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.
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total
2,149,690 sq km
land
2,149,690 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries
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
Coastline
2,640 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
18 nm
continental shelf
not specified
Climate
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point
Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use
arable land
1.67%
permanent crops
0.09%
other
98.24% (2005)
Irrigated land
16,200 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues
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
Environment - international agreements
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
Geography - note
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
Population
27,601,038
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
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.)
Median age
total
21.4 years
male
22.9 years
female
19.6 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.06% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
29.1 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
2.55 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
-5.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
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.)
Infant mortality rate
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.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
75.88 years
male
73.85 years
female
78.02 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.94 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Saudi(s)
adjective
Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions
Muslim 100%
Languages
Arabic
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
78.8%
male
84.7%
female
70.8% (2003 est.)
Country name
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
Government type
monarchy
Capital
name
Riyadh
geographic coordinates
24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
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
Independence
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution
governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992
Legal system
based on Shari'a law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
21 years of age; male
Executive branch
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
Legislative branch
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
American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone
[966] (1) 488-3800
FAX
[966] (1) 488-3989
consulate(s) general
Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description
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
Economy - overview
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$366.2 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$276.9 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$13,600 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
3.3%
industry
67%
services
29.8% (2006 est.)
Labor force
7.125 million
note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
12%
industry
25%
services
63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate
13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.9% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
16.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$189.2 billion
expenditures
$107.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Japan 17.6%, US 15.8%, South Korea 9.6%, China 7.2%, Singapore 4.4%, Taiwan 4.4% (2006)
Imports
$64.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports - partners
US 12.2%, Germany 8.5%, China 7.9%, Japan 7.2%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.8% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$31.63 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$47.39 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor
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
Currency (code)
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code
SAR
Exchange rates
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003), 3.75 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
4.5 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular
13.3 million (2005)
Telephone system
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)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios
6.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
117 (1997)
Televisions
5.1 million (1997)
Internet country code
.sa
Internet hosts
10,931 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
22 (2003)
Internet users
3.2 million (2006)
Airports
208 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
73
over 3,047 m
32
2,438 to 3,047 m
13
1,524 to 2,437 m
24
914 to 1,523 m
2
under 914 m
2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
135
over 3,047 m
1
2,438 to 3,047 m
7
1,524 to 2,437 m
75
914 to 1,523 m
40
under 914 m
12 (2006)
Heliports
6 (2006)
Pipelines
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,531 km; refined products 1,150 km (2006)
Railways
total
1,392 km
standard gauge
1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2005)
Roadways
total
152,044 km
paved
45,461 km
unpaved
106,583 km (2000)
Merchant marine
total
60 ships (1000 GRT or over) 837,272 GRT/1,064,377 DWT
by type
cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned
9 (Egypt 2, Kuwait 5, Sudan 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries
55 (Bahamas 12, Comoros 3, Dominica 3, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 1, Liberia 24, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 3, Panama 8) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Military branches
Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
7,648,999
females age 18-49
5,417,922 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
6,592,709
females age 18-49
4,659,347 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
247,334
females age 18-49
234,500 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
10% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2006)
Trafficking in persons
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
Illicit drugs
death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement
