Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East. Home to an estimated 0.46% of the global population, it is the 41st most populous country in the world.
In this blog, we are going to be looking at Saudi Arabia’s population statistics as of January 2023. Before we get into the total population figures and specifics, let’s take a quick look at the country in general.
Table of Content
- Saudi Arabia – Country in a nutshell
- Saudi Arabia Population 2023 (Key Statistics)
- Demographics of Saudi Arabia in 2023
- Saudi Arabia Population by Year (2010 – 2023)
- Population in Main Cities of Saudi Arabia 2023
- Saudi Arabia Birth Rate, Death Rate & Migration Rate 2023
- Population Forecasts/Predictions
Saudi Arabia – Country in a nutshell
Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is a country with deep historical roots. Revered by Muslims worldwide, KSA is home to the famous mosques Mecca and Medina, two of the most visited pilgrimage centers on earth.
KSA is divided into 13 provinces. Each province has a governor, a deputy governor, and a provincial council. These provinces are further subdivided into 118 governorates.
Until the middle of the 20th century, Saudi Arabia followed a traditional lifestyle. With the rise of the Saud family (Al Sa Ud), the country began to witness transformations on all fronts. Innovations in the field of transportation and technology fuelled more international relations. With the massive financial growth brought about by petroleum resources, the country is now the 18th richest GDP in the world.
Today, in line with its “Vision 2030”, the country is actively working towards diversifying its oil-based economy and providing its people with more and varied economic and cultural opportunities. This has led to a large influx of expats from all over the world, significantly changing the demographics of the region.
Saudi Arabia Population 2023 (Key Statistics)
As 2023 begins, here are some key statistics of the population of Saudi Arabia for this year. The data was collected and compiled from several credible sources to get a better look at Saudi Arabia’s development over the past year.
The population of Saudi Arabia in 2023 is 36.33 Million.
The population density of Saudi Arabia is 16.90 people per square kilometer.
- KSA occupies the 41st place in the world population chart
- Saudi Arabia accounts for 0.46% of the world population
- The median age of the population of Saudi Arabia as of 2023 is 32.4 years.
Demographics of Saudi Arabia in 2023
KSA is a Muslim-majority country with a native population of 90% Arabs and 10% Afro-Arabs. Although Islam is the official religion of the region, there are people of other faiths as well due to the presence of a large expatriate community.
37% of the Saudi population in 2023 is young, under the age of 25. Here is a more detailed breakdown of the country’s demographics.
Gender Split
Gender | Population | Population (%) |
Male | 20.94 Million | 57.64% |
Female | 15.39 Million | 42.36% |
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula with a total population of 36.33 Million. Like many Arab countries, there is a predominance of the male population in the country, a part of it owing to the male expat workforce. The country has a low gender ratio with the male population at 20.94 Million i.e. 57.64%, and the female population at 15.39 Million i.e. 42.36%. The latest statistics reveal that there are 137.13 males per 100 females.
However, the country is making efforts to remove the gender disparity. According to the Gender Gap Index released in 2022 by the World Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia has gained a higher place – 127th among 146 countries, compared to previous years. Saudi Arabia has bridged 63.6% of its gender gap. Female participation in the workforce has also increased by 0.097% in 2022.
Saudi Population by Age
Age Group | Population | Population (%) |
0-14 years | 8.75 Million | 24.10% |
15-24 years | 4.79 Million | 13.18% |
25-54 years | 18.69 Million | 51.45% |
55-64 years | 2.65 Million | 7.29% |
65 years and above | 1.45 Million | 3.98% |
Individuals aged 25–54 constitute the majority of the population in 2023, accounting for 18.69 million, or 51.45% of the total population. This is indicative of the demands in the labor market and economic sector for expatriate workers, who form a large part of this age group. Quality of Life Program (part of Vision 2030) could be one factor that is attracting skilled expats to Saudi Arabia.
The lowest population percentage can be seen in the age group 65 years and older, which consists of only 1.45 million people in total. However, it has been observed that in recent years, elderly people have improved in health and the average lifespan has increased. With fluctuating birth and death rates in KSA, it is possible to see significant differences in these statistics in the future.
Saudi Population by Gender
Age Group | Men | Women |
0-14 years | 4.45 Million | 4.30 Million |
15-24 years | 2.51 Million | 2.28 Million |
25-54 years | 11.39 Million | 7.30 Million |
55-64 years | 1.79 Million | 0.86 Million |
65 years and above | 0.80 Million | 0.65 Million |
When we look at the gender distribution of the population, we can see that men predominate throughout all age groups. With 11.39 million men and 7.30 million women, the 25–54 age group has the highest population for both sexes among all age groups. This can be due to the fact the vast majority of working adults fall in this age group.
