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| Geography |
| Extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal. |
| Location: | Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen |
| Geographic coordinates: | 25 00 N, 45 00 E |
| Area: | total: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq kmSize comparison: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 4,431 km
border countries: 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
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 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | frequent sand and dust storms |
| Current Environment 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 Environment 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People |
| Population: | 28,146,656
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2008 est.) |
| 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.) |
| 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/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Death rate: | 2.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -6.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.3 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female
total population: 1.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.23 deaths/1,000 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.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.01% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian |
| Ethnic groups: | Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% |
| Religions: | Muslim 100% |
| Languages: | Arabic |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.) |
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| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights)
other: gas companies; religious groups |
| 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
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Ford M. FRAKER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah) |
| 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 |
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| Economy |
| 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. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $546 billion (2007 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $376 billion (2007 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3.5% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $19,800 (2007 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3%
industry: 63.7%
services: 33.3% (2007 est.) |
| Labor force: | 6.563 million
note: about one-third of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 12%
industry: 25%
services: 63% (1999 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 4.1% (2007 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | 20% of GDP (2007 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $163 billion
expenditures: $118.3 billion (2007 est.) |
| Public debt: | 24.3% of GDP (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.) |
| Electricity - production: | 179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 156.8 billion kWh (2006 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2007 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 10.25 million bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 2.311 million bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 8.9 million bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 41,680 bbl/day (2005) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 266.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 75.9 billion cu m (2007 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2007 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2007 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 7.167 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $86.62 billion (2007 est.) |
| Exports: | $226.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum and petroleum products 90% |
| Exports - 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.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles |
| Imports - partners: | US 12.6%, China 9.4%, Germany 8.8%, Japan 8.1%, Italy 5%, South Korea 4.9%, UK 4.5% (2007) |
| Economic aid - donor: | since 2002, Saudi Arabia has provided more than $480 million in budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority, supported Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), provided more than $250 million to Arab League funds for the Palestinians, and pledged $500 million in assistance over the next three years at the Donors Conference in Dec 2007; pledged $230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133 million in direct grant aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and $153 million in export credits for Pakistan earthquake relief; pledged a total of $1.59 billion to Lebanon in assistance and deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an additional $1.1 billion in early 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 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $326.9 billion (2006) |
| Currency (code): | Saudi riyal (SAR) |
| Exchange rates: | Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: | 3.996 million (2007) |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 117 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .sa |
| Internet hosts: | 141,232 (2008) |
| Internet users: | 6.2 million (2007) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: | 213 (2007) |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 77
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 136
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 15 (2007) |
| Heliports: | 8 (2007) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1,148 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) |
| 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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| Military |
|
| Military branches: | Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 8,547,441
females age 16-49: 6,381,098 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 7,398,417
females age 16-49: 5,525,357 (2008 est.) |
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