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Introduction
Geography People
Government Economy For More Information about Saudi Arabia
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| Introduction | Saudi Arabia |
Background: |
In 1902, ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh
and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian
Peninsula. A son of ABD AL-AZIZ rules the country today, and
the country's Basic Law stipulates that the throne shall
remain in the hands of the aging sons and grandsons of the
kingdom's founder. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in
1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and
400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to
deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following
year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil
after Operation Desert Storm remained a source of tension
between the royal family and the public until the US
military's near-complete withdrawal to neighboring Qatar in
2003. The first major terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia in
several years, which occurred in May and November 2003,
prompted renewed efforts on the part of the Saudi government
to counter domestic terrorism and extremism, which also
coincided with a slight upsurge in media freedom and
announcement of government plans to phase in partial political
representation. As part of this effort, the government
permitted elections - held nationwide from February through
April 2005 - for half the members of 179 municipal councils. A
burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy
largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all
ongoing governmental concerns.
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| Geography | Saudi Arabia |
Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen |
Geographic coordinates: |
25 00 N, 45 00 E |
Area: |
total: 1,960,582 sq km land: 1,960,582 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative: |
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: Arabian 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 |
Environment - current issues: |
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills |
Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: |
extensive coastlines on Arabian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Arabian Gulf and Suez Canal |
| People | Saudi Arabia |
Population: |
27,019,731 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2006 est.) |
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,261,530/female 5,059,041) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,159,519/female 6,895,616) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 342,020/female 302,005) (2006 est.) |
Median age: |
total: 21.4 years male: 22.9 years female: 19.4 years (2006 est.) |
Population growth rate: |
2.18% (2006 est.) |
Birth rate: |
29.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
Death rate: |
2.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
Net migration rate: |
-4.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.2 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 75.67 years male: 73.66 years female: 77.78 years (2006 est.) |
Total fertility rate: |
4 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
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.) |
| Government | Saudi Arabia |
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: |
Riyadh |
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 Shari'a law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993 |
Legal system: |
based on Shari'a law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
Suffrage: |
adult male citizens age 21 or older note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections held nationwide from February through April 2005 |
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); 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 cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarch is hereditary |
Legislative branch: |
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - in October 2003, Council of Ministers announced 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; in November 2004, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs initiated voter registration for partial municipal council elections held nationwide from February through April 2005 |
Judicial branch: |
Supreme Council of Justice |
Political parties and leaders: |
none |
Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none |
International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO |
Flag description: |
Green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932 |
| Economy | Saudi Arabia |
Economy - overview: |
This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia possesses 25% 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. The government is encouraging private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. The government has begun to permit private sector and foreign investor participation in the power generation and telecom sectors. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in 2005 after many years of negotiations. With high oil revenues enabling the government to post large budget surpluses, Riyadh has been able to substantially boost spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. |
GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$340.6 billion (2005 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate): |
$273.9 billion (2005 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate: |
6.5% (2005 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$12,900 (2005 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 3.3% industry: 74.7% services: 21.9% (2005 est.) |
Labor force: |
6.76 million note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2005 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.) |
Unemployment rate: |
13% male 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): |
0.4% (2005 est.) |
Investment (gross fixed): |
16.3% of GDP (2005 est.) |
Budget: |
revenues: $143.7 billion expenditures: $89.65 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.) |
Public debt: |
41% of GDP (2005 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: |
2.8% (2005 est.) |
Electricity - production: |
145.1 billion kWh (2003) |
Electricity - consumption: |
134.9 billion kWh (2003) |
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2003) |
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2003) |
Oil - production: |
9.475 million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
Oil - consumption: |
1.775 million bbl/day (2003) |
Oil - exports: |
7.92 million bbl/day (2003) |
Oil - imports: |
0 bbl/day (2003) |
Oil - proved reserves: |
262.7 billion bbl (2005 est.) |
Natural gas - production: |
60.06 billion cu m (2003 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption: |
60.06 billion cu m (2003 est.) |
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2002) |
Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2002) |
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
6.544 trillion cu m (2005) |
Current account balance: |
$87.1 billion (2005 est.) |
Exports: |
$165 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
Exports - commodities: |
petroleum and petroleum products 90% |
Exports - partners: |
US 18.2%, Japan 14.9%, South Korea 9.5%, China 6.1%, Taiwan 4.5%, Singapore 4.1% (2004) |
Imports: |
$44.93 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
Imports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles |
Imports - partners: |
US 15.3%, Japan 9.8%, Germany 8.1%, China 6.6%, UK 5.7% (2004) |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$30.55 billion (2005 est.) |
Debt - external: |
$34.55 billion (2005 est.) |
Economic aid - donor: |
pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance to the Palestinians; 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 |
Currency (code): |
Saudi riyal (SAR) |
Exchange rates: |
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003), 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001) |
Fiscal year: |
1 March - 28 February |
| Communications | Saudi Arabia |
Telephones - main lines in use: |
3,695,100 (2004) |
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
9,175,800 (2004) |
Telephone system: |
general assessment: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems international: country code - 966; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; 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: |
10,335 (2005) |
Internet users: |
2.54 million (2005) |
| Transportation | Saudi Arabia |
Airports: |
202 (2005) |
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 73 over 3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2005) |
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 129 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 72 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 12 (2005) |
Heliports: |
6 (2005) |
Pipelines: |
condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004) |
Railways: |
total: 1,392 km standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2004) |
Roadways: |
total: 152,044 km paved: 45,461 km unpaved: 106,583 km (2000) |
Merchant marine: |
total: 64 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,266,332 GRT/1,895,002
DWT by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 9 foreign-owned: 9 (Egypt 1, Kuwait 6, Sudan 1, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 57 (The Bahamas 12, Bangladesh 1, Comoros 3, Dominica 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 1, Liberia 24, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 7, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, unknown 1) (2005) |
Ports and terminals: |
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah |
| Military | Saudi Arabia |
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 18-49: 7,648,999 females age 18-49: 5,417,922 (2005 est.) |
Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 18-49: 6,592,709 females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.) |
Manpower reaching military service age annually: |
males age 18-49: 247,334 females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.) |
Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$18 billion (2002) |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
10% (2002) |
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