An interesting point to note here is the effort of the Saudi government (Vision 2030) to help women achieve an equal footing in society. At present, Saudi women comprise 33.6 % of the total workforce. Five years ago it was only 17.4%.
Saudi Arabia Population by Year (2010 – 2023)
| Year |
Population |
2023 | 36.33 Million |
| 2022 | 35.84 Million |
|
2021 |
35.34 Million |
|
2020 |
34.81 Million |
|
2019 |
34.26 Million |
|
2018 |
33.70 Million |
|
2017 |
33.10 Million |
|
2016 |
32.44 Million |
|
2015 |
31.72 Million |
|
2014 |
30.92 Million |
|
2013 |
30.05 Million |
|
2012 |
29.15 Million |
|
2011 |
28.27 Million |
|
2010 |
27.42 Million |
A fundamental change in Saudi Arabia’s population started as the oil resources were found in the 1930s. Following this socioeconomic changes caused rapid population growth. After that, the population growth rate fluctuated based on economic growth and opportunities for migration. By analyzing the chart we can see a consistent increase of 1 million people every year since 2010. From 27.42 million in 2010 to 36.33 million people in 2023, there has been an increase of around 9 million people over the last 13 years.
The country adopted numerous pronatalist programmes as the number of expatriates increased, which led to higher birth rates and lower mortality rates. The nation’s quick urbanization has also aided in the constant growth of the population.
Population in Main Cities of Saudi Arabia 2023
|
City |
Population |
|
Riyadh | 7.68 Million |
|
Jeddah | 4.86 Million |
|
Mecca | 2.15 Million |
|
Medina | 1.57 Million |
|
Dammam | 1.33 Million |
|
Taif | 0.71 Million |
|
Tabuk | 0.69 Million |
With rapid urbanization, 84.7% of people have settled in major cities and around 15% people are still living in rural areas. There are 26 main cities in KSA and we will be looking at the ones that have the highest population.
The capital city, Riyadh, which reflects some major economic growth, hosts the highest population of 7.68 million people. It is followed by Jeddah, a modern port city and Mecca’s gateway, which has a population of 4.86 million people. The two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina, have populations of 2.15 million and 1.57 million, respectively. Another main city of the country is Dammam, which grew rapidly after the 1950s until 2000 to become the 10th fastest-growing city in the world. It has a population of 1.33 million. Taif and Tabuk are the other two other major cities in KSA; they are home to 0.71 million and 0.69 million people, respectively.
Saudi Arabia Birth Rate, Death Rate & Migration Rate 2023
A country’s socioeconomic and medical achievements are determined by its birth, death and migration figures. According to reports, there are 1661 births and 284 deaths every day in Saudi Arabia as of January 2023. That means one person dies every 5 minutes and one child is born every 52 seconds. The country is defined as one of the highest developed economies in the world by the UN. The reflection of this can be seen in its improving birth rate and decreasing death rate across the country.
KSA is heavily reliant on foreign labour, and many Saudis are migrating to other countries also. At the moment, 79 migrations occur per day, with one new immigrant arriving in KSA every 18 minutes. In 2023, as the country undergoes reforms with its new and improved labour and migration policies, it will be interesting to see how the measures work in terms of immigration trends in the country in the years to come.
Population Forecasts/Predictions
Based on births, deaths, and migrations, the KSA’s population increases by one person every 59 seconds. And according to some sources, the population of the country is expected to reach 39.93 million by 2027.
Saudi Arabia is in its early stages of social and economic development. Many societal changes including issuing driving rights to women and opening the borders to tourists other than Haj pilgrims show that the country is expanding its horizons. This can bring about a change in the country’s demographics and the overall population in the coming years.
Disclaimer: GMI acknowledges that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been presented in this blog. The information presented is based on information researched from various sources on the internet. We are not liable for any errors, financial loss, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of, or reliance on, the information herein.
(You can continue reading about the population statistics of Saudi Arabia 2022 below.)
Saudi Arabia Population 2022 (Key Statistics)
- Saudi Arabia’s population in 2022 was 35.84 million.
- The population density of Saudi Arabia is 16.67 people per square kilometre.
- The median age is approximately 32.4 years
- In Saudi Arabia, the male population is 20.70 million and the female population is 15.14 million.
- With 7.54 million people, Riyadh is the most populous city in Saudi Arabia.
- In 2022, the urban population in Saudi Arabia is 30.36 million.
