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Background:
|
 In
1902, ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh
and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian
Peninsula. Today, the monarchy is ruled by a son of ABD AL-AZIZ,
and the country's Basic Law stipulates that the throne shall
remain in the hands of the aging sons and grandsons of the
kingdom's founder. 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 Operation Desert Storm remained a source of tension
between the royal family and the public until the US
military's near-complete withdrawal to neighboring Qatar in
2003. The first major terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia in
several years, which occurred in May and November 2003,
prompted renewed efforts on the part of the Saudi government
to counter domestic terrorism and extremism, which also
coincided with a slight upsurge in media freedom and
announcement of government plans to phase in partial political
representation. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion,
and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and
prices are all ongoing governmental concerns. |
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Location:
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Middle East,
bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen |
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Map references:
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Middle
East |
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Area:
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total:
1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more
than one-fifth the size of the US |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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2,640 km |
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Climate:
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harsh, dry desert
with great temperature extremes |
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Terrain:
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mostly
uninhabited, sandy desert |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum,
natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper |
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Land use:
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arable land:
1.72%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 98.22% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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16,200 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent sand and
dust storms |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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extensive
coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage
on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and
Suez Canal |
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Population:
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25,795,938
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
38.3% (male 5,039,578; female 4,845,937)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 8,810,705; female 6,494,770)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 327,047; female 277,901)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
21.2 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 19.1 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.44% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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29.74
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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2.66 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-2.71 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female
total population: 1.22 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
13.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 15.72 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 75.23 years
male: 73.26 years
female: 77.3 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.01% (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab 90%,
Afro-Asian 10% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 100% |
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Languages:
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Arabic |
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Literacy:
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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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Country name:
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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 |
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Government type:
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monarchy |
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Capital:
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Riyadh |
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Administrative divisions:
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13 provinces (mintaqat,
singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al
Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern
Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk |
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Independence:
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23 September 1932
(Unification of the Kingdom) |
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National holiday:
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Unification of
the Kingdom, 23 September (1932) |
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Constitution:
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governed
according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that
articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was
introduced in 1993 |
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic
law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial
disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
|
none note:
in October 2003, Council of Ministers announced its intent to
introduce elections for half of the members of local and
provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the
national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura,
incrementally over a period of four to five years |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982, but largely incapacitated since late
1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH
bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June 1982, also Saudi Arabian
National Guard Commander since 1963 and de facto ruler since
early 1996; note - the monarch is both the chief of state and
head of government
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin
Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982, but largely
incapacitated since late 1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June
1982, also Saudi Arabian National Guard Commander since 1963
and de facto ruler since early 1996; note - the monarch is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the
monarch and includes many royal family members |
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Legislative branch:
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Consultative
Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch for four-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Council
of Justice |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20037
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New
York
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER (since 8
January 2004)
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, 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 - overview:
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This is an
oil-based economy with strong government controls over major
economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of
petroleum in the world (25% of the proved reserves), ranks as
the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in
OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget
revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of
GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly five and a half
million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi
economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The
government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the
electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization
of the telecommunications company. The government is
encouraging private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's
dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for
the swelling Saudi population. Priorities for government
spending in the short term include additional funds for
education and for the water and sewage systems. Economic
reforms proceed cautiously because of deep-rooted political
and social conservatism. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $286.2 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.7% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $11,800 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
5.2%
industry: 50.4%
services: 44.4% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% (2001) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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7 million
note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age
group is non-national (1999) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 12%,
industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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25% (2003) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$78.7 billion
expenditures: $66.7 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2003 est.) |
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Industries:
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crude oil
production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement,
construction, fertilizer, plastics |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1% (1997 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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122.4 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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113.8 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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8.711 million
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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1.452 million
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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7.92 million
bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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261.7 billion bbl
(1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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53.69 billion cu
m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
|
53.69 billion cu
m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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6.339 trillion cu
m (1 January 2002) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley,
tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk |
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Exports:
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$86.53 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum and
petroleum products 90% |
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Exports - partners:
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US 18.9%, Japan
15.9%, South Korea 10.3%, Singapore 5.2%, China 4.7% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$30.38 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles |
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Imports - partners:
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US 11.1%, Japan
8.7%, Germany 7.5%, UK 4.9%, France 4.8%, Italy 4% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$24.2 billion
(2003) |
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Economic aid - donor:
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pledged $100
million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 2000,
Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance to the
Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development in
Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft
loans to Iraq |
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Currency:
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Saudi riyal (SAR) |
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Currency code:
|
SAR |
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Exchange rates:
|
Saudi riyals per
US dollar - 3.75 (2003), 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001), 3.75
(2000), 3.75 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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3,317,500 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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5.008 million
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial
cable, and fiber-optic cable systems
international: country code - 966; microwave radio
relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and
Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to
Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and
1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 43, FM 31,
shortwave 2 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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117 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.sa |
|
Internet hosts:
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14,788 (2002) |
|
Internet users:
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1,418,900 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch
lines and sidings) (2002) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
151,470 km
paved: 45,592 km
unpaved: 105,878 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
|
none |
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Pipelines:
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condensate 212
km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil 5,062 km;
refined products 69 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Ad Dammam, Al
Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab,
Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah |
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Merchant marine:
|
total: 66
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,306,706 GRT/1,963,191 DWT
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 11, container 4,
livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23,
refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea/passenger
6
foreign-owned: Egypt 3, Greece 4, Norway 2, Sudan 1,
United Kingdom 3
registered in other countries: 54 (2003 est.) |
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Airports:
|
204 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 71
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 133
under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.)
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75 |
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Heliports:
|
5 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
|
Land
Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National
Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary) |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
17
years of age (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males
age 15-49: 8,240,714 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males
age 15-49: 4,725,514 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males:
246,343 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$18
billion (2002) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
10%
(2002) |
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Disputes - international:
|
nomadic groups on
border region with Yemen resist demarcation of boundary; Yemen
protests Saudi erection of a concrete-filled pipe as a
security barrier in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border
activities in sections of the boundary; Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran;
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact
alignment of the boundary with the UAE is still unknown and
labeled approximate |
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Illicit drugs:
|
death penalty for
traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine, and
hashish; not a major money-laundering center, improving
anti-money-laundering legislation |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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