Saudi Arabia

absolute monarchy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

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

voluntary military service for men (17-40) and women (typically 21-40, although maximum age may vary by role); no conscription (2025)

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)

$2.213 trillion (2024 est.) $2.173 trillion (2023 est.) $2.161 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$62,700 (2024 est.) $64,500 (2023 est.) $67,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

1.8% (2024 est.) 0.5% (2023 est.) 12% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

1.7% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 2.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

13.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

$360.897 billion (2024 est.) $368.731 billion (2023 est.) $445.881 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$317.012 billion (2024 est.) $289.91 billion (2023 est.) $258.371 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

3.9% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

revenues: $378.413 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $388.489 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

milk, dates, chicken, wheat, tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, olives, eggs, onions (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 36,544,431 (2024 est.) male: 20,700,838 female: 15,843,593

1.72% (2025 est.)

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)

13.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

3.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.) male: 75.6 years female: 78.8 years

urban population: 85% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

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.

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)

total population: 97.9% (2024 est.) male: 98.6% (2024 est.) female: 96.7% (2024 est.)

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa ida 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

refugees: 4,355 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 70,000 (2024 est.)

90 (2025)

total: 5,410 km (2016) standard gauge: 5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)

total: 433 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 20, oil tanker 55, other 348

total subscriptions: 52.5 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)

percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)