Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

1,624,000 telephones; modern system local: NA intercity: extensive microwave and coaxial and fiber optic cable systems international: 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; earth stations - 5 INTELSAT (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 ARABSAT, and 1 INMARSAT

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 80 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Special Security Force, Public Security Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $17.2 billion, 13.8% of GDP (1994) SENEGAL

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 5,303,679; males fit for military service 2,949,842; males reach military age (17) annually 164,220 (1995 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for about 10% of GDP, 16% of labor force; subsidized by government; products - wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus fruit, mutton, chickens, eggs, milk; approaching self-sufficiency in food

Budget [time series]

revenues: $39 billion expenditures: $50 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.5 billion (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah

Economic aid [time series]

donor: pledged bilateral aid (1979-89), $64.7 billion; pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 17,550,000 kW production: 46 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,430 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since late 1986), 3.7033 (1986)

Exports [time series]

$39.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 92% partners: US 20%, Japan 18%, Singapore 5%, France 5%, South Korea 5% (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$18.9 billion (December 1989 est., includes short-term trade credits)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and cocaine

Imports [time series]

$28.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, motor vehicles, textiles partners: US 21%, Japan 14%, UK 11%, Germany 8%, Italy 6%, France 5% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 20% (1991 est.); accounts for 35% of GDP, including petroleum

Industries [time series]

crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (1993 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $173.1 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$9,510 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-3% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. About 46% of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties with the US are especially strong. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and almost all export earnings. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and banking sectors. For about a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and international outlays have outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs. For 1995, the country looks for improvement in oil prices and will continue its policies of restraining public spending and encouraging non-oil exports.

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.5% (1992 est.)

Area [time series]

total area: 1,960,582 sq km land area: 1,960,582 sq km comparative area: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Climate [time series]

harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature

Coastline [time series]

2,640 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; status of boundary with UAE not final; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia

Irrigated land [time series]

4,350 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 4,415 km, Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 39% forest and woodland: 1% other: 59%

Location [time series]

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Note [time series]

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

Terrain [time series]

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Administrative divisions [time series]

13 provinces (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah, Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Capital [time series]

Riyadh

Constitution [time series]

none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)

Digraph [time series]

SA

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan Abd al-Aziz Al Saud chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the King, appointed heir to the throne 13 June 1982) cabinet: Council of Ministers; dominated by royal family members appointed by the king

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[966] (1) 482-4364 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag [time series]

green with large white Arabic script (that may be 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); green is the traditional color of Islam

Independence [time series]

23 September 1932 (unification)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Council of Justice

Legal system [time series]

based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

a consultative council comprised of 60 members and a chairman who are appointed by the King for a term of four years

Mail [time series]

P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693; APO AE 09803-1307 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none allowed

Suffrage [time series]

none

Government type (Type) [time series]

monarchy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond E. MABUS, Jr. embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, Riyadh; International

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (female 3,952,573; male 4,065,224) 15-64 years: 55% (female 4,078,001; male 6,219,737) 65 years and over: 2% (female 203,372; male 210,669) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.78 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.54 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

48.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

5 million-6 million by occupation: government 34%, industry and oil 28%, services 22%, agriculture 16%

Languages [time series]

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.5 years male: 66.79 years female: 70.3 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 62% male: 73% female: 48%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Net migration rate [time series]

3.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

18,729,576 (July 1995 est.) note: a 1992 census gives the number of Saudi citizens as 12,304,835 and the number of residents who are not citizens as 4,624,459

Population growth rate [time series]

3.68% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 100%

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.48 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 211 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 30 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4 with paved runways under 914 m: 21 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 73 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 43

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 151,530 km paved: 60,610 km unpaved: 90,920 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 855,452 GRT/1,233,477 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 5, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 22, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 7

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)

Ports [time series]

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ras al Khafji, Ras al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 1,390 km standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track)