Factbook dossier
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…
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Area
total : 2,149,690 sq km land: 2,149,690 sq km water: 0 sq km
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
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
Population
total: 36,544,431 (2024 est.) male: 20,700,838 female: 15,843,593
Ethnic groups
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
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.) 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)
Environmental issues
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; limited freshwater resources; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management
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
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.213 trillion (2024 est.) $2.173 trillion (2023 est.) $2.161 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$62,700 (2024 est.) $64,500 (2023 est.) $67,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.7% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 2.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
China 21%, India 12%, Japan 12%, USA 6%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 21%, UAE 8%, USA 7%, India 6%, Germany 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
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) note 1: the regular armed forces under the Ministry of Defense are responsible for external defense, although they can be called for domestic security duties if needed note 2 : the SANG (also known as the White Army) is a land force comprised of tribal elements loyal to the House of Saud; it is responsible for internal security, protecting the royal family, guarding against military coups, defending strategic facilities and resources, and providing security for the cities of Mecca and Medina; it may also assist the regular armed forces in combat operations note 3: the SAAF includes the Saudi Royal Guard Command, a unit which provides security and protection to the ruling family and other dignitaries
Military expenditures
7.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 7% of GDP (2023 est.) 6.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 7% of GDP (2021 est.) 8% of GDP (2020 est.)