01
Physical geography
Mostly sandy desert.
Local timeRiyadh ·
Asia / Western Asia · Card 037
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Riyadh.
Find Saudi Arabia
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Riyadh
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Saudi riyal (SAR)
- Population
- 37.0 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 2,149,690 km²830,000 square miles
- Kingdom unified
- 1932
Saudi Arabia in context
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Riyadh; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Arabic.
03
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen.
Flag
Green (traditional Islamic color) with the Shahada, or Muslim creed, in large white Arabic script that translates as, "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God;" the text is above a white horizontal saber pointing to the left
History & independence
Abdulaziz Al Saud’s campaigns united much of the Arabian Peninsula, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was proclaimed in 1932. Commercial oil discovery in 1938 transformed state finances. Development programs have since expanded infrastructure and pursued economic diversification.
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Abdulaziz retakes Riyadh
-
Kingdom proclaimed
-
Commercial oil discovery
Economy
Main activities
Oil production, refining and petrochemicals are major activities. Services, construction, tourism, mining and manufacturing are areas of diversification.
Industry and production
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people37.02025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,562,470 | 3.562 |
| 1980 | 6,047,997 | 6.048 |
| 1990 | 10,640,691 | 10.641 |
| 2000 | 16,177,722 | 16.178 |
| 2010 | 23,978,487 | 23.978 |
| 2020 | 31,552,510 | 31.553 |
| 2025 | 36,973,555 | 36.974 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars926.82025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 275,795,698,496 | 275.796 |
| 1991 | 298,468,230,595 | 298.468 |
| 1992 | 312,139,812,825 | 312.140 |
| 1993 | 313,325,431,978 | 313.325 |
| 1994 | 316,311,316,730 | 316.311 |
| 1995 | 317,297,284,499 | 317.297 |
| 1996 | 327,782,952,467 | 327.783 |
| 1997 | 336,460,414,156 | 336.460 |
| 1998 | 345,894,131,085 | 345.894 |
| 1999 | 343,703,259,654 | 343.703 |
| 2000 | 359,919,640,768 | 359.920 |
| 2001 | 361,159,899,362 | 361.160 |
| 2002 | 358,673,710,260 | 358.674 |
| 2003 | 390,124,853,186 | 390.125 |
| 2004 | 423,796,550,560 | 423.797 |
| 2005 | 448,990,815,757 | 448.991 |
| 2006 | 463,868,057,905 | 463.868 |
| 2007 | 474,136,491,555 | 474.136 |
| 2008 | 503,713,066,804 | 503.713 |
| 2009 | 498,339,873,323 | 498.340 |
| 2010 | 523,453,786,401 | 523.454 |
| 2011 | 585,005,778,521 | 585.006 |
| 2012 | 618,711,318,318 | 618.711 |
| 2013 | 636,936,313,349 | 636.936 |
| 2014 | 662,570,908,160 | 662.571 |
| 2015 | 693,414,400,000 | 693.414 |
| 2016 | 705,230,509,999 | 705.231 |
| 2017 | 713,567,089,639 | 713.567 |
| 2018 | 736,593,549,190 | 736.594 |
| 2019 | 748,759,049,110 | 748.759 |
| 2020 | 720,270,347,023 | 720.270 |
| 2021 | 767,229,070,839 | 767.229 |
| 2022 | 859,301,066,621 | 859.301 |
| 2023 | 863,963,569,240 | 863.964 |
| 2024 | 886,849,365,316 | 886.849 |
| 2025 | 926,779,452,930 | 926.779 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.900Very High human developmentRank 37 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.670
20000.737
20100.801
20200.875
20230.900
78.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Absolute monarchy headed by the king. The Council of Ministers administers government, while an appointed Consultative Council advises and reviews proposed laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Saudi Arabia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Saudi Arabia?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.