From a vast desert kingdom of just over 3 million people in 1950 to a dynamic, urbanized nation of more than 37 million today, Saudi Arabia's remarkable population story is one of explosive growth, youthful energy, and profound demographic transformation.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia's total population as of the 2022 census was 32,175,224 residents.
- The population of Saudi Arabia reached 35,340,683 in mid-2023 according to UN estimates.
- Saudi Arabia's population density is 16 people per square kilometer as of 2023.
- The population of Saudi Arabia as of the 2022 census was 32,175,224 residents.
- Males constitute 56.6% of the total population (18,213,000 males) in 2022 census.
- Females make up 43.4% of population (13,962,000 females) per 2022 census.
- As of 2022 census, 84.4% of population lives in urban areas.
- Urban population growth rate 2.21% annually per World Bank 2022.
- Riyadh city population 7,676,654 in 2022 census.
- Saudi nationals 90.5% of total population, 9.5% non-Saudis in 2022 census.
- Arabs make up 90% of population, per CIA World Factbook 2023.
- South Asians 9%, Africans 1%, other 1% ethnic breakdown CIA.
- Net migration rate 2.23 migrants/1,000 pop per CIA 2023.
- Crude birth rate 14.9 births/1,000 pop in 2023 CIA est.
- Total fertility rate 1.78 children/woman below replacement.
Saudi Arabia's population is growing rapidly and diversifying through significant immigration.
Age and Gender Structure
- The population of Saudi Arabia as of the 2022 census was 32,175,224 residents.
- Males constitute 56.6% of the total population (18,213,000 males) in 2022 census.
- Females make up 43.4% of population (13,962,000 females) per 2022 census.
- Median age in Saudi Arabia is 30.8 years as of 2023 CIA estimate.
- 0-14 years age group comprises 24.9% of population (9,260,000) in 2023.
- 15-64 years group is 70.6% (26,270,000) per CIA 2023 data.
- 65+ years is 4.5% (1,670,000) of population in 2023 CIA stats.
- Male median age is 31.2 years, female 30.3 years per CIA 2023.
- Population under 15 was 25.6% (8,238,000) in 2022 census Saudis.
- Working age 15-64 for Saudis: 70.1% (7,860,000) in 2022.
- Elderly Saudis 65+: 4.3% (484,000) per 2022 census.
- Dependency ratio is 41.6% with 35.2 youth and 6.4 elderly per CIA.
- UN data shows 24.1% aged 0-14 in 2020 medium variant.
- 69.4% aged 15-64 in 2020 UN projection for Saudi Arabia.
- 6.5% over 65 in 2020 per UN population division.
- Sex ratio at birth is 1.05 males per female per CIA.
- Overall sex ratio 123 males per 100 females due to migrants.
- Under 15 sex ratio 107 males/100 females per CIA 2023.
- 15-64 sex ratio 145 males/100 females from migrants.
- 65+ sex ratio 107 males/100 females per CIA data.
- Life expectancy at birth 75.1 years total, 73.5 male, 76.9 female CIA.
- World Bank 2021 median age data: 30.3 years for Saudi Arabia.
- Projected median age 32.5 years by 2030 per UN WPP.
- 2022 census: Riyadh median age around 28.5 years regionally.
- Makkah region median age 29.2 years in 2022 data.
- Eastern Province median age 30.1 years per 2022 census.
Age and Gender Structure Interpretation
Despite its youthful energy, Saudi Arabia leans heavily on a vast, predominantly male workforce of expatriates, creating a demographic imbalance where, for every 100 women, there are 123 men, yet the nation's overall median age of just over 30 suggests this economic engine is still relatively young and facing an impending shift toward an older, more balanced population.
Ethnic and National Composition
- Saudi nationals 90.5% of total population, 9.5% non-Saudis in 2022 census.
- Arabs make up 90% of population, per CIA World Factbook 2023.
- South Asians 9%, Africans 1%, other 1% ethnic breakdown CIA.
