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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sa

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

471,217 (2009) country comparison to the world: 49

Internet users [time series]

7.7 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 33

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; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2008)

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

4.1 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 39

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

36 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 29

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: $293.7 billion expenditures: $136 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

2.5% (31 December 2008) NA% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance [time series]

$132.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 $96.77 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$82.13 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $58.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% 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 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 6.4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. High oil prices through mid-2008 have boosted growth, government revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals - to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, nearly 40% of which are youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high, and the large youth population generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. 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. The government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification. The last five years of high oil prices have given the Kingdom ample financial reserves to manage the impact of the global financial crisis, but tight international credit, falling oil prices, and the global economic slowdown will reduce Saudi economic growth in 2009.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

165.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Exchange rates [time series]

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2008 est.), 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$313.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $234.1 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners [time series]

US 17.1%, Japan 15.2%, South Korea 10.1%, China 9.3%, India 7%, Singapore 4.4% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$469.4 billion (2008 est.)

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

$577.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $553.5 billion (2007 est.) $535.8 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 3.1% industry: 61.9% services: 35% (2008 est.)

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

$20,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $20,100 (2007 est.) $19,800 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

4.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 3.3% (2007 est.) 3.1% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$108.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $82.6 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 12.2%, China 10.5%, Japan 7.7%, Germany 7.4%, South Korea 5.1%, Italy 4.8%, India 4.2%, UK 4.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

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]

9.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 4.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Labor force [time series]

6.74 million country comparison to the world: 63 note: about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 6.7% industry: 21.4% services: 71.9% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$246.3 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 $515.1 billion (31 December 2007) $326.9 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

80.44 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - production [time series]

80.44 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

7.319 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Oil - consumption [time series]

2.38 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Oil - exports [time series]

8.728 million bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Oil - imports [time series]

79,250 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Oil - production [time series]

10.78 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

266.7 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

18.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 75% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$30.59 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $34.01 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$18.07 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $16.99 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

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

$108.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $92 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $66.94 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$113.2 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 11 $102.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$134.3 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 17 $109.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 13% (2004 est.) note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 2,149,690 sq km country comparison to the world: 14 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%) per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

2.4 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), '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 M. 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); 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); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud; Second Deputy Prime Minister NAYIF bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarchy 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 (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, 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 Sharia 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]

Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights) other: gas companies; religious groups

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 king instituted an Inter-Faith Dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in February 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% 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 16-49: 8,547,441 females age 16-49: 6,381,098 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 7,486,622 females age 16-49: 5,652,819 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 278,179 female: 267,905 (2009 est.)

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

Ministry of Defense and Aviation Forces: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes Marine Forces and Special Forces), Royal Saudi Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya as-Sa'udiya), Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Forces, Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)

Military expenditures [time series]

10% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38% (male 5,557,453/female 5,340,614) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,608,032/female 7,473,543) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 363,241/female 343,750) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

28.55 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Death rate [time series]

2.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 218

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.8% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 28

Ethnic groups [time series]

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.01% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 148 male: 13.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.3 years country comparison to the world: 69 male: 74.23 years female: 78.48 years (2009 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: 21.6 years male: 22.9 years female: 19.9 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-7.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Population [time series]

28,686,633 country comparison to the world: 41 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.848% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

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: 1.29 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1.18 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.83 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 82% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 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) (2007)

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; the government continues to lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking crimes committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

217 (2009) country comparison to the world: 27

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 80 over 3,047 m: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 137 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 72 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 16 (2009)

Heliports [time series]

9 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 62 country comparison to the world: 64 by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 13, container 5, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 7, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 71 (Bahamas 16, Comoros 1, Dominica 2, France 1, Liberia 27, Marshall Islands 5, Norway 3, Panama 16) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,239 km; refined products 1,148 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 1,392 km country comparison to the world: 83 standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 221,372 km country comparison to the world: 24 paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)