Saudi Arabia

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) founded the modern Saudi state in 1932 after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas.

Geography

Area
total : 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

People and Society

Population
total: 36,544,431 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Languages
Arabic (official)

Religions
Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-12% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
1.68% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
absolute monarchy

Capital
name: Riyadh

Executive branch
chief of state: King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015)
head of government: Crown Prince and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 27 September 2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan AL SAUD (since 8 July 2019)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alison DILWORTH (since January 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
high-income, oil-based Middle Eastern economy; OPEC founding member; Vision 2030 strategy prioritizing economic diversification, increased private sector involvement, and projects funded by sovereign wealth fund and foreign investment; young labor force; falling but significant poverty rate despite lack of official statistics

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.213 trillion (2024 est.)
$2.173 trillion (2023 est.)
$2.161 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$62,700 (2024 est.)
$64,500 (2023 est.)
$67,200 (2022 est.)

Exports
$360.897 billion (2024 est.)
$368.731 billion (2023 est.)
$445.881 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
China 21%, India 12%, Japan 12%, USA 6%, UAE 4% (2023)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, alcohols, ships (2023)

Imports
$317.012 billion (2024 est.)
$289.91 billion (2023 est.)
$258.371 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
China 21%, UAE 8%, USA 7%, India 6%, Germany 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.900, ranking it 37th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 42nd out of 158 countries tested with a score of 6.324. (more information)