Saudi Arabia

Quick Facts

🇸🇦
Capital:
Riyadh
Official Language(s):
Arabic
Currency:
Saudi riyal (ر.س)
Population:
34,813,867

Overview

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi), making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the largest in the Middle East, and the 12th-largest in the world. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the west; Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north; the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to the east; Oman to the southeast; and Yemen to the south. The Gulf of Aqaba in the northwest separates Saudi Arabia from Egypt and Israel. Saudi Arabia is the only country with a coastline along both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and most of its terrain consists of arid desert, lowland, steppe, and mountains. The capital and largest city is Riyadh; other major cities include Jeddah and the two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina. With a population of almost 32.2 million, Saudi Arabia is the fourth most populous country in the Arab world.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $874,156,000,000B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 5.1%(2021). Upper-middle income economy with good development.

GDP Growth
5.1%(2021)
GDP PPP
$1.72T

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 47.1%(2021) in services, 44.2%(2021) in industry, and 2.7%(2021) in agriculture. Industry-driven economy.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 6.6%(2021) unemployment and 3.1%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 32.8%(2021) exports and 24.4%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
6.6%(2021)
Inflation
3.1%(2021)
Exports/GDP
32.8%(2021)
Imports/GDP
24.4%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

0.3

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

0.4

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

100.0

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

126.4

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

13.2

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 57.14%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of 8.41%(2021).

FDI Inflows
2.64%(2021)
FDI Outflows
2.82%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

N/A

Foreign Reserves

$473.89B(2021)(25.0 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
7.45%(2021)
High-Tech Exports
0.31%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
13.21%(2021)
Services
47.12%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

  • energy

Growth Trajectory

Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

Growth Potential Indicators

Human Capital

Education and workforce development

59.8/100

Trade Position

International trade and competitiveness

12.7/100

Economic Structure

Sectoral balance and sophistication

36.1/100

Demographics & Human Capital

Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

Demographics

Population Overview

Total population of 30,784,383(2021) with -2.5%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 2.427 births/woman(2021).

Life Expectancy
76.936 years(2021)
Birth Rate
17.473 per 1,000(2021)

Age Structure

Working-age population (72.2%(2021)) with youth at 25.2%(2021) and elderly at 2.6%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 38.6%(2021).

Young Dependency
34.9%(2021)
Old Dependency
3.6%(2021)

Gender & Migration

Population is 39.3%(2021) female and 60.7%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.051 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: -106,287(2021).

Male Mortality
99.919/1,000(2021)
Female Mortality
80.846/1,000(2021)

Development Indicators

Urban population growing at -2.2%(2021) annually, with 15.5%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: N/A.

Urbanization
84.5%(2021)
Infant Mortality
5.7 per 1,000(2021)

Population Structure

The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
  • Labor force participation and productivity
  • Tax contributions to support social services
  • Innovation and economic growth

An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

Source: World Bank Development Indicators

Security Context

Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

Geographic & Resource Security

Food & Agriculture

Arable land comprises 1.6%(2021) of territory, with 80.8%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 4,727.5 kg/hectare(2021).

Food Production Index
167.23(2021)
Cereal Production
877,638 MT(2021)

Energy Security

Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 100.0%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

Resource Rents
N/A

Water Resources

Fresh water resources of 59 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 0.454 mm(2021).

Forest Area
7.2%(2021)

Environmental Vulnerability

78.0%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at 7.2%(2021) providing natural buffer.

Annual Rainfall
0.454 mm(2021)

Military & Security

Military Capabilities

Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: 1,803,000,000(2021) ( N/A of labor force).

Arms Exports
333 USD(2021)
Arms Imports
6 USD(2021)

Strategic Status

Military Alliances

No major military alliances

Nuclear Status

Non-Nuclear State

Security Environment

Refugee population: 1,338,260(2021)Internally displaced: 1,368,825(2021)

Strategic Geography

Strategic Features

  • Borders 7 countries