- Muslims 93-95% of population, majority Sunni per CIA.
- Shia Muslims 10-12% or about 3.5-4 million per CIA estimates.
- Christians 4%, Buddhists 1%, other religions per CIA 2023.
- Expatriates total 13.5 million or 42% of pop in 2022 census.
- Indians 2.6 million expatriates largest group per GASTAT.
- Pakistanis 2.5 million, Bangladeshis 2.1 million expats 2022.
- Egyptians 1.8 million, Sudanese 1.7 million expats per census.
- Yemenis 1.5 million, Jordanians/Syrians 1.2 million expats 2022.
- Filipinos 0.7 million, Turks 0.5 million expats GASTAT data.
- Bedouin nomadic Arabs less than 1.5% of population CIA.
- Saudi citizens of mixed Arab descent 40% per estimates.
- Najdi Arabs 14 million, Hejazi 7-8 million ethnic groups.
- Eastern Province Arabs 4 million Shia-majority ethnic.
- Asiri Arabs 2.2 million in southwest per wiki sources.
- 85-90% Sunni Muslims, 10-15% Shia per Pew Research.
- Languages: Arabic official, English widely used, Urdu/Hindi common.
- Literacy rate 97.2% total, 98.5% male, 96% female 2022.
- Foreign-born population 39% or 39% of total residents 2020 UN.
Ethnic and National Composition Interpretation
Saudi Arabia’s population portrait reveals a nation where the lines between citizen and guest, Sunni and Shia, Arab and a global mosaic are statistically precise, yet woven into a complex social fabric where nearly everyone is a neighbor to someone from somewhere else.
Total Population and Growth
- Saudi Arabia's total population as of the 2022 census was 32,175,224 residents.
- The population of Saudi Arabia reached 35,340,683 in mid-2023 according to UN estimates.
- Saudi Arabia's population density is 16 people per square kilometer as of 2023.
- From 2012 to 2022, Saudi Arabia's population grew by 34.4% according to official census data.
- The 2022 population census recorded 18,316,956 Saudi nationals and 13,858,268 non-Saudis.
- World Bank data shows Saudi Arabia's population at 36,599,467 in 2022.
- Saudi population growth rate was 1.58% in 2022 per World Bank indicators.
- As of 2023, Riyadh province hosts 8,554,000 people, 26.6% of national total.
- Makkah province population was 9,033,000 in 2022 census, largest in kingdom.
- Eastern Province had 5,086,000 residents per 2022 census data.
- Madinah province population stood at 1,708,000 in the 2022 census.
- Qassim region population was 1,373,000 according to 2022 stats.
- Asir province had 2,107,000 people in 2022 census figures.
- Tabuk province population reached 900,000 in 2022.
- Hail region recorded 717,000 residents in 2022 census.
- Jazan province population was 1,648,000 per 2022 data.
- Najran region had 586,000 people in 2022 census.
- Al-Baha province population stood at 474,000 in 2022.
- Al-Jawf province had 490,000 residents per 2022 census.
- Northern Borders region population was 392,000 in 2022.
- UN projects Saudi population at 39,420,000 by 2025.
- Population growth rate projected at 1.46% annually to 2030 by UN.
- Worldometer estimates 2024 population at 37,194,577 with 1.8% growth.
- IMF forecasts Saudi population at 38.5 million by 2028.
- 1950 population was 3,220,142 per UN historical data.
- 1970 population reached 5,778,000 according to UN records.
- 1990 census-like estimate was 16,758,000 per UN.
- 2010 population was 27,448,000 from UN data.
- Annual population change was +637,895 persons in 2023 per Worldometer.
- Saudi land area is 2,149,690 sq km supporting current density of 17/km².
Total Population and Growth Interpretation
Saudi Arabia's population, now just over 35 million, is a dynamic story of rapid growth—more than tripling since 1990—and stark contrasts, where vast open spaces support a density so low that each person could theoretically have their own 62,500-square-meter plot, yet nearly half the population is packed into just two provinces, Mecca and Riyadh.
