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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sa

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

18,369 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

4.7 million (2006)

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]

4.5 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

19.663 million (2006)

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: $174.8 billion expenditures: $104.1 billion (2006 est.)

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

Saudi riyal (SAR)

Current account balance [time series]

$104.1 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$46.6 billion (2006 est.)

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

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; pledged a total of $1.59 billion to Lebanon in assistance and deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an additional $1.1 billion in early 2007

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It 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 to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. The government is promoting private sector and foreign participation in the power generation, telecom, natural gas, and petrochemical industries. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. With high oil revenues enabling the government to post large budget surpluses, Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. The government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

146.9 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

165.6 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003), 3.75 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$207.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 17.7%, US 15.8%, South Korea 9%, China 7.2%, Taiwan 4.6%, Singapore 4.4% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$282 billion (2006 est.)

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

$371.5 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 3% industry: 63.6% services: 33.4% (2006 est.)

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

$13,800 (2006 est.)

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

4.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$64.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 12.3%, Germany 8.6%, China 8%, Japan 7.3%, UK 4.9%, Italy 4.8%, South Korea 4.1% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.9% (2006 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

17% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

6.311 million note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$326.9 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

68.32 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production [time series]

68.32 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

6.568 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

1.845 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports [time series]

8.554 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production [time series]

9.475 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

264.2 billion bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

32.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$27.77 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Unemployment rate [time series]

13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 2,149,690 sq km land: 2,149,690 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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution 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 (2003)

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% (2005)

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]

name: Riyadh geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992

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 Ford FRAKER embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, 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) cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king

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, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Council of Justice

Legal system [time series]

based on Shari'a 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 (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 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, to date no such elections have been held or announced

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]

21 years of age; male

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. 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 the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds approximately 25% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. 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 females age 18-49: 5,417,922 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 6,592,709 females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 247,334 females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.)

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

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

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

10% (2005 est.)

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 5,369,285/female 5,162,585) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,316,694/female 7,089,370) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 348,827/female 314,277) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.1 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

2.55 deaths/1,000 population (2007 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: 12.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.88 years male: 73.85 years female: 78.02 years (2007 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: 21.4 years male: 22.9 years female: 19.6 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-5.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

27,601,038 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.06% (2007 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: 1.314 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female total population: 1.196 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.94 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran

Illicit drugs [time series]

death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2006)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so

Transportation

Airports [time series]

213 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 77 over 3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 136 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 15 (2007)

Heliports [time series]

8 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 59 ships (1000 GRT or over) 847,094 GRT/1,059,026 DWT by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 foreign-owned: 10 (Egypt 1, Greece 2, Kuwait 6, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 63 (Bahamas 15, Comoros 1, Dominica 1, France 1, Liberia 24, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 3, Panama 14) (2007)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,531 km; refined products 1,150 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [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) (2006)

Roadways [time series]

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