Saudi Arabia

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 (2007)

Internet country code

.sa

Internet hosts

488,598 (2010) country comparison to the world: 51

Internet users

9.774 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 30

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system including a combination of extensive microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic cables domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; 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) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.166 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 39

Telephones - mobile cellular

51.564 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 24

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $197.3 billion expenditures: $167.1 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

6.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Central bank discount rate

2.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.2% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 7.2% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

$70.1 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $21.43 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$80.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $72.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Economy - overview

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 20% 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 80% of budget revenues, 45% 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. Diversification efforts are focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. Almost 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population, which generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, most recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science and Technology - Saudi Arabia's first co-educational university. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has begun establishing six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote foreign investment and plans to spend $373 billion between 2010 and 2014 on social development and infrastructure projects to advance Saudi Arabia's economic development.

Electricity - consumption

174.5 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

194.4 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Exchange rates

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2010) 3.75 (2009) 3.75 (2008) 3.745 (2007) 3.745 (2006)

Exports

$237.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $192.3 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners

Japan 14.3%, China 13.1%, US 13%, South Korea 8.8%, India 8.3%, Singapore 4.5% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$443.7 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$622 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $599.5 billion (2009 est.) $596 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.6% industry: 61.8% services: 35.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$24,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $23,700 (2009 est.) $23,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 0.6% (2009 est.) 4.2% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$88.35 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $87.08 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 12.4%, China 11.1%, Germany 7.1%, Japan 6.9%, France 6.1%, India 4.7%, South Korea 4.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

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)

5.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 5.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Labor force

7.337 million country comparison to the world: 61 note: about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 6.7% industry: 21.4% services: 71.9% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$353.4 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 23 $318.8 billion (31 December 2009) $246.3 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - production

83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas - proved reserves

7.807 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Oil - consumption

2.643 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Oil - exports

7.635 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Oil - imports

83,150 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Oil - production

10.52 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Oil - proved reserves

262.6 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

16.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 22.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$445.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 $410.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$288.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $274.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$14.29 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $10.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$187.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $159.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.693 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $2.248 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$166.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $139.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

44.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Unemployment rate

10.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 10.5% (2009 est.) note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)

Area

total: 2,149,690 sq km country comparison to the world: 13 land: 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 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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%) per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)

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

17,310 sq km (2008)

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: 1.67% permanent crops: 0.09% other: 98.24% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified

Natural hazards

frequent sand and dust storms volcanism: Despite Saudi Arabia's 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

Terrain

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Total renewable water resources

2.4 cu km (1997)

Administrative divisions

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk

Capital

name: Riyadh geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992

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 James B. SMITH embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy, 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 Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince; note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - an Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the system will not take effect until after Crown Prince SULTAN becomes king

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 note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay

Government type

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, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Council of Justice

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

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for a third of the Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced

National anthem

name: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King) lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984

National holiday

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

National symbol(s)

palm tree surmounting two crossed swords

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights) other: gas companies; religious groups

Suffrage

21 years of age; male

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. 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 king instituted an Inter-Faith Dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in February 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% 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. The 2010-11 uprising across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsula Shield Force. Other relatively minor, non-Shia demonstrations focused on labor, prisoner, and infrastructure complaints. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits to Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment benefits. The King also announced that Riyadh would begin preparations for a second round of municipal elections in September 2011.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 8,644,522 females age 16-49: 6,601,985 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 7,365,624 females age 16-49: 5,677,819 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 261,105 female: 244,763 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Ministry of Defense and Aviation Forces: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes Marine Forces and Special Forces), Royal Saudi Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya as-Sa'udiya), Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Forces, Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)

Military expenditures

10% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.4% (male 3,939,377/female 3,754,020) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 9,980,253/female 7,685,328) 65 years and over: 3% (male 404,269/female 368,456) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

19.34 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.3% (2005) country comparison to the world: 82

Death rate

3.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97% of population rural: 63% of population total: 89% of population unimproved: urban: 3% of population rural: 37% of population total: 11% of population (1990)

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 40

Ethnic groups

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.01% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 139

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 95

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 111 male: 18.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.11 years country comparison to the world: 108 male: 72.15 years female: 76.16 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

RIYADH (capital) 4.725 million; Jeddah 3.234 million; Mecca 1.484 million; Medina 1.104 million; Ad Dammam 902,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

24 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 122

Median age

total: 25.3 years male: 26.4 years female: 23.9 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

35.6% (2000) country comparison to the world: 5

Physicians density

0.939 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 105

Population

26,131,703 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals

Population growth rate

1.536% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Religions

Muslim 100%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 13 years (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.27 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.31 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 28.2% country comparison to the world: 17 male: 23.6% female: 45.8% (2008)

Urbanization

urban population: 82% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and to a much lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and many other countries voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants or other low-skilled laborers, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude; women, primarily from Asian and African countries, were believed to have been forced into prostitution in Saudi Arabia; others were reportedly kidnapped and forced into prostitution after running away from abusive employers; Yemeni, Nigerian, Pakistani, Afghan, Chadian, and Sudanese children were subjected to forced labor as beggars and street vendors in Saudi Arabia, facilitated by criminal gangs; some Saudi nationals travel to destinations including Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to solicit prostitution tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; however, the government undertook some efforts to improve its response to the vast human trafficking problem in Saudi Arabia, including training government officials on its 2009 anti-trafficking law and conducting surprise visits to places where victims may be found; it also achieved its first conviction under its human trafficking law; nonetheless, the government did not prosecute and punish a significant number of trafficking offenders or significantly improve victim protection services (2011)

Airports

217 (2010) country comparison to the world: 27

Airports - with paved runways

total: 81 over 3,047 m: 33 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 136 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 71 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 16 (2010)

Heliports

9 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 74 country comparison to the world: 58 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 22, container 4, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 foreign-owned: 15 (Egypt 1, Greece 4, Kuwait 4, UAE 6) registered in other countries: 55 (Bahamas 16, Dominica 3, Liberia 24, Norway 3, Panama 8) (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 212 km; gas 2,846 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,232 km; refined products 1,151 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, Yanbu al Bahr

Railways

total: 1,378 km country comparison to the world: 81 standard gauge: 1,378 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2010)

Roadways

total: 221,372 km country comparison to the world: 23 paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)