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Introduction | Saudi Arabia

Background: | In 1902, ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. A son of ABD AL-AZIZ rules the country today, and the country's Basic Law stipulates that the throne shall remain in the hands of the aging sons and grandsons of the kingdom's founder. 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 Operation Desert Storm remained a source of tension between the royal family and the public until the US military's near-complete withdrawal to neighboring Qatar in 2003. The first major terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia in several years, which occurred in May and November 2003, prompted renewed efforts on the part of the Saudi government to counter domestic terrorism and extremism, which also coincided with a slight upsurge in media freedom and announcement of government plans to phase in partial political representation. As part of this effort, the government permitted elections - held nationwide from February through April 2005 - for half the members of 179 municipal councils. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Geography | Saudi Arabia

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: 1,960,582 sq km land: 1,960,582 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, Ozone Layer Protection 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

People | Saudi Arabia

Population: | 27,019,731 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,261,530/female 5,059,041) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,159,519/female 6,895,616) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 342,020/female 302,005) (2006 est.)
Median age: | total: 21.4 years male: 22.9 years female: 19.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.18% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: | 29.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: | 2.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: | -4.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.2 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 75.67 years male: 73.66 years female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 4 children born/woman (2006 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.)

Government | Saudi Arabia

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 Shari'a law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
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: | adult male citizens age 21 or older note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections held nationwide from February through April 2005
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); 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 cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: | Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - in October 2003, Council of Ministers announced 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; in November 2004, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs initiated voter registration for partial municipal council elections held nationwide from February through April 2005
Judicial branch: | Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: | none
Political pressure groups and leaders: | none
International organization participation: | ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador TURKI al-Faysal bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud 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
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador James C. OBERWETTER 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) 488-3989 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 | Saudi Arabia

Economy - overview: | This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia 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 increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. The government has begun to permit private sector and foreign investor participation in the power generation and telecom sectors. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in 2005 after many years of negotiations. With high oil revenues enabling the government to post large budget surpluses, Riyadh has been able to substantially boost spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $346.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $264 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 6.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $13,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3.3% industry: 61.3% services: 35.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: | 6.76 million note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2005 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): | 0.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 16.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $143.7 billion expenditures: $89.65 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: | 44.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: | wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Industries: | 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
Industrial production growth rate: | 5.3% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production: | 145.1 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 134.9 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production: | 9.475 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 1.775 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - exports: | 7.92 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports: | 0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves: | 262.7 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 60.06 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 60.06 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2002)
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 6.544 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance: | $90.73 billion (2005 est.)
Exports: | $165 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities: | petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners: | US 16.4%, Japan 16.1%, South Korea 9.1%, China 6.9%, Singapore 5.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2005)
Imports: | $44.93 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports - partners: | US 13%, Germany 9.5%, Japan 7.9%, China 7.3%, France 4.7%, Italy 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $26.76 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external: | $36.78 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - donor: | pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; 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
Currency (code): | Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code: | SAR
Exchange rates: | Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003), 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001)
Fiscal year: | 1 March - 28 February

Communications | Saudi Arabia

Telephones - main lines in use: | 3.8 million (2005)
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: | 2.54 million (2005)

Transportation | Saudi Arabia

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 | Saudi Arabia

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 - dollar figure: | $18 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 10% (2002)

Transnational Issues | Saudi Arabia

Disputes - international: | despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under the 2000 Jeddah Treaty is almost complete; Saudi Arabia still maintains the concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier along sections of the border with Yemen in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; the United Arab Emirate 2006 Yearbook published a map and text rescinding the 1974 boundary with Saudi Arabia, as stipulated in a treaty filed with the UN in 1993, on the grounds that the agreement was not formally ratified
Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2005)
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; increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine, and hashish; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006