Saudi Arabia

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

22 (2003)

Internet country code

.sa

Internet users

1.453 million (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems international: 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.9 million (2002 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.9 million (2002 est.)

Television broadcast stations

117 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $46 billion expenditures: $56.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)

Currency

Saudi riyal (SAR)

Currency code

SAR

Debt - external

$25.9 billion (2003 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 $240 million to development in Afghanistan

Economy - overview

This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved 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 25% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is supporting private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Priorities for government spending in the short term include additional funds for the water and sewage systems and for education. Water shortages and rapid population growth constrain the government's efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

Electricity - consumption

113.8 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

122.4 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001), 3.75 (2000), 3.75 (1999), 3.75 (1998)

Exports

$71 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners

US 18.6%, Japan 15.6%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 5.1%, China 4.6% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $268.9 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5.2% industry: 51.2% services: 43.6% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$39.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 11.2%, Japan 8.8%, Germany 7.6%, UK 4.9%, France 4.9%, Italy 4.1% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (1997 est.)

Industries

crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

Labor force

7 million note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.339 trillion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

1.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

8.711 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

261.7 billion bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

25% (2002)

Area

total: 1,960,582 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 1,960,582 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 extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

25 00 N, 45 00 E

Geography - note

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

Irrigated land

16,200 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Land use

arable land: 1.72% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 98.22% (1998 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 storms

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Terrain

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

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

Capital

Riyadh

Constitution

governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. JORDAN embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800

Executive branch

chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government elections: none; the monarch is hereditary head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); 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

Flag description

green with large white Arabic script (that may be 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); green is the traditional color of Islam

Government type

monarchy

Independence

23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Council of Justice

Legal system

based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

National holiday

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Political parties and leaders

none allowed

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

none

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. In the 1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country. 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. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns.

Military branches

Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$18.3 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

13% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 6,123,784 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 3,431,281 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 253,685 (2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.3% (male 5,245,413; female 5,028,595) 15-64 years: 54.8% (male 7,700,121; female 5,622,099) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 393,173; female 304,443) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

37.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 47.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 50.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.73 years male: 66.99 years female: 70.55 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.8% male: 84.7% female: 70.8% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 18.8 years male: 20.9 years female: 16.8 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Net migration rate

1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

24,293,844 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

3.27% (2003 est.)

Religions

Muslim 100%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.37 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female total population: 1.22 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

nomadic groups on border region with Yemen resist demarcation of boundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been negotiating a long-contested maritime boundary with Iran; because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with the UAE is still unknown and labeled approximate

Illicit drugs

death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine, and hashish

Airports

209 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 71 over 3,047 m: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 138 under 914 m: 13 (2002) over 3047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 79

Heliports

5 (2002)

Highways

total: 151,470 km paved: 45,592 km unpaved: 105,878 km (1999)

Merchant marine

total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,461,964 GRT/2,301,258 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 11, container 4, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 8 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Egypt 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1, UK 3 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

condensate 212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil 5,062 km; refined products 69 km (2003)

Ports and harbors

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Railways

total: 1,392 km standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2002)

Waterways

none