Saudi Arabia

broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4 networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

.sa

488,598 (2010) country comparison to the world: 51

9.774 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 30

general assessment: modern system including a combination of extensive microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic cables domestic: 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)

4.166 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 39

51.564 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 24

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

revenues: $197.3 billion expenditures: $167.1 billion (2010 est.)

6.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

2.5% (31 December 2008)

7.2% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 7.2% (31 December 2009 est.)

$70.1 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $21.43 billion (2009 est.)

$80.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $72.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 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. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. Almost 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population, which generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, most recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science and Technology - Saudi Arabia's first co-educational university. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has begun establishing six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote foreign investment and plans to spend $373 billion between 2010 and 2014 on social development and infrastructure projects to advance Saudi Arabia's economic development.

174.5 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

0 kWh (2009 est.)

0 kWh (2009 est.)

194.4 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2010) 3.75 (2009) 3.75 (2008) 3.745 (2007) 3.745 (2006)

$237.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $192.3 billion (2009 est.)

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Japan 14.3%, China 13.1%, US 13%, South Korea 8.8%, India 8.3%, Singapore 4.5% (2010)

$443.7 billion (2010 est.)

$622 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $599.5 billion (2009 est.) $596 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

agriculture: 2.6% industry: 61.8% services: 35.6% (2010 est.)

$24,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $23,700 (2009 est.) $23,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

3.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 0.6% (2009 est.) 4.2% (2008 est.)

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

$88.35 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $87.08 billion (2009 est.)

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

US 12.4%, China 11.1%, Germany 7.1%, Japan 6.9%, France 6.1%, India 4.7%, South Korea 4.2% (2010)

3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

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

5.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 5.1% (2009 est.)

22.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

7.337 million country comparison to the world: 61 note: about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2010 est.)

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

$353.4 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 23 $318.8 billion (31 December 2009) $246.3 billion (31 December 2008)

83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

7.807 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

2.643 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

7.635 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

83,150 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

10.52 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

262.6 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

NA%

16.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 22.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

$445.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 $410.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$288.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $274.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$14.29 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $10.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$187.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $159.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$2.693 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $2.248 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$166.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $139.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

44.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

10.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 10.5% (2009 est.) note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)

total: 2,149,690 sq km country comparison to the world: 13 land: 2,149,690 sq km water: 0 sq km

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

2,640 km

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

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

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

25 00 N, 45 00 E

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

17,310 sq km (2008)

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

arable land: 1.67% permanent crops: 0.09% other: 98.24% (2005)

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

Middle East

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

frequent sand and dust storms volcanism: Despite Saudi Arabia's many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

2.4 cu km (1997)

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk

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

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

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

chief of mission: Ambassador James B. SMITH 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)

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

chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince; 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 NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - an 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 system will not take effect until after Crown Prince SULTAN becomes king

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; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay

monarchy

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Supreme Council of Justice

Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note - several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for a third of the Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced

name: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King) lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

palm tree surmounting two crossed swords

none

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

21 years of age; male

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. The 2010-11 uprising across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsula Shield Force. Other relatively minor, non-Shia demonstrations focused on labor, prisoner, and infrastructure complaints. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits to Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment benefits. The King also announced that Riyadh would begin preparations for a second round of municipal elections in September 2011.

males age 16-49: 8,644,522 females age 16-49: 6,601,985 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49: 7,365,624 females age 16-49: 5,677,819 (2010 est.)

male: 261,105 female: 244,763 (2010 est.)

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)

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

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

0-14 years: 29.4% (male 3,939,377/female 3,754,020) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 9,980,253/female 7,685,328) 65 years and over: 3% (male 404,269/female 368,456) (2011 est.)

19.34 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

5.3% (2005) country comparison to the world: 82

3.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

improved: urban: 97% of population rural: 63% of population total: 89% of population unimproved: urban: 3% of population rural: 37% of population total: 11% of population (1990)

5.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 40

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

0.01% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

NA

NA

5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 139

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 95

total: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 111 male: 18.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Arabic (official)

total population: 74.11 years country comparison to the world: 108 male: 72.15 years female: 76.16 years (2011 est.)

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

RIYADH (capital) 4.725 million; Jeddah 3.234 million; Mecca 1.484 million; Medina 1.104 million; Ad Dammam 902,000 (2009)

24 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 122

total: 25.3 years male: 26.4 years female: 23.9 years (2011 est.)

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

-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

35.6% (2000) country comparison to the world: 5

0.939 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 105

26,131,703 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals

1.536% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Muslim 100%

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 13 years (2009)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.27 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

2.31 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

total: 28.2% country comparison to the world: 17 male: 23.6% female: 45.8% (2008)

urban population: 82% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

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

refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)

current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and to a much lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and many other countries voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants or other low-skilled laborers, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude; women, primarily from Asian and African countries, were believed to have been forced into prostitution in Saudi Arabia; others were reportedly kidnapped and forced into prostitution after running away from abusive employers; Yemeni, Nigerian, Pakistani, Afghan, Chadian, and Sudanese children were subjected to forced labor as beggars and street vendors in Saudi Arabia, facilitated by criminal gangs; some Saudi nationals travel to destinations including Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to solicit prostitution 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; however, the government undertook some efforts to improve its response to the vast human trafficking problem in Saudi Arabia, including training government officials on its 2009 anti-trafficking law and conducting surprise visits to places where victims may be found; it also achieved its first conviction under its human trafficking law; nonetheless, the government did not prosecute and punish a significant number of trafficking offenders or significantly improve victim protection services (2011)

217 (2010) country comparison to the world: 27

total: 81 over 3,047 m: 33 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2010)

total: 136 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 71 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 16 (2010)

9 (2010)

total: 74 country comparison to the world: 58 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 22, container 4, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 foreign-owned: 15 (Egypt 1, Greece 4, Kuwait 4, UAE 6) registered in other countries: 55 (Bahamas 16, Dominica 3, Liberia 24, Norway 3, Panama 8) (2010)

condensate 212 km; gas 2,846 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,232 km; refined products 1,151 km (2010)

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, Yanbu al Bahr

total: 1,378 km country comparison to the world: 81 standard gauge: 1,378 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2010)

total: 221,372 km country comparison to the world: 23 paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)