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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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)

Internet country code [time series]

.sa

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

145,941 (2012) country comparison to the world: 79

Internet users [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

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

4.633 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 32

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

53.706 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 25

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $314.3 billion expenditures: $236.3 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

11.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Central bank discount rate [time series]

2.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

6.8% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 7.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$150 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 $158.5 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$127.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 $107.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 17% 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. Over 5 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2012 est.) 3.75 (2011 est.) 3.75 (2010 est.) 3.75 (2009) 3.75 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$381.5 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $364.7 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 13.9%, China 13.6%, US 13.4%, South Korea 10.2%, India 7.8%, Singapore 4.8% (2011)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$657 billion (2012 est.)

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

$740.5 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $698.8 billion (2011 est.) $652.8 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2% industry: 66.9% services: 31.1% (2012 est.)

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

$25,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $24,800 (2011 est.) $23,700 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 7.1% (2011 est.) 5.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$136.8 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $120 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 12.8%, US 11.9%, Germany 7.1%, South Korea 6%, Japan 5.6%, India 4.9%, Italy 4.1% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8.4% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

21.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Labor force [time series]

8.012 million country comparison to the world: 61 note: about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2012 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]

$338.9 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 25 $353.4 billion (31 December 2010) $318.8 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

12.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$626.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 $541.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$360.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $326.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$20.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $17.73 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

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

$221.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $204.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$62.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $27.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$231.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $202.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

47.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 10.9% (2011 est.) note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

478.4 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Crude oil - exports [time series]

6.88 million bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Crude oil - production [time series]

10 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

264.6 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Electricity - consumption [time series]

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

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

44.49 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity - production [time series]

212.3 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

99.23 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - production [time series]

99.23 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

8.028 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

2.817 million bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

951,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

160,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

1.914 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 2,149,690 sq km country comparison to the world: 13 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]

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

Irrigated land [time series]

17,310 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 volcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar

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 (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk

Capital [time series]

name: Riyadh geographic coordinates: 24 39 N, 46 42 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 Saudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Saudiyah

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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)

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 SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, born 31 December 1935) ; note - the monarch is both 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 SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 19 June 2012) 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 King ABDALLAH's successor inherits the throne

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; 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

Government type [time series]

monarchy

Independence [time series]

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

International law organization participation [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Council of Justice

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

National symbol(s) [time series]

palm tree surmounting two crossed swords

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. One of his male descendents rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz ascended to the throne in 2005. 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. The king instituted an interfaith dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The 2010-12 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. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. In response to the unrest, 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. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide in September 2011 for half the members of 285 municipal councils. Also in September, the king announced that women will be allowed to run for and vote in future municipal elections - first held in 2005 - and serve as full members of the advisory Consultative Council. During 2012, Shia protests increased in violence, while peaceful Sunni protests expanded. 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: 8,644,522 females age 16-49: 6,601,985 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 261,105 female: 244,763 (2010 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 and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28.8% (male 3,913,775/ female 3,727,767) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 10,185,658/ female 7,905,890) 65 years and over: 3% (male 416,673/ female 384,741) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.19 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

3.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 216

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

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

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: 164

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

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

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 15.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 111 male: 17.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.35 years country comparison to the world: 108 male: 72.37 years female: 76.42 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.6% male: 90.4% female: 81.3% (2010 est.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

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

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

24 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 133

Median age [time series]

total: 25.7 years male: 26.7 years female: 24.4 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

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

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.939 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population [time series]

26,534,504 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals

Population growth rate [time series]

1.523% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Religions [time series]

Muslim (official) 100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.29 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.21 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.26 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

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

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 82% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 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; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

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): 291,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2009)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

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 (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

216 (2012) country comparison to the world: 27

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 80 over 3,047 m: 33 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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 (2012)

Heliports [time series]

10 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 72 country comparison to the world: 61 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 25, container 4, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 7 foreign-owned: 15 (Egypt 1, Greece 4, Kuwait 4, UAE 6) registered in other countries: 55 (Bahamas 16, Dominica 2, Liberia 20, Malta 2, Norway 3, Panama 11, Tanzania 1) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, Yanbu al Bahr

Railways [time series]

total: 1,378 km country comparison to the world: 81 standard gauge: 1,378 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 221,372 km country comparison to the world: 22 paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)