Saudi Arabia is projected to reach 35.1 million people in 2024, but that growth sits alongside an urban shift where 83.3% of residents lived in cities as early as 2010. Demographic momentum is shaping everything from a 4.5 migrants per 1,000 population net migration rate to a crude death rate of 3.3 deaths per 1,000 in 2023. Put those figures next to fertility, mortality, and the growing share of older adults, and you start to see how fast the country’s population profile is changing.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia’s population was 28.5 million in 2007 (World Bank)
- 36.6 million people in Saudi Arabia in 2021
- Saudi Arabia had 36.0 million people in 2023
- 3.1% population growth rate in Saudi Arabia in 2015
- 83.3% of the population living in urban areas in Saudi Arabia in 2010
- 34,801,000 people living in urban areas in Saudi Arabia in 2023
- Urban population count in Saudi Arabia was 29,000,000 in 2010
- Saudi Arabia’s crude death rate was 3.3 deaths per 1,000 population in 2023
- Saudi Arabia’s infant mortality rate is 8.5 deaths per 1,000 live births (World Bank, 2023)
- Saudi Arabia’s total fertility rate was 2.8 births per woman in 2010
- Saudi Arabia net migration rate is 4.5 migrants per 1,000 population in 2023 (World Bank)
- Saudi Arabia’s foreign-born population share is 36.9% in 2020 (UN DESA)
- Saudi Arabia old-age dependency ratio is 8.6 dependents per 100 working-age people (World Bank/UNICEF-style dependency ratio series)
- Saudi Arabia population density is 19.0 people per km² (World Bank, latest available)
- Saudi Arabia land area excluding inland waters is 2,149,690 km² (World Bank)
Saudi Arabia grew to about 35.1 million people by 2024, with rapid urbanization and improving health outcomes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Population Size4 stats
01
Saudi Arabia’s population was 28.5 million in 2007 (World Bank)
02
36.6 million people in Saudi Arabia in 2021
03
Saudi Arabia had 36.0 million people in 2023
04
Saudi Arabia’s population was 35.1 million in 2024 (IMF estimate)
Interpretation
Population Size Interpretation
Under the Population Size category, Saudi Arabia’s population shows strong growth, rising from 28.5 million in 2007 to about 35.1 million in 2024 per IMF estimates.
02 · Category
Population Growth1 stats
01
3.1% population growth rate in Saudi Arabia in 2015
Interpretation
Population Growth Interpretation
In the Population Growth category, Saudi Arabia saw a 3.1% population growth rate in 2015, signaling steady expansion during that period.
03 · Category
Urbanization3 stats
01
83.3% of the population living in urban areas in Saudi Arabia in 2010
02
34,801,000 people living in urban areas in Saudi Arabia in 2023
03
Urban population count in Saudi Arabia was 29,000,000 in 2010
Interpretation
Urbanization Interpretation
In Saudi Arabia’s urbanization trend, the urban share rose to 83.3% by 2010 and the urban population grew from 29,000,000 in 2010 to 34,801,000 by 2023, showing sustained expansion of life in cities over time.
04 · Category
Health & Mortality2 stats
01
Saudi Arabia’s crude death rate was 3.3 deaths per 1,000 population in 2023
02
Saudi Arabia’s infant mortality rate is 8.5 deaths per 1,000 live births (World Bank, 2023)
Interpretation
Health & Mortality Interpretation
In the Health and Mortality category, Saudi Arabia recorded a relatively low crude death rate of 3.3 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023 while its infant mortality still stood at 8.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, showing progress in overall mortality alongside ongoing early life health challenges.
05 · Category
Fertility & Migration3 stats
01
Saudi Arabia’s total fertility rate was 2.8 births per woman in 2010
02
Saudi Arabia net migration rate is 4.5 migrants per 1,000 population in 2023 (World Bank)
03
Saudi Arabia’s foreign-born population share is 36.9% in 2020 (UN DESA)
Interpretation
Fertility & Migration Interpretation
With Saudi Arabia’s fertility rate at 2.8 births per woman in 2010 alongside strong migration flows of 4.5 migrants per 1,000 people in 2023 and a large foreign born share of 36.9% in 2020, population change is clearly being driven as much by migration as by births.
06 · Category
Labor Force & Dependency1 stats
01
Saudi Arabia old-age dependency ratio is 8.6 dependents per 100 working-age people (World Bank/UNICEF-style dependency ratio series)
Interpretation
Labor Force & Dependency Interpretation
Saudi Arabia’s old-age dependency ratio is just 8.6 dependents per 100 working-age people, indicating a comparatively light burden on the labor force from retirement-age citizens.
More related reading
07 · Category
Population Density2 stats
01
Saudi Arabia population density is 19.0 people per km² (World Bank, latest available)
02
Saudi Arabia land area excluding inland waters is 2,149,690 km² (World Bank)
Interpretation
Population Density Interpretation
Saudi Arabia’s population density is just 19.0 people per km² across a land area of about 2,149,690 km², highlighting how sparsely populated the country is under the population density lens.
08 · Category
Births & Fertility3 stats
01
Saudi Arabia’s birth rate was 20.0 births per 1,000 population in 2023
02
Saudi Arabia’s contraceptive prevalence rate was 64.0% among married women in 2018
03
Saudi Arabia’s adolescent birth rate (ages 15–19) was 10.3 births per 1,000 girls in 2022
Interpretation
Births & Fertility Interpretation
In Saudi Arabia under the Births and Fertility category, the birth rate stands at 20.0 births per 1,000 people in 2023 and even though contraceptive prevalence is relatively high at 64.0% among married women, the adolescent birth rate remains notable at 10.3 births per 1,000 girls in 2022.
09 · Category
Mortality & Longevity4 stats
01
60.7 years average life expectancy at birth in Saudi Arabia (2024)
02
Saudi Arabia’s maternal mortality ratio was 29 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020
03
Saudi Arabia’s neonatal mortality rate was 8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020
04
Saudi Arabia’s under-5 mortality rate was 12 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
Interpretation
Mortality & Longevity Interpretation
Saudi Arabia shows improving child survival alongside moderate overall health outcomes, with under-5 mortality at 12 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, neonatal mortality at 8 per 1,000 in 2020, and a 2024 life expectancy at birth of 60.7 years.
10 · Category
Demographic Structure1 stats
01
5.1% of Saudi Arabia’s population is projected to be aged 65+ in 2040 (projection)
Interpretation
Demographic Structure Interpretation
In the demographic structure of Saudi Arabia, the share of people aged 65 and older is projected to rise to 5.1% by 2040, signaling a gradual aging trend over time.
11 · Category
Migration & Mobility1 stats
01
Saudi Arabia had 3.7 million refugees and other persons of concern in 2022
Interpretation
Migration & Mobility Interpretation
In 2022, Saudi Arabia hosted 3.7 million refugees and other persons of concern, underscoring the scale of migration and mobility pressures the country faces.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Saudi Arabia Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/saudi-arabia-population-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Saudi Arabia Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/saudi-arabia-population-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Saudi Arabia Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/saudi-arabia-population-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)