View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2005 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sa

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

15,931 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

1.5 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3,502,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

7,238,200 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

117 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

Budget [time series]

revenues: $104.8 billion expenditures: $78.66 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Saudi riyal (SAR)

Current account balance [time series]

$51.5 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$34.35 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - donor) [time series]

pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance to the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 five and a half million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is encouraging private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Priorities for government spending in the short term include additional funds for education and for the water and sewage systems. Economic reforms proceed cautiously because of deep-rooted political and social conservatism.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

128.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

138.2 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2004), 3.745 (2003), 3.745 (2002), 3.745 (2001), 3.745 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$113 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners [time series]

US 18.2%, Japan 14.9%, South Korea 9.5%, China 6.1%, Taiwan 4.5%, Singapore 4.1% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 March - 28 February

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

$310.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 4.2% industry: 67.2% services: 28.6% (2004 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2004 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$36.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles

Imports - partners [time series]

US 15.3%, Japan 9.8%, Germany 8.1%, China 6.6%, UK 5.7% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.8% (2004 est.)

Industries [time series]

crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

17.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

6.62 million note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

56.4 billion cu m (2002)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2002)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2002)

Natural gas - production [time series]

56.4 billion cu m (2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

6.339 trillion cu m (2004)

Oil - consumption [time series]

1.55 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - exports [time series]

7.92 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production [time series]

9.021 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

261.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

75% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$23.62 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

25% (unofficial estimate) (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,960,582 sq km land: 1,960,582 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Climate [time series]

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Coastline [time series]

2,640 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

25 00 N, 45 00 E

Geography - 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

Irrigated land [time series]

16,200 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1.67% permanent crops: 0.09% other: 98.24% (2001)

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

frequent sand and dust storms

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Terrain [time series]

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Riyadh

Constitution [time series]

governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Country name [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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX: [966] (1) 488-3989 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Turki al-Faysal bin 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: 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: 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 scheduled nationwide for February through April 2005

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

monarchy

Independence [time series]

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

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]

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

National holiday [time series]

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

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

none

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

none

Suffrage [time series]

adult male citizens age 21 or older note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections scheduled nationwide for February through April 2005

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 7,648,999 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 6,592,709 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 247,334 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$18 billion (2002)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

10% (2002)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,149,960/female 4,952,138) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 8,992,348/female 6,698,633) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 334,694/female 289,826) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.56 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 13.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.46 years male: 73.46 years female: 77.55 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.8% male: 84.7% female: 70.8% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.28 years male: 22.84 years female: 19.28 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

26,417,599 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.31% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 100%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female total population: 1.21 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.05 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under the 2000 Jeddah Treaty is almost complete; Yemen protests Saudi erection of a concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities in sections of the boundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with the UAE is still unknown

Illicit drugs [time series]

death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine, and hashish; not a major money-laundering center, improving anti-money-laundering legislation

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

201 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 72 over 3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 129 over 3047 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 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

5 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 152,044 km paved: 45,461 km unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,306,706 GRT/1,963,191 DWT by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 12, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 9 foreign-owned: 14 (Egypt 2, Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 5, Singapore 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1, United Kingdom 3) registered in other countries: 54 (2005)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Railways [time series]

total: 1,392 km standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2004)