Saudi Population Statistics 2022 – Infographics
Demographics of Saudi Arabia in 2022
Let us analyze the demographic data of Saudi Arabia in 2022 based on different categories:
Gender Split
The gender split of a population is indicative of the disparity between different genders in the society. In Saudi Arabia, the male population is 20.70 million i.e. 57.76% of the population while the female population is 15.14 million i.e. 42.24% of the population. This skewed sex ratio is prevalent in the countries in the Arabian Peninsula like Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Population by Age
|
Age Group |
Population |
Population (Percentage) |
|
0-14 years |
8.72 Million |
24.34% |
|
15-24 years |
4.69 Million |
13.10% |
|
25-54 years |
18.59 Million |
51.86% |
|
55-64 years |
2.47 Million |
6.89% |
|
65 years and above |
1.36 Million |
3.81% |
The age-wise population of KSA shows that the highest percentage of people belong to the age group of 25-54 years. This group consists of working expatriates and locals. There are 18.59 million i.e. 51.86% people in this age group. The lowest percentage of people belong to the age of 65 years and above. The elderly population of Saudi Arabia is 3.81% or 1.36 million people.
Saudi Population by Gender
|
Age Group |
Men |
Women |
|
0-14 years |
4.43 Million |
4.29 Million |
|
15-24 years |
2.46 Million |
2.23 Million |
|
25-54 years |
11.39 Million |
7.20 Million |
|
55-64 years |
1.67 Million |
0.80 Million |
|
65 years and over |
0.75 Million |
0.62 Million |
The gender disparity is spread equally across all sections of the population here. Males dominate all the age categories. The male population is highest among the 25-54 years age group i.e. 11.39 million and lowest among 65 years and over i.e. 0.75 million. Similarly, the female population is also highest among the 25-54 years age group i.e. 7.20 million and lowest among 65 years and over i.e. 0.62 million.
Saudi Arabia Birth Rate, Death Rate & Migration Rate 2022
The birth rate per day in Saudi Arabia is 1568 persons every 55 seconds and the death rate per day is 354 persons every 4 minutes.
The KSA is the ‘future city’ that is attracting a huge number of migrant workers. Along with the numerous work opportunities, workers also enjoy tax-free salaries and a low cost of living here. Saudi Arabia is a digital hub in the making. Around 193 migrant workers land in the country every 7 minutes.
Saudi Arabian Labor Force 2022
The labor force of a country is its backbone and in Saudi Arabia males have dominated this sector for decades. The total labor force this year stands at 15.9 million people. Out of this females occupy 20%. Although this may seem small, compared to earlier days there is a significant increase in women’s participation today. In 2017 only 14.8% of the labor force consisted of females. Since then there has been a steady increase in the number of females. The reformative steps taken by the government have contributed to this positive change. (World Bank data)
Population in Main Cities of Saudi Arabia in 2022
|
City |
Population |
|
Riyadh |
7.54 Million |
|
Jeddah |
4.78 Million |
|
Mecca |
2.12 Million |
|
Medina |
1.55 Million |
|
Dammam |
1.31 Million |
|
Taif |
0.70 Million |
|
Tabuk |
0.68 Million |
Saudi Arabia ranks 13th in the world for its area size and therefore is home to a large population. Riyadh, the administrative, political and cultural capital of KSA, has the largest population among all the cities in Saudi Arabia. 7.54 million people are living here. Jeddah, also known as the modern port city, is home to 4.78 million people. Mecca and Medina are the religious cities of the KSA. While Mecca has a population of 2.12 million, Medina has a population of 1.55 million. Dammam, a popular tourist destination, has a population of 1.31 million. Taif is known for its pleasant weather in the summer months and therefore is the summer getaway city. It has a population of 0.70 million people. Tabuk boasts a rich historical heritage. It has a population of 0.68 million people. Apart from these, there are other cities too that are spread across the 13 regions of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia Population 2022 (Urban v/s Rural)
Saudi Arabia has been slowly and steadily moving towards urbanization. In 1960 the urban population rate was 31%, which grew to 79% in 2000. In 2022, the urban population accounts for 84.7% or 30.36 million. Most of the urban settlers choose to live in the major cities of Saudi Arabia like Riyadh, Dammam, Mecca and Jeddah. Comparatively the rural population only amounts to 15.3% or 5.48 million people.
Social Media Users in Saudi Arabia 2022
|
Social Media Platforms |
Users |
Users (Percentage) |
|
YouTube |
29.30 Million |
81.75% |
|
|
15.45 Million |
43.11% |
|
|
11.40 Million |
31.81% |
Multiple social media platforms are prevalent among the Saudi Arabians. It is replacing the traditional mediums of news and information and also influencing positive changes in society. Among all the social media platforms, YouTube has the highest number of users with 29.3 million people using it i.e. around 81.75% of the population. This is followed by Instagram which has about 15.45 million users i.e. 43.11% of the total population. Facebook users account for 31.81% of the population i.e. 11.40 million people.
