from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Saudi Arabia
Introduction
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. A son of ABD AL-AZIZ rules the
country today, 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. As part of this effort, the government
permitted elections - held nationwide from February
through April 2005 - for half the members of 179
municipal councils. A burgeoning population, aquifer
depletion, and an economy largely dependent on
petroleum output and prices are all ongoing
governmental concerns.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red
Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic 25 00 N, 45 00 E
coordinates:
Map Middle East
references:
Area: total: 1,960,582 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
comparative:
Land total: 4,431 km
boundaries: border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait
222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen
1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
extremes: highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
resources:
Land use: arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2005)
Irrigated 16,200 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural frequent sand and dust storms
hazards:
Environment - desertification; depletion of underground water
current resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent
issues: water bodies has prompted the development of extensive
seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution
from oil spills
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
note: provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude
oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People
Population: 27,019,731
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,261,530/female 5,059,041)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,159,519/female 6,895,616)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 342,020/female 302,005)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 21.4 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 19.4 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.18% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 29.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 2.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -4.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.2 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 75.67 years
expectancy at male: 73.66 years
birth: female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)
Total 4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.01% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: 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
Government monarchy
type:
Capital: name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah,
divisions: Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim,
Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir,
Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
holiday:
Constitution: governed according to Shari'a law; the Basic Law that
articulates the government's rights and
responsibilities was introduced in 1993
Legal system: based on Shari'a law, several secular codes have been
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special
committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: adult male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004 for
partial municipal council elections held nationwide
from February through April 2005
Executive chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin
branch: Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud
(half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note
- the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH
bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud
(half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) 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
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members
branch: and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year
terms); 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; in November 2004, the Ministry
of Municipal and Rural Affairs initiated voter
registration for partial municipal council elections
held nationwide from February through April 2005
Judicial Supreme Council of Justice
branch:
Political none
parties and
leaders:
Political none
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA,
organization IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
participation: IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador TURKI al-Faysal bin Abd
representation al-Aziz Al Saud
in the US: chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador James C. OBERWETTER
representation embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
from the US: mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE
09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh
11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-3989
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the
description: Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script
(translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is
the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber
(the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the
early twentieth century and is closely associated with
the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in
1932
Economy
Economy - This is an oil-based economy with strong government
overview: controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia
possesses 25% of the world's proven petroleum 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 5.5 million foreign workers
play an important role in the Saudi economy,
particularly, in the oil and service sectors. The
government is encouraging private sector growth to
lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase
employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi
population. The government has begun to permit private
sector and foreign investor participation in the power
generation and telecom sectors. As part of its effort
to attract foreign investment and diversify the
economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in 2005 after
many years of negotiations. With high oil revenues
enabling the government to post large budget surpluses,
Riyadh has been able to substantially boost spending on
job training and education, infrastructure development,
and government salaries.
GDP $346.3 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $264 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 6.5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $13,100 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 3.3%
composition by industry: 61.3%
sector: services: 35.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 6.76 million
note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age
group is non-national (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 12%
by occupation: industry: 25%
services: 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment 13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some
rate: estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 0.4% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 16.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $143.7 billion
expenditures: $89.65 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 44.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton,
products: chickens, eggs, milk
Industries: 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
Industrial 5.3% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 145.1 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 134.9 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 9.475 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 1.775 million bbl/day (2003)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 7.92 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved 262.7 billion bbl (2005 est.)
reserves:
Natural gas - 60.06 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 60.06 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2002)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2002)
imports:
Natural gas - 6.544 trillion cu m (2005)
proved
reserves:
Current $90.73 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $165 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - petroleum and petroleum products 90%
commodities:
Exports - US 16.4%, Japan 16.1%, South Korea 9.1%, China 6.9%,
partners: Singapore 5.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2005)
Imports: $44.93 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor
commodities: vehicles, textiles
Imports - US 13%, Germany 9.5%, Japan 7.9%, China 7.3%, France
partners: 4.7%, Italy 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of $26.76 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $36.78 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of
donor: Lebanon; since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307
million for assistance to the Palestinians; pledged
$230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1
billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq;
pledged $133 million in direct grant aid, $187 million
in concessional loans, and $153 million in export
credits for Pakistan earthquake relief
Currency Saudi riyal (SAR)
(code):
Currency code: SAR
Exchange Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004),
rates: 3.75 (2003), 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001)
Fiscal year: 1 March - 28 February
Communications
Telephones - 3.8 million (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 13.3 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: modern system
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)
Radio AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 6.25 million (1997)
Television 117 (1997)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 5.1 million (1997)
Internet .sa
country code:
Internet 10,931 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 22 (2003)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 2.54 million (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 208 (2006)
Airports - total: 73
with paved over 3,047 m: 32
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - total: 135
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Heliports: 6 (2006)
Pipelines: condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas
1,183 km; oil 4,531 km; refined products 1,150 km
(2006)
Railways: total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch
lines and sidings) (2005)
Roadways: total: 152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km
unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)
Merchant total: 60 ships (1000 GRT or over) 837,272 GRT/
marine: 1,064,377 DWT
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4,
passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated
cargo 1, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 9 (Egypt 2, Kuwait 5, Sudan 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 55 (Bahamas 12, Comoros
3, Dominica 3, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 1,
Liberia 24, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 3, Panama 8)
(2006)
Ports and Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
terminals:
Military
Military Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
branches: National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces
(paramilitary)
Military 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 7,648,999
available for females age 18-49: 5,417,922 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 6,592,709
for military females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 247,334
reaching females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $18 billion (2002)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 10% (2002)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation
international: of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under
the 2000 Jeddah Treaty is almost complete; Saudi Arabia
still maintains the concrete-filled pipe as a security
barrier along sections of the border with Yemen in 2004
to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime
boundary with Iran; the United Arab Emirate 2006
Yearbook published a map and text rescinding the 1974
boundary with Saudi Arabia, as stipulated in a treaty
filed with the UN in 1993, on the grounds that the
agreement was not formally ratified
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian
internally Territories) (2005)
displaced
persons:
Trafficking in current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination
persons: country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who
are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary
servitude including being subjected to physical and
sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and
withholding of passports as a restriction on their
movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable
because some are confined to the house in which they
work, unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a
destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani,
Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children
trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude
as street vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly
trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination
of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to
do so
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption
of heroin, cocaine, and hashish; improving
anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement