2019 Edition

Background

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 descendants 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 ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in October 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom. Driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism, he introduced a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. These reforms have accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015, and has since lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis went to the polls to elect municipal councilors. In December 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal council elections, with 19 women winning seats. After King SALMAN ascended to the throne in 2015, he placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. He designated his son, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Deputy Crown Prince. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which had been ousted by Huthi forces allied with former president ALI ABDULLAH al-Salih. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. In December 2015, then Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced Saudi Arabia would lead a 34-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism (it has since grown to 41 nations). In May 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal") as part of its ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism. In June 2017, King SALMAN elevated MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN to Crown Prince. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 16% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2015. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In April 2016, the Saudi Government announced a broad set of socio-economic reforms, known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices throughout 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue. In response, the government cut subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government employee compensation packages; and announced limited new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed cut oil output in early 2017 to regulate supply and help elevate global prices.

Area

Land

2,149,690 sq km

Total

2,149,690 sq km

Water

0 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Climate

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Coastline

2,640 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Lowest Point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Mean Elevation

665 m

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; air pollution; waste management

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

Geographic Coordinates

25 00 N, 45 00 E

Geography Note

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

Irrigated Land

16,200 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Iraq 811 km, Jordan 731 km, Kuwait 221 km, Oman 658 km, Qatar 87 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1307 km

Total

4,272 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

80.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

1.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

79.1% (2011 est.)

Forest

0.5% (2011 est.)

Other

18.8% (2011 est.)

Location

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

Map References

Middle East

Maritime Claims

Contiguous Zone

18 nm

Continental Shelf

not specified

Territorial Sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

frequent sand and dust stormsvolcanism: 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

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Population Distribution

historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea

Terrain

mostly sandy desert

Age Structure

0 14 Years

25.74% (male 4,348,227 /female 4,170,944)

15 24 Years

15.58% (male 2,707,229 /female 2,447,519)

25 54 Years

49.88% (male 9,951,080 /female 6,554,525)

55 64 Years

5.48% (male 1,112,743 /female 700,553)

65 Years And Over

3.32% (male 586,606 /female 511,687) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

15.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

24.6% (2016)

Current Health Expenditure

5.7% (2016)

Death Rate

3.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

4.3 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

23.2 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

40.9 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

36.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

97% of population

Improved Total

97% of population

Improved Urban

97% of population

Unimproved Rural

3% of population

Unimproved Total

3% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic Groups

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<500 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

8,200 (2016 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

11.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

13 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

77.3 years

Male

74.2 years

Total Population

75.7 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

91.1% (2015)

Male

97%

Total Population

94.7%

Major Urban Areas Population

7.071 million RIYADH (capital), 4.522 million Jeddah, 2.005 million Mecca, 1.459 million Medina, 1.225 million Ad Dammam (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

27.2 years

Male

32.1 years

Total

29.9 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Noun

Saudi(s)

Net Migration Rate

4.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

35.4% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.39 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

33,091,113 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.63% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-15% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2012 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

100% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

16 years (2014)

Male

18 years

Total

17 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.11 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.52 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.59 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

1.15 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.3 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.04 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

46.3% (2016 est.)

Male

17.4%

Total

24.2%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.17% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

84.1% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

13 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

24 39 N, 46 42 E

Name

Riyadh

Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

the father must be a citizen of Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the king directly or proposed to the king by the Consultative Assembly or by the Council of Ministers; passage by the king through royal decree; Basic Law amended many times, last in 2005 (2016)

History

1 March 1992 - Basic Law of Government, issued by royal decree, serves as the constitutional framework and is based on the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Conventional Short Form

Saudi Arabia

Etymology

named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"

Local Long Form

Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Local Short Form

Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador John P. ABIZAID (since 8 May 2019)

Consulate's General

Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Embassy

P.O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693

Fax

[966] (11) 488-7360

Mailing Address

American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693

Telephone

[966] (11) 488-3800

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Prinecss REEMA bint Bandar Al Saud (since 8 July 2019)

Consulate's General

Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Fax

[1] (202) 944-5983

Telephone

[1] (202) 342-3800

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members

Chief Of State

King and Prime Minister SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015); Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (born 31 August 1985); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government

Elections Appointments

none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes for a voice in selecting future Saudi kings

Head Of Government

King and Prime Minister SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015); Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (born 31 August 1985)

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; 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

Government Type

absolute monarchy

Independence

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

International Law Organization Participation

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

International Organization Participation

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

Highest Courts

High Court (consists of the court chief and is organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree upon the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high-level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2-year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment

Subordinate Courts

Court of Appeals; Specialized Criminal Court, first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts; Labor Court; a hierarchy of administrative courts

Legal System

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

unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms); note - in early 2013, the monarch granted women 30 seats on the Council

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB

Name

"Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King)

National Holiday

Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)

National Symbol S

palm tree surmounting two crossed swords; national colors: green, white

Political Parties And Leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; restricted to males; universal for municipal elections

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

241.8 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

181 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2008

2.5%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

7.1%

31 December 2017

8.3%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$23.87 billion

2017

$15.23 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$189.3 billion

31 December 2017

$205.1 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2013

45.9

Economy Overview

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 16% 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 87% of budget revenues, 42% 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. Approximately 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors; at the same time, however, Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population.In 2017, the Kingdom incurred a budget deficit estimated at 8.3% of GDP, which was financed by bond sales and drawing down reserves. Although the Kingdom can finance high deficits for several years by drawing down its considerable foreign assets or by borrowing, it has cut capital spending and reduced subsidies on electricity, water, and petroleum products and recently introduced a value-added tax of 5%. In January 2016, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia intends to list shares of its state-owned petroleum company, ARAMCO - another move to increase revenue and outside investment. The government has also looked at privatization and diversification of the economy more closely in the wake of a diminished oil market. Historically, Saudi Arabia has focused diversification efforts on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. More recently, the government has approached investors about expanding the role of the private sector in the health care, education and tourism industries. While Saudi Arabia has emphasized their goals of diversification for some time, current low oil prices may force the government to make more drastic changes ahead of their long-run timeline.

Exchange Rates

2013

3.75

2014

3.75

2015

3.75

2016

3.75

2017

3.75

Currency

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$183.6 billion

2017

$221.1 billion

Exports Commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 90% (2012 est.)

Exports Partners

Japan 12.2%, China 11.7%, South Korea 9%, India 8.9%, US 8.3%, UAE 6.7%, Singapore 4.2% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

34.8% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

24.5% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

41.3% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-28.6% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

23.2% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

4.7% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

2.6% (2017 est.)

Industry

44.2% (2017 est.)

Services

53.2% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$686.7 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$56,800

2016

$56,400

2017

$54,500

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$1.761 trillion

2016

$1.79 trillion

2017

$1.775 trillion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

4.1%

2016

1.7%

2017

-0.9%

Gross National Saving

2015

26.5% of GDP

2016

27.2% of GDP

2017

30.1% of GDP

Imports

2016

$127.8 billion

2017

$119.3 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

China 15.4%, US 13.6%, UAE 6.5%, Germany 5.8%, Japan 4.1%, India 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-2.4% (2017 est.)

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

2%

2017

-0.9%

Labor Force

13.8 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

6.7%

Industry

21.4%

Services

71.9% (2005 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2013

$467.4 billion

31 December 2014

$483.1 billion

31 December 2015

$421.1 billion

Public Debt

2016

13.1% of GDP

2017

17.2% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$535.8 billion

31 December 2017

$496.4 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$305.2 billion

31 December 2017

$312.6 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$46.45 billion

31 December 2017

$56.09 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$258.1 billion

31 December 2017

$264.6 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$219.7 billion

31 December 2017

$267.1 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$305.2 billion

31 December 2017

$312.6 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

26.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

5.6%

2017

6%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

657.1 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

7.341 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

10.425 million bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

266.2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

98% (2017)

Electrification Total Population

99% (2017)

Electrification Urban Areas

100% (2017)

Electricity Consumption

296.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

82.94 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

324.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

109.3 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

109.3 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

8.619 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

3.287 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

1.784 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

609,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

2.476 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

9 (2017 est.)

Total

2,498,692

Broadcast Media

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

Communications Note

the innovative King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (informally known as Ithra, meaning "enrichment") opened on 1 December 2017 in Dhahran, Eastern Region; its facilities include a grand library, several museums, an archive, an Idea Lab, a theater, a cinema, and an Energy Exhibit, all which are meant to provide visitors an immersive and transformative experience

Internet Country Code

.sa

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

73.8% (July 2016 est.)

Total

20,768,456

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line 13 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly 141 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

modern system including a combination of extensive microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic cables; broadband is available with DSL, fibre, and wireless; mobile penetration is steep in Saudi Arabia; 4G/5G use in early 2019 (2018)

International

country code - 966; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, EIG, FALCON, FEA, IMEWE, MENA/Gulf Bridge International, SEACOM, SAS-1, -2, GBICS/MENA, and the Tata TGN-Gulf submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia ;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) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

13 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

3,619,352

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

141 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

40,210,965

Airports

214 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

27 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

16 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

2 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

33 (2017)

Total

82 (2017)

Under 914 M

4 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

72 (2013)

2 438 To 3 047 M

7 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

37 (2013)

Total

132 (2013)

Under 914 M

16 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

HZ (2016)

Heliports

10 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 5, container ship 1, general cargo 19, oil tanker 65, other 290 (2018)

Total

380

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

1,783,086,000 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

32,778,827 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

214 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

12 (2015)

Pipelines

209 km condensate, 2940 km gas, 1183 km liquid petroleum gas, 5117 km oil, 1151 km refined products (2013)

Ports And Terminals

Container Port's Teus

Ad Dammam (1,582,388), Jeddah (4,150,000), King Abdulla (1,695,322) (2017)

Major Seaport S

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, King Abdulla, Yanbu'

Railways

Standard Gauge

5,410 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2016)

Total

5,410 km (2016)

Roadways

Paved

47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) (2006)

Total

221,372 km (2006)

Unpaved

173,843 km (2006)

Military And Security Forces

Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard (SANG); Ministry of Interior: Border Guard, Facilities Security Force (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

10.68% of GDP

2015

13.33% of GDP

2016

9.87% of GDP

2017

10.25% of GDP

2018

8.78% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; in 2018, women were allowed to serve as soldiers in the internal security services under certain requirements (2018)

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; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

Illicit Drugs

regularly enforces the death penalty for drug traffickers, with foreigners being convicted and executed disproportionately; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees Country Of Origin

30,000 (Yemen) (2017)

Stateless Persons

70,000 (2018); note - thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness

Trafficking In Persons

Current Situation

Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women from South and East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa who voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants or low-skilled laborers subsequently face conditions of involuntary servitude, including nonpayment and withholding of passports; some migrant workers are forced to work indefinitely beyond the term of their contract because their employers will not grant them a required exit visa; female domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because of their isolation in private homes; women, primarily from Asian and African countries, are believed to be forced into prostitution in Saudi Arabia, while other foreign women were reportedly kidnapped and forced into prostitution after running away from abusive employers; children from South Asia, East Africa, and Yemen are subjected to forced labor as beggars and street vendors in Saudi Arabia, facilitated by criminal gangs

Tier Rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; government officials and high-level religious leaders demonstrated greater political will to combat trafficking and publically acknowledged the problem – specifically forced labor; the government reported increased numbers of prosecutions and convictions of trafficking offenders; however, it did not proactively investigate and prosecute employers for potential labor trafficking crimes following their withholding of workers’ wages and passports, which are illegal; authorities did not systematically use formal criteria to proactively identify victims, resulting in some unidentified victims being arrested, detained, deported, and sometimes prosecuted; more victims were identified and referred to protective services in 2014 than the previous year, but victims of sex trafficking and male trafficking victims were not provided with shelter and remained vulnerable to punishment (2015)

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

Al Qa Ida Aq

aim(s): oppose the Saudi Islamic monarchy due to its cooperation with the US and the West, particularly US military bases in the Kingdom; eradicate US and Western influence and presence from Saudi Arabia area(s) of operation: maintains familial connections but lacks a persistent operational presence; probably retains some supporters in the country who could facilitate future operations (2018)

Al Qa Ida In The Arabian Peninsula Aqap

aim(s): ultimately overthrow the Saudi Islamic monarchy; eradicate US and Western influence and presence from Yemen and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula area(s) of operation: maintains familial connections but lacks an operational presence inside Saudi Arabia; operates widely in neighboring Yemen (2018)

Islamic State Of Iraq And Ash Sham Isis Saudi Arabia

aim(s): replace the Saudi Islamic monarchy with an Islamic state applying ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia; target minority Shia Muslims, Saudi security personnel, and their interests area(s) of operation: maintains a recruitment presence; conducts deadly strikes against Saudi security personnel and bombs Shia Muslim mosques, markets, and other places where Shia Muslims gather (2018)