Saudi Arabia Demographics

What is the population of Saudi Arabia?

Population	34,173,498
Population - note	note: immigrants make up more than 30% of the total population, according to UN data
Population Growth Rate	1.51%
Urban Population	82.3%
Population in Major Urban Areas	RIYADH (capital) 5.451 million; Jeddah 3.578 million; Mecca 1.591 million; Medina 1.142 million; Ad Dammam 941,000
Nationality Noun	Saudi(s)
Nationality Adjective	Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic Groups	Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Languages Spoken	Arabic

Saudi Arabia Health Information

What are the health conditions in Saudi Arabia?

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 15-49	23.8%
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	3.32
Drinking Water Source - percent of rural population improved	97%
Drinking Water Source - percent of total population unimproved	3%
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	97%
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	3.7%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate	0.01%
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population	2.2
Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births	12.75
Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births	17.31
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	15.08
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	24
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	33%
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	.94
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	100%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of rural population improved	100%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	2.21
Underweight - percent of children under five years	5.3%

Saudi Arabia Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Saudi Arabia?

Life Expectancy at Birth	74 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - female	76 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - male	72 Years
Median Age	26 Years
Median Age - female	24 Years
Median Age - male	27 Years

Saudi Arabia Infant Mortality - per 1,000 live births

Saudi Arabia median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	19
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	3.32
Median Age	26 Years
Median Age - female	24 Years
Median Age - male	27 Years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population	-0.62
Population Growth Rate	1.51%
Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female	1.05
Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female	1.15
Sex Ratio 25-54 Years - male/female	1.33
Sex Ratio 55-64 Years - male/female	1.2
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	1.05
Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female	1.21
Sex Ratio Over 64 Years - male/female	1.05

Saudi Arabia Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Saudi Arabia?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical care varies greatly in quality, and high profile cases of medical malpractice and errors have occurred. Consult your regular physician if you are considering serious medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

While Red Sea scuba diving is a popular past-time for many visitors, you should only dive with an experienced boat and crew. Some boats are not equipped with radio communications in the event of an emergency. There are only two recompression chambers for treatment of decompression sickness – one at Jubail Armed Forces Hospital and another in Jeddah – both hours away from Red Sea and Gulf diving sites.

Saudi Arabia Education

What is school like in Saudi Arabia?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP	5.1%
Literacy - female	70.8%
Literacy - male	84.7%
Literacy - total population	78.8%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over can read and write
School Life Expectancy - female	16 Years
School Life Expectancy - male	15 Years
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	16 Years

Saudi Arabia Literacy

Can people in Saudi Arabia read?

Literacy - female	70.8%
Literacy - male	84.7%
Literacy - total population	78.8%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over can read and write
Predominant Language	Arabic

Saudi Arabia Crime

Is Saudi Arabia a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Crime in Saudi Arabia has increased over recent years, but remains at levels far below most major metropolitan areas in the United States. Visitors should take precautions to reduce their risk of becoming victims of crime. Individuals should be aware of their surroundings, keep valuables out of sight and secure, and travel with a companion, if possible. Private Saudi citizens who perceive that a foreigner is not observing conservative standards of conduct have been known to harass, pursue, or assault that person. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh cautions U.S. citizens that Saudi Arabian police have detained potential witnesses to crimes without charges or access to legal counsel, and with limited or delayed consular access, during the investigative stage of criminal cases, which can take months. On occasion, Saudi authorities have temporarily confiscated the personal effects of detained potential witnesses. Even when released from detention, witnesses to criminal incidents may be prohibited from leaving the country until investigation of the incident is complete.

During 2011-12, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh received several reports of carjacking incidents in Riyadh and throughout the Kingdom. These incidents involved multiple criminals who, in some instances, used force or a display of force. In other incidents, the criminals created a diversion such as a minor traffic accident or some other ruse to coax the driver out of the car. In the few cases involving Westerners, it appears that they were targeted because of the make of their cars rather than the fact that they were Westerners. As in the United States, most vehicles are stolen for parts. If you are a victim of such an attack, please see the Victims of Crimesection below for guidance on reporting the incident to the authorities.

Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are these goods illegal in the United States, they are a violation of local law as well.

Saudi Arabia Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While in Saudi Arabia, you are subject to its laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. To visit incarcerated individuals, the Saudi Government requires diplomatic missions to request visits -- including to police stations -- via formal diplomatic channels, which often causes delays.

Persons violating Saudi Arabian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, imprisoned, or even executed. Suspects may be detained without charges or legal counsel, and with limited access to a consular officer, for months during the investigative stage of criminal cases. Penalties for the import, manufacture, possession, and consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs in Saudi Arabia are severe. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences, heavy fines, public floggings, and/or deportation. The penalty for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia is death, and Saudi officials make no exceptions. Customs inspections at ports of entry are thorough. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General have no standing in Saudi courts to obtain leniency for a U.S. citizen convicted of alcohol or drug offenses. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Saudi authorities do not permitcriticism of Islam or the royal family. The government prohibits the public practice of religions other than Islam. Non-Muslims suspected of violating these restrictions have been jailed. Muslims who do not adhere to the strict interpretations of Islam prevalent in much of Saudi Arabia frequently encounter societal discrimination and constraints on worship.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained in Saudi Arabia. In the case of dual nationals the Saudi Government may recognize only the nationality of the document used to enter the Kingdom. While staff at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General will make every effort to visit incarcerated U.S. citizens, they may experience delays in obtaining permission from the Saudi authorities for the visit.

Saudi Arabia Population Comparison

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