Population Forecasts/Predictions
Looking at the current population growth trend in Saudi Arabia, 2060 is likely to witness an all-time high with 45.35 million people. After this, the growth rate will slowly decline because of a slow decline in the fertility rate.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is in the initial stages of social and economic development. Many societal changes including issuing driving rights to women and opening the borders to tourists other than Haj pilgrims show that the country is expanding its horizons. This can bring about a change in the country’s demographics and the overall population. Thus a population study becomes quite essential in such a scenario.
(You can continue reading about the population statistics of Saudi Arabia 2021 below.)
Saudi Population 2021 – Estimates from Multiple Sources:
If you’re interested in comparing data from all leading sources, check out the table below:
| Sources | in Million | Year | Population |
| UN Estimate | 35.34 | 2021 | 35,341,000 |
| Countrymeters.info | 35.49 | 2021 | 35,493,272 |
| Worldometers.info | 35.19 | 2021 | 35,195,247 |
| Worldpopulationreview.com | 35.17 | 2021 | 35,172,191 |
| Populationpyramid.net | 35.34 | 2021 | 35,340,680 |
Saudi Population Statistics 2021
Today, Saudi Arabia houses 0.45% of the world population. Saudi Arabia’s population in 2021 is 35.34 million. The country has a 2,149,690 sq. kilometer (830,000 sq. miles) land area with a population density of 15.61 individuals per square kilometer. The majority of people (about 84% of the total population) live in urban areas.
Riyad, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, is home to about 5 million people. KSA has an average population growth rate of 1.59%. If this trend persists, chances are that the population will likely reach 45.35 million by 2060. However, thanks to the government’s new expat depopulation measures, there are predictions that there will be a 1.09% dip in the population growth rate by 2030 and a further 0.27% dip in the next 30 years.
The life expectancy rate of Saudi Arabia is 75.69 years. Better living conditions and growing health consciousness have contributed to an increase in life expectancy rate by about 3 years over the last decade. The fertility rate of the kingdom is 2.27 births per woman. Saudi Arabia has an average of 1,586 births and 345 deaths per day, while the infant mortality rate is 5.3%. The median age in Saudi Arabia is 31.8 years. Around 70% of the population is below the age of 30.
Saudi Arabia Population by Nationality in 2021
More than a third of Saudi’s population is made up of expats. In 2021, the expat population is 13.49 million. The population of Saudi Arabia including expats is more than 35 million. The expat population in the country is diverse, with various ethnic and linguistic groups from Asia, Europe, and America. The estimated migration happening to KSA per day is 237. In 2020, the General Authority for Statistics reported a drop in numbers and forecasted that Saudi Arabia would shed 1.2 million expats over the year. The authorities canvassed the labour force across the kingdom, resulting in 81,900 more Saudis in the workplace. The sharp decline in expat numbers is part of a drive to boost citizens’ employment, which is called Saudization or Nitaqat. This has been implemented across the Gulf with countries such as Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain reporting a sharp decline in expat numbers.
Have a look at the approximate expatriate population in the KSA according to nationality.
| Nationality | Population (Approximate) |
| India | 2,550,000 |
| Syria | 2,500,000 |
| Pakistan | 2,450,000 |
| Philippines | 1,600,000 |
| Bangladesh | 1,300,000 |
| Yemen | 1,000,000 |
| Egypt | 900,000 |
| Indonesia | 850,000 |
| Myanmar | 500,000 |
| Sri Lanka | 350,000 |
| Nepal | 315,000 |
| Lebanon | 300,000 |
| Jordan | 260,000 |
| Sudan | 250,000 |
| Turkey | 200,000 |
| Somalia | 65,000 |
While looking at Saudi population by nationality in 2021, you can notice that the ethnic composition is 90% Arab and 10% Afro-Asian. There is also a significant number of Asian expats. 80% of Saudis reside in the 10 urban areas – Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Khobar, Hofuf, Yanbu, Ta’if, Dhahran, and Dammam. Saudi Arabia has a unique position within the GCC countries as almost two-thirds of the population is made up of nationals, unlike the other countries where the citizens are the minority.
Currently, the gender ratio in Saudi Arabia is 137.11 males per 100 females. Female foreigners in KSA are estimated at 4 million, less than half of the number of male foreigners. The gender ratio at the time of birth is 1.05 males per female, and the ratio of the under-15 age group is also the same. For the 15-64 age group the ratio is 1.03 males per female, and for the 65+ age group, it’s 1.03 males per female.
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Disclaimer: GMI acknowledges that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented on this infographic. The information represented is based on information researched from various sources on the internet. We are not liable for any errors, financial loss, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of, or reliance on, the information herein.
