Saudi Arabia

§1. 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.

§2. Saudi Arabia Geography

Location:
  Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

Geographic coordinates:
  25 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references:
  Middle_East

Area:
  total: 1,960,582 km²
  land: 1,960,582 km²
  water: 0 km²

Area - comparative:
  slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,431 km
  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 claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 18 nm
  continental shelf: not specified

Climate:
  harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Terrain:
  mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
  highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use:
  arable land: 1.67%
  permanent crops: 0.09%
  other: 98.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  16,200 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  frequent sand and dust storms

Environment - current issues:
  desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of
  perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of
  extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil
  spills

Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
    Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
    Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
  extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on
  shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

§3. Saudi Arabia 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 growth rate:
  2.18% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  29.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  2.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -4.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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 mortality rate:
  total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.67 years
  male: 73.66 years
  female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

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.)

§4. Saudi Arabia 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 type:
  monarchy

Capital:
  Riyadh

Administrative divisions:
  13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, 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 holiday:
  Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

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 branch:
  chief of state: 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
  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 branch:
  Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members 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 branch:
  Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders:
  none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  none

International organization participation:
  ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU,
  LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador TURKI al-Faysal bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
  chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
  telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
  consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER
  embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
  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 description:
  green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the 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

§5. Saudi Arabia Economy

Economy - overview:
  This is an oil-based economy with strong government 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 (purchasing power parity):
  $340.6 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $273.9 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  6.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $12,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 3.3%
  industry: 74.7%
  services: 21.9% (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 - by occupation:
  agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  13% male only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%)
  (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.4% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  16.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $143.7 billion
  expenditures: $89.65 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005
    est.)

Public debt:
  41% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
  wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, 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 production growth rate:
  2.8% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
  145.1 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  134.9 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  9.475 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  1.775 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - exports:
  7.92 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:
  262.7 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production:
  60.06 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  60.06 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  0 m³ (2002)

Natural gas - imports:
  0 m³ (2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
  6.544 trillion m³ (2005)

Current account balance:
  $87.1 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $165 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners:
  US 18.2%, Japan 14.9%, South Korea 9.5%, China 6.1%, Taiwan 4.5%, Singapore
  4.1% (2004)

Imports:
  $44.93 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles

Imports - partners:
  US 15.3%, Japan 9.8%, Germany 8.1%, China 6.6%, UK 5.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $30.55 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $34.55 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
  pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of 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 (code):
  Saudi riyal (SAR)

Exchange rates:
  Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003), 3.75
  (2002), 3.75 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  1 March - 28 February

§6. Saudi Arabia Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  3,695,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  9,175,800 (2004)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern 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 broadcast stations:
  AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:
  117 (1997)

Internet country code:
  .sa

Internet hosts:
  10,335 (2005)

Internet users:
  2.54 million (2005)

§7. Saudi Arabia Transportation

Airports:
  202 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 73
  over 3,047 m: 32
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 2 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 129
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 72
  914 to 1,523 m: 39
  under 914 m: 12 (2005)

Heliports:
  6 (2005)

Pipelines:
  condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,191 km; oil 5,068
  km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)

Railways:
  total: 1,392 km
  standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)
    (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 152,044 km
  paved: 45,461 km
  unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)

Merchant marine:
  total: 64 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,266,332 GRT/1,895,002 DWT
  by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo 8,
    petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 9
  foreign-owned: 9 (Egypt 1, Kuwait 6, Sudan 1, UAE 1)
  registered in other countries: 57 (The Bahamas 12, Bangladesh 1, Comoros 3,
    Dominica 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 1, Liberia 24, Marshall
    Islands 1, Norway 7, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2,
    unknown 1) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

§8. Saudi Arabia Military

Military branches:
  Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard,
  Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 18-49: 7,648,999 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: 6,592,709 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 247,334 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $18 billion (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  10% (2002)

§9. Saudi Arabia Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation 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 internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2005)

Illicit drugs:
  death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine,
  and hashish; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement


<Factbook 2006>
