Saudi Arabia Population: 26,131,703
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal | |
| Location: | Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen |
| Geographic coordinates: | 25 00 N, 45 00 E |
| Area: | total: 2,149,690 sq km land: 2,149,690 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US |
| 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 |
| Coastline: | 2,640 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified |
| Climate: | harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes |
| Terrain: | mostly uninhabited, sandy desert |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper |
| Land use: | arable land: 1.67% permanent crops: 0.09% other: 98.24% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 17,310 sq km (2008) |
| 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 |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 26,131,703 (July 2011 est.) note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals |
| 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.) |
| Median age: | total: 25.3 years male: 26.4 years female: 23.9 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.536% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 19.34 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 3.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 74.11 years male: 72.15 years female: 76.16 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.31 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.01% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian |
| Ethnic groups: | Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% |
| Religions: | Muslim 100% |
| Languages: | Arabic (official) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.8% male: 84.7% female: 70.8% (2003 est.) |
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| Government | |
| 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 |
| Government type: | monarchy |
| Capital: | name: Riyadh geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| 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 |
| Independence: | 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom) |
| National holiday: | Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932) |
| Constitution: | governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992 |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: | 21 years of age; male |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); 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 SULTAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud; Second 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 the World 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 |
| 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 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Council of Justice |
| Political parties and leaders: | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights) other: gas companies; religious groups |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
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| Economy | |
| 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $622 billion (2010 est.) $599.5 billion (2009 est.) $596 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $443.7 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3.7% (2010 est.) 0.6% (2009 est.) 4.2% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $24,200 (2010 est.) $23,700 (2009 est.) $23,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 2.6% industry: 61.8% services: 35.7% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 7.337 million 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.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 10.8% (2010 est.) 10.5% (2009 est.) note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (2010 est.) 5.1% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 22% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $197.3 billion expenditures: $167.1 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 17.1% of GDP (2010 est.) 22.7% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk |
| 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 |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 3.1% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 194.4 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 174.5 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 10.52 million bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 2.643 million bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 7.635 million bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 83,150 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 262.6 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 7.807 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $70.1 billion (2010 est.) $21.43 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $237.9 billion (2010 est.) $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) |
| Imports: | $88.35 billion (2010 est.) $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) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $445.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $410.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $80.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $72.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $192.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $167 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $18 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $353.4 billion (31 December 2010) $318.8 billion (31 December 2009) $246.3 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2010) 3.75 (2009) 3.75 (2008) 3.745 (2007) 3.745 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 4.171 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 38 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 44.864 million (2009) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .sa |
| Internet hosts: | 488,598 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 9.774 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 217 (2010) country comparison to the world: 27 |
| Airports (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 (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) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 212 km; gas 2,846 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,232 km; refined products 1,151 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 1,378 km standard gauge: 1,378 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 221,372 km paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 74 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) |
| Ports and terminals: | Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, Yanbu al Bahr |
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| Military | |
| 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 service age and obligation: | 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004) |
| 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.) |
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