In 1800, the territory of modern-day Saudi Arabia had a population of just over two million people. This figure would see little change for over a century, only rising to three million in the 1940s, almost a century and a half later. The population of Saudi Arabia would only see a major increase starting in the 1950s, as the oil reservoirs discovered in 1938 led to a booming oil industry which has been fundamental to the country's socioeconomic development ever since. While growth would slow somewhat from the 1980s to 1990s, partially due to the economic impact of the oil-price crash of 1986, the population would continue to increase well into the 21st century, and in 2020, just under 35 million people are estimated to live in the country.

This statistic shows the total population of Saudi Arabia from 2020 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. In 2024, Saudi Arabia's total population amounted to 35.3 million inhabitants. Population of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, the second largest Arab state, is a nation in development. As a result of the economic stability, gross domestic product (GDP) has grown by about 520 billion U.S. dollars over the past decade. This comes as a result of Saudi Arabia’s positive trade balance and the fact that Saudi Arabia exports about 2.5 times more goods than it imports. Therefore, it is no surprise that Saudi Arabia has constantly had a very high GDP growth in the past decade. In a developing country, there is a tendency for the population to move to more urban cities where the employment rates are higher. The degree of urbanization in Saudi Arabia has grown by around 2 percent from 2002 to 2012. Some of the biggest cities in Saudi Arabia have witnessed the urbanization changes first-hand. The capital of Saudi Arabia and the biggest city, Ar-Riyad, is home to about five million inhabitants. However, the high number of illegal immigrants in Saudi Arabia also accounts for the total population. More awareness to health risks and better living conditions have increased the life expectancy at birth in Saudi Arabia by about 3 years in the last decade. With a rapidly growing total population, it has grown by around 8 million inhabitants over the past decade, the government has set some rules to avoid overcrowding and overpopulation. The fertility rate in Saudi has steadily decreased over the past years in order to attempt to control the rapidly growing population.

Key information about Saudi Arabia population

• The Saudi Arabia population reached 35.3 million people in Jun 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 33.7 million people in Jun 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 35.3 million people in Jun 2024 and a record low of 3.9 million people in Jun 1950

• In the latest reports, Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate increased to 3.7 % in Sep 2024
• Monthly earnings of the Saudi Arabia population was 753.9 USD in Dec 2018
• Saudi Arabia Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 61.7 % in Mar 2023

The total population in Saudi Arabia was estimated at 35.3 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Saudi Arabia Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Saudi data was reported at 20,768,627.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 20,427,576.000 Person for 2017. Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Saudi data is updated yearly, averaging 13,511,162.000 Person from Dec 1974 (Median) to 2018, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20,768,627.000 Person in 2018 and a record low of 6,163,805.000 Person in 1974. Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Saudi data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.G004: Population: Projection: Mid Year: General Authority for Statistics.

Explore the Saudi Arabia population dataset by administrative region, nationality, and sex. Gain insights into demographic trends with SAMA Annual data.

Population, region, SAMA Annual

Saudi ArabiaFollow data.kapsarc.org for timely data to advance energy economics research..*Population estimates based on Demographic Research Bulletin 2016. *Mid-year estimates.

The annual population growth in Saudi Arabia decreased to 3.33 percent compared to the previous year. Population growth refers to the annual change in population, and is based on the balance between birth and death rates, as well as migration.Find more key insights for the annual population growth in countries like Bahrain and Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Non Saudi: Male data was reported at 8,665,061.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,341,557.000 Person for 2017. Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Non Saudi: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 3,553,349.000 Person from Dec 1974 (Median) to 2018, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,665,061.000 Person in 2018 and a record low of 517,178.000 Person in 1974. Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Non Saudi: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.G004: Population: Projection: Mid Year: General Authority for Statistics.

Explore the Population by Detailed Age, Gender, Governorate, Nationality and Region in Saudi Arabia. Find insights on Saudi and Non-Saudi individuals, including breakdowns for males, females, age groups, governorate and total population.Follow data.kapsarc.org for timely data to advance energy economics research.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Saudi Arabia (SPPOPGROWSAU) from 1961 to 2024 about Saudi Arabia, population, and rate.

Saudi Arabia SA: Population: Growth data was reported at 2.032 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.251 % for 2016. Saudi Arabia SA: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 3.308 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.366 % in 1982 and a record low of 1.914 % in 1998. Saudi Arabia SA: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Population growth (annual %) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 3.3288 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

This statistic depicts the population size of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from 2005 to 2015 and a forecast up to 2030. By 2030, the city of Riyadh will be populated by *** million people according to projections.

The largest population group in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consisted of **** million male nationals and about **** million female Saudi nationals in 2018. Female foreigners numbered an estimated **** million - less than half of the number of male foreigners dwelling in Saudi Arabia. According to estimates, the total population of Saudi Arabia during this time period was 33.2 million people.   Regional context    Though Saudi Arabia, with a landmass of **** million square kilometers, is the largest Middle Eastern country, population wise it in the midfield. This results in a low population density in Saudi Arabia of only 15.3 inhabitants per square kilometer. Saudi Arabia has a unique position within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries as approximately two thirds of the population are Saudi Arabian nationals – unlike the other countries in the subregion were the citizens are the minority of the population.   Population development    The population of Saudi Arabia grew between 2011 and 2017 by 3.1 percent. This is reflected in Saudi Arabia’s relatively young population with a median age of 29.8 years. The average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia is increasing as well, which indicates social and economic improvement within the country.

Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Non Saudi data was reported at 12,645,033.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 12,185,270.000 Person for 2017. Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Non Saudi data is updated yearly, averaging 5,070,860.000 Person from Dec 1974 (Median) to 2018, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,645,033.000 Person in 2018 and a record low of 774,397.000 Person in 1974. Saudi Arabia GASTAT Projection: Population: Mid Year: Non Saudi data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.G004: Population: Projection: Mid Year: General Authority for Statistics.

Population ages 65 and above (% of total population) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 2.8195 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Population ages 65 and above (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population, female (% of total population) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 39.46 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Population, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Saudi Arabia SA: International Migrant Stock: Total data was reported at 10,185,945.000 Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,429,956.000 Person for 2010. Saudi Arabia SA: International Migrant Stock: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 4,199,732.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,185,945.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 63,389.000 Person in 1960. Saudi Arabia SA: International Migrant Stock: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2012 Revision.; Sum;

Historical dataset showing Saudi Arabia population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for Saudi Arabia (SPPOP65UPTOZSSAU) from 1960 to 2024 about 65-years +, Saudi Arabia, and population.