061)
65 years and over
4.4% (2024 est.) (male 856,985/female 752,262)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
37.5 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
31.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
6.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
16.5 (2024 est.)
Median age
total
32.8 years (2025 est.)
male
34.6 years
female
29.3 years
Population growth rate
1.72% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
13.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
3.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
7.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since oil was discovered in the 1930s; most of the country's population is now concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east through Riyadh in the interior to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Urbanization
urban population
85% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
7.682 million RIYADH (capital), 4.863 million Jeddah, 2.150 million Mecca, 1.573 million Medina, 1.329 million Ad Dammam, 872,000 million Hufuf-Mubarraz (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.42 male(s)/female
65 years and over
1.14 male(s)/female
total population
1.31 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female
10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
77.2 years (2024 est.)
male
75.6 years
female
78.8 years
Total fertility rate
1.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.9 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
12.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
3.41 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural
rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
35.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
total
17.6% (2025 est.)
male
28.3% (2025 est.)
female
2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3.5% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.3% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.8% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy
total population
97.9% (2024 est.)
male
98.6% (2024 est.)
female
96.7% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total
17 years (2022 est.)
male
16 years (2022 est.)
female
18 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; limited freshwater resources; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Climate
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Land use
agricultural land
80.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 79.1% (2023 est.)
forest
1.3% (2023 est.)
other
17.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
85% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
656.511 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
384,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
418.326 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
237.801 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
60.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions
energy
1,743.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
162.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
927.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other
28.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
16.126 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
18.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal
3.392 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
21.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources
2.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks
2 (2025)
global geoparks and regional networks
North Riyadh; Salma (2025)
Government
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
etymology
named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Romans, who referred to the peninsula as "Arabia Felix" (Arabia the Fortunate)
Government type
absolute monarchy
Capital
name
Riyadh
geographic coordinates
24 39 N, 46 42 E
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology
the name derives from the Arabic word riyadh, meaning "gardens;" the city was built around a small oasis
Administrative divisions
13 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk
Legal system
Islamic (sharia) system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; commercial disputes handled by special committees
Constitution
history
1 March 1992 -- Basic Law of Government, issued by royal decree, serves as the constitutional framework and is based on the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad
amendment process
proposed by the king directly or proposed to the king by the Consultative Assembly or by the Council of Ministers; passage by the king through royal decree
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal for municipal elections
Executive branch
chief of state
King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015)
head of government
Crown Prince and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 27 September 2022)
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members
election/appointment process
none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes who have a voice in selecting future Saudi kings
Legislative branch
legislature name
Shura Council (Majlis Ash-Shura)
legislative structure
unicameral
number of seats
151 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
4 years
most recent election date
9/2/2024
percentage of women in chamber
19.9%
expected date of next election
August 2028
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
High Court (consists of the court chief; organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments)
judge selection and term of office
High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high-level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2-year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment
subordinate courts
Court of Appeals; Specialized Criminal Court, first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts; Labor Court; a hierarchy of administrative courts
Political parties
none
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan AL SAUD (since 8 July 2019)
chancery
601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 342-3800
FAX
[1] (202) 295-3625
email address and website
saudisusemb@mofa.gov.sa
https://www.saudiembassy.net/
consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alison DILWORTH (since January 2025)
embassy
Riyadh 11564
mailing address
6300 Riyadh Place, Washington DC 20521-6300
telephone
[966] (11) 835-4000
FAX
[966] (11) 488-7360
email address and website
RiyadhACS@state.gov
https://sa.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general
Dhahran, Jeddah
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday
Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)
Flag
description: green (traditional Islamic color) with the Shahada, or Muslim creed, in large white Arabic script that translates as, "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God;" the text is above a white horizontal saber pointing to the left
history: design dates to the early 20th century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family that established the kingdom in 1932; the flag has different sides so that the text reads correctly from right to left and the saber points in the same direction on both sides
history: design dates to the early 20th century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family that established the kingdom in 1932; the flag has different sides so that the text reads correctly from right to left and the saber points in the same direction on both sides
National symbol(s)
palm tree over two crossed swords
National color(s)
green, white
National anthem(s)
title
"Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King)
lyrics/music
Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
history
music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
7 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā ͐ in Ṣāliḥ) (c); At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah (c); Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah (c); Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia (c); Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape (c); Ḥimā Cultural Area (c); ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid (n);The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area (c)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, oil-based Middle Eastern economy; OPEC founding member; Vision 2030 strategy prioritizing economic diversification, increased private sector involvement, and projects funded by sovereign wealth fund and foreign investment; young labor force; falling but significant poverty rate despite lack of official statistics
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$2.213 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$2.173 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$2.161 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
12% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024
$62,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$64,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$67,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.238 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture
2.5% (2024 est.)
industry
44.8% (2024 est.)
services
47.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
45% (2024 est.)
government consumption
21.4% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
28.7% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
1.4% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
29.2% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-25.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, dates, chicken, wheat, tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, olives, eggs, onions (2023)
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
-1.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force
17.168 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024
3.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
4.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
5.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total
13.8% (2024 est.)
male
9.8% (2024 est.)
female
23.8% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
20.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2024
0% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget
revenues
$378.413 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$388.489 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
13.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
7.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2024
-$5.685 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$35.133 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022
$150.353 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2024
$360.897 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023
$368.731 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022
$445.881 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners
China 21%, India 12%, Japan 12%, USA 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, alcohols, ships (2023)
Imports
Imports 2024
$317.012 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023
$289.91 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022
$258.371 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners
China 21%, UAE 8%, USA 7%, India 6%, Germany 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$463.87 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$457.949 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$478.232 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024
3.75 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
3.75 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
3.75 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
3.75 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
3.75 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity
119.62 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption
383.512 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports
352 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports
308 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
38.23 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
99.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption
66,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports
500 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
223,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
11.174 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
3.524 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production
121.219 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
121.219 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
9.423 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
349.692 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
6.788 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
20 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
52.5 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
132 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
state-controlled broadcast media; state-run TV operates 4 networks; major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio with several networks; multiple international broadcasters available
Internet country code
.sa
Internet users
percent of population
100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
14.5 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
44 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HZ
Airports
90 (2025)
Heliports
69 (2025)
Railways
total
5,410 km (2016)
standard gauge
5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)
Merchant marine
total
433 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 20, oil tanker 55, other 348
Ports
total ports
16 (2024)
large
0
medium
1
small
7
very small
8
ports with oil terminals
10
key ports
Dammam, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Ju Aymah Oil Terminal, Ras Tannurah, Ras Al Khafji, Ras Al Mishab
Military and Security
Military and security forces
the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) are divided into two ministries:
Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard: Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)
Other security forces include:
Ministry of Interior: Facilities Security Forces, Public Security Forces (police), General Directorate of Border Guard
State Security Presidency (SSP): General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2025)
Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard: Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)
Other security forces include:
Ministry of Interior: Facilities Security Forces, Public Security Forces (police), General Directorate of Border Guard
State Security Presidency (SSP): General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2024
7.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
6.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020
8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 250,000 active Saudi Armed Forces, including 125,000 under the Ministry of Defense and 125,000 in the National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the inventory of the Saudi military forces, including the SANG, is comprised of imported modern armaments; major suppliers include Canada, China, France, Spain, the UK, and the US; Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest importers of arms (2025)
Military service age and obligation
voluntary military service for men (17-40) and women (typically 21-40, although maximum age may vary by role); no conscription (2025)
Military - note
Saudi Arabia's security concerns include border security, cyberattacks, instability in Yemen, international terrorism, maritime security, and regional rivals such as Iran and Turkey
Saudi Arabia has close security ties with the US; the SAAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and hosts US forces; the US has participated in a cooperative program to equip and train the SANG since 1973, and much of the equipment for both the regular forces and the SANG has been acquired from the US; Saudi Arabia also has defense relationships with China, France, India, Pakistan, the UK, and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members; it is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region; the force was established in 1982, and its leadership is based in Saudi Arabia (2025)
Saudi Arabia has close security ties with the US; the SAAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and hosts US forces; the US has participated in a cooperative program to equip and train the SANG since 1973, and much of the equipment for both the regular forces and the SANG has been acquired from the US; Saudi Arabia also has defense relationships with China, France, India, Pakistan, the UK, and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members; it is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region; the force was established in 1982, and its leadership is based in Saudi Arabia (2025)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Saudi Space Agency (SSA; elevated to agency level from previous Saudi Space Commission or SSC, which was established in 2018); King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST; established 1977) (2024)
Space program overview
has a national space strategy (Vision 2030) that seeks to grow its domestic space industry and use the space sector to accelerate economic diversification, enhance scientific research and development, and raise private-sector participation in the global space industry; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; develops a range of satellite subsystems and payload technologies; is the main founder and financier of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat, launched in 1976 and headquartered in Riyadh); cooperates with the space agencies and industries of a wide range of countries, including those of Belarus, China, Egypt, the ESA and its member states (particularly France, Germany, Greece, and Hungary), India, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, the UAE, the UK, and the US; member of the Arab Space Cooperation Group (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1985 - first communications satellite (Arabsat-1A) built and launched by European commercial companies; first Saudi astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle
2004 - first domestically built, experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (SaudiSat-2) launched by Russia
2017-2019 - contributed to China’s robotic spacecraft mission (Chang’e-4) to the far side of the Moon
2021 - domestically built maritime-tracking satellite (Shaheen Sat) launched by Russia; began participating in Russia's astronaut training program
2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration
2023 - sent two astronauts, including first Saudi woman, to the International Space Station on a US commercial spacecraft
2004 - first domestically built, experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (SaudiSat-2) launched by Russia
2017-2019 - contributed to China’s robotic spacecraft mission (Chang’e-4) to the far side of the Moon
2021 - domestically built maritime-tracking satellite (Shaheen Sat) launched by Russia; began participating in Russia's astronaut training program
2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration
2023 - sent two astronauts, including first Saudi woman, to the International Space Station on a US commercial spacecraft
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
4,355 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
70,000 (2024 est.)