Urbanization and Settlement
- As of 2022 census, 84.4% of population lives in urban areas.
- Urban population growth rate 2.21% annually per World Bank 2022.
- Riyadh city population 7,676,654 in 2022 census.
- Jeddah urban agglomeration 4,697,000 residents per 2022.
- Makkah city population 2,042,000 in 2022 census data.
- Medina city had 1,488,000 people in 2022 urban stats.
- Dammam metropolitan area population 1,252,523 per 2022.
- Taif city population 688,000 in 2022 census figures.
- Buraydah urban pop 614,000 per 2022 regional data.
- Khamis Mushait 549,000 residents in 2022 census.
- Hofuf city 501,000 people per 2022 stats.
- CIA estimates 95% urban by 2023 due to rapid development.
- Rural population 15.6% or about 5 million in 2022 census.
- World Bank urban pop % was 84.01% in 2020.
- UN projects 88.5% urban by 2025 medium variant.
- Riyadh province urbanization rate 93.2% in 2022.
- Makkah province 88.7% urban population per 2022.
- Eastern Province 85.4% urban in 2022 census data.
- Asir province only 58.3% urban, highest rural share.
- Jazan region 42.1% urban per 2022 stats.
- Al-Baha province 37.6% urban population in 2022.
- Largest urban center Riyadh grew 4.5% from 2010-2022.
- Jeddah pop increased 28% between 2004 and 2022 censuses.
- 37.8% of Saudis live in Riyadh and Makkah provinces combined urban.
- Non-Saudi urban residents 91.2% vs 78.4% Saudis urban in 2022.
Urbanization and Settlement Interpretation
The kingdom is sprinting toward a concrete horizon, with over 84% of its population already in cities and nearly every expat living there, turning ancient oases into bustling metro areas while a steadfast 15% hold down the rural fort.
Vital Statistics and Migration
- Net migration rate 2.23 migrants/1,000 pop per CIA 2023.
- Crude birth rate 14.9 births/1,000 pop in 2023 CIA est.
- Total fertility rate 1.78 children/woman below replacement.
- Death rate 3.4 deaths/1,000 population per CIA 2023.
- Infant mortality rate 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births CIA.
- Maternal mortality ratio 17 deaths/100,000 live births WHO.
- Life expectancy 76.9 years total, 75.1 male, 78.8 female CIA.
- 2022 births totaled 510,000 per GASTAT vital stats.
- Deaths in 2022: 110,000 according to official records.
- Natural increase 400,000 persons in 2022 census implied.
- Net migration +350,000 in 2023 Worldometer est.
- Remittances sent by expats $38 billion annually WB 2022.
- Unemployment rate 4.8% overall, 12.8% for Saudis youth.
- Saudization policy targets 40% national workforce by 2025.
- Inflows of migrants 1.2 million net per year recent avg.
- Emigration rate low at 0.23 migrants/1,000 pop CIA.
- World Bank net migration 2021: +1,252,000 persons.
- Birth registration 99.5% coverage per UNICEF data.
- Contraceptive prevalence 24.6% among women 15-49 UN.
- Obesity rate 35.4% adult population WHO 2022.
- HIV prevalence <0.1% low per UNAIDS estimates.
Vital Statistics and Migration Interpretation
Saudi Arabia’s population is gently growing older and larger at home, cleverly propped up by a wave of newcomers who fill the gaps its own youth can’t yet bridge, while sending billions back to their own countries in a tidy global exchange.
Sources & References
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- Reference 3CIAcia.govVisit source
- Reference 4DATAdata.worldbank.orgVisit source
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- Reference 6IMFimf.orgVisit source
- Reference 7ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 8PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 9MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
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- Reference 11VISION2030vision2030.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 12MACROTRENDSmacrotrends.netVisit source
- Reference 13DATAdata.unicef.orgVisit source
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- Reference 15AIDSINFOaidsinfo.unaids.orgVisit source