People and Society of Saudi Arabia

Nationality

Saudi(s)

Ethnic Groups

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Population

36,947,025

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

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.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Saudi Arabia has risen dramatically over the past several decades, reflecting the country's substantial investments in healthcare infrastructure, public health programs, and rising living standards. As of the most recent available data, the average life expectancy at birth in Saudi Arabia stands at approximately 76 to 77 years overall, with women living slightly longer than men. Females can expect to live to around 78 years, while males have an average life expectancy of roughly 75 years. This represents a remarkable transformation from the mid-20th century, when life expectancy in the kingdom hovered around 40 to 45 years. The rapid improvement is largely attributed to the expansion of modern hospitals and clinics throughout the country, increased access to clean water and sanitation, widespread vaccination programs, and a significant reduction in infant and child mortality rates. Saudi Arabia's government has channeled considerable oil revenues into building a comprehensive public healthcare system. The Ministry of Health oversees hundreds of hospitals and thousands of primary care centers spread across urban and rural regions alike. Citizens receive government-subsidized healthcare, which has contributed significantly to longer and healthier lives. Despite these gains, Saudi Arabia faces a growing set of non-communicable disease challenges that place pressure on longevity trends. Rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension are notably high by global standards. Saudi Arabia consistently ranks among the countries with the highest diabetes prevalence in the world, affecting a substantial portion of the adult population. These lifestyle-related conditions are linked in part to dietary habits, reduced physical activity, and the effects of rapid urbanization. Vision 2030, the kingdom's long-term national development plan, includes health sector reforms aimed at improving preventive care, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and expanding private sector participation in healthcare delivery. Greater emphasis is being placed on early screening programs, physical fitness initiatives, and reducing the burden of chronic disease across the population. These efforts are expected to support continued improvements in life expectancy in the coming decades. By regional comparison, Saudi Arabia's life expectancy is among the higher figures in the Middle East and North Africa, positioning the country alongside peers such as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait in terms of population health outcomes.

Infant Mortality Rate

Saudi Arabia has made remarkable progress in reducing infant mortality over the past several decades, reflecting major investments in healthcare infrastructure, maternal and child health programs, and rising living standards across the country. The infant mortality rate in Saudi Arabia stands at approximately 6 to 7 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing the country well below the global average and broadly in line with other upper-middle and high-income nations. This figure represents a dramatic improvement from earlier decades — in the 1970s and 1980s, infant mortality rates in the country exceeded 70 deaths per 1,000 live births, underscoring the scale of transformation in the nation's public health system. Several factors have driven this decline. The expansion of a nationwide network of hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and maternal health clinics has significantly improved access to skilled birth attendants and neonatal care. Immunization coverage for preventable diseases such as polio, measles, and diphtheria remains high, consistently reaching over 95 percent of eligible infants. The government's strong financial commitment to healthcare, partly enabled by oil revenues, has allowed for sustained investment in modern medical equipment and trained personnel. Neonatal mortality — deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life — accounts for a significant proportion of remaining infant deaths in Saudi Arabia, a pattern common in countries that have already eliminated many post-neonatal causes such as infectious disease and malnutrition. Conditions such as preterm birth complications, congenital disorders, and birth asphyxia are among the leading causes of infant death in this category. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 reform agenda includes continued goals around improving maternal and child health outcomes, expanding preventive healthcare, and reducing health disparities between urban and more rural or remote regions of the country. Ongoing efforts to attract and train specialized medical professionals are expected to further reduce infant mortality in the coming years, pushing Saudi Arabia's rates closer to those seen in the highest-performing nations globally.

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Muslim100.0%

Arabic

• Arabic

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.

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.