Introduction
Background
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) founded the modern Saudi state in 1932 after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and held about 16% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2015.
Geography
Area
total : 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Climate
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
People and Society
Population
total: 36,544,431
Ethnic groups
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Languages
Arabic (official)
Religions
Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-12% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2020 est.)
Population growth rate
1.68% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
absolute monarchy
Capital
name: Riyadh
Executive branch
chief of state: King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015)
head of government: Crown Prince and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 27 September 2022)
Legislative branch
summary: unicameral Consultative Council (150 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan AL SAUD (since 8 July 2019)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RATNEY (since 27 April 2023)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, oil-based Middle Eastern economy; OPEC leader; diversifying portfolio; declining per-capita incomes; young labor force; key human capital gaps; heavy bureaucracy and increasing corruption; substantial poverty; low innovation economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.831 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.845 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.717 trillion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$49,600 (2023 est.)
$50,700 (2022 est.)
$47,800 (2021 est.)
Exports
$370.974 billion (2023 est.)
$445.881 billion (2022 est.)
$286.502 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
China 19%, India 13%, Japan 10%, South Korea 10%, US 7% (2022)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, ethylene polymers, plastics, fertilizers (2022)
Imports
$291.565 billion (2023 est.)
$258.213 billion (2022 est.)
$213.516 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 22%, UAE 16%, US 6%, India 6%, Germany 4% (2022)
Imports - commodities
cars, broadcasting equipment, garments, gold, refined petroleum (2022)
Page last updated: Monday, September 16, 2024
