Country Profile 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. Disputes
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Population and Demographics
Saudi Arabia has a population of 28,161,417 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2008 est.) .
| Capital | Riyadh |
| Main urban areas | Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Ta'if |
| Ethnic groups | Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% |
| Languages spoken | Arabic |
| Population age 0-14: 38.1% (m 5,469,641/f 5,258,508) |  | | |
| 0-14 | 15-64 | 65+ | |
| Gender ratios At birth: 1.05 m/f , 0-14: 1.04 m/f , 15-64: 1.3 m/f , 65+: 1.09 m/f | |||
Changing Population (Life expectancy, births, deaths and fertility)
The population growth rate for Saudi Arabia is 1.945% (2008 est.) (world growth rate at 2006 is 1.14%). The country also saw migration of -5.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.). The median age of the country is total: 21.5 years male: 22.9 years female: 19.7 years (2008 est.).
Note: on the graphs, world figures are represented by a red bar, figures for Saudi Arabia are illustrated with a green bar.
| Life Expectancy: | Total population: 76.09 years Male: 74.04 years Female: 78.25 years (2008 est.) |  [76.09] [64.77][Male:, m] [63.16, m][, f][66.47, f] |
| Fertility: | 3.89 children born/woman (2008 est.) | [3.89][2.59] |
| Births: | 28.83 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) | [28.83][20.05] |
| Deaths: | 2.52 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) | [2.52][8.67] |
| Infants: | Total: 12.01 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) | [12.01][48.87][13.79, m][50.98, m][10.15, f][46.65, f] |
Economic Data
Economy Overview
High oil prices have boosted growth, government revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals - to lessen the kingdom’s dependence on oil exports and to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, nearly 40% of which are youths under 15 years old.
Unemployment is high, and the large youth population generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. 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. The government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification.
Debt and Aid
Debt: $52.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Aid Given: since 2002, Saudi Arabia has provided more than $480 million in budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority, supported Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), provided more than $250 million to Arab League
Aid Received: $26.29 million (2005)
Labour Force
Number in labour force: 6.563 million note: about one-third of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)
Sectors: agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment: 13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)
GDP Facts and Figures
Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR)
GDP: $564.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $23,200 (2007 est.)
GDP Real Growth: 4.1% (2007 est.)
GDP Composition: agriculture: 3% industry: 65.9% services: 31.1% (2007 est.)
Production Growth Rate: -1.1% (2007 est.)
Industries, Land Use and Resource Consumption
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
Land use: arable land: 1.67% permanent crops: 0.09% other: 98.24% (2005)
Exports: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Electricity Consumption: 146.9 billion kWh (2005)
Natural Gas Consumption: 68.32 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Oil Consumption: 2 million bbl/day (2005)
Geographic Data
Saudi Arabia is located in Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen, in the timezone GMT 3. The country has boundaries of 4,431 - Iraq 814, Jordan 744, Kuwait 222, Oman 676, Qatar 60, UAE 457, Yemen 1,458 (km), and a coastline of 2,640 (km). Major urban areas: Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Ta'if.
Elevations
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Physical Features
Arabian desert (2,330,000 km2), Syrian desert (260,000 km2)
Hazards
Frequent sand and dust storms
Climate
Harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Natural Resources
Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land Use
Arable land: 1.67% permanent crops: 0.09% other: 98.24% (2005)
Renewable Water Resources
2.4 cu km (1997)
Fresh Water Withdrawal
total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%) per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
Environmental 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
Transport and Communications
A selection of key transport and communications information for Saudi Arabia
Number of main telephone lines
4.5 million (2006)
Mobile (cellular) phones
19.663 million (2006)
Radio stations
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television stations
117 (1997)
Internet users
4.7 million (2006)
Country internet code
.sa
Railways
total: 1,392 km standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2005)
Highways
total: 152,044 km paved: 45,461 km unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)
Waterways
None
Pipelines
condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)
Ports and harbours
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Airports
213 (2007)
Heliports
8 (2007)
