World Facts Index
 Saudi
Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in
Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd
al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the
Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law.
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 the liberation of
Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until
all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in
May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic
terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program
begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation,
the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for
half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH
completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory
municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural
gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government
continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since
Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign
investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an
economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing
governmental concerns.
Geography of Saudi Arabia
|
Location:
|
Middle East, bordering the
Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen |
|
Coordinates:
|
25 00 N, 45 00 E |
|
Area:
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total: 1,960,582 sq
km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km |
|
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:
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2,640 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
contiguous zone: 18
NM
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate:
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harsh, dry desert with
great temperature extremes |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly uninhabited, sandy
desert |
|
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas,
iron ore, gold, copper |
|
Natural hazards:
|
frequent sand and dust
storms |
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Environment current issues:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
|
extensive coastlines on
Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially
crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
|
Population of Saudi Arabia
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Population:
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28,146,656 (July 2008 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) |
|
Median age:
|
21.4 years |
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Growth rate:
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2.18% |
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Infant mortality:
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12.81 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 75.67 years
male: 73.66 years
female: 77.78 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
4 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 100% |
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Languages:
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Arabic |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah |
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Government type:
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monarchy |
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Capital:
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Riyadh |
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Administrative divisions:
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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:
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23 September 1932 (Unification of the
Kingdom) |
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National holiday:
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Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September
(1932) |
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Constitution:
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governed according to Shari'a (Islamic
law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was
introduced in 1993 |
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic law, several secular codes
have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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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 |
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Executive branch:
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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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and
includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary. A new Allegiance Commission created
by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that
will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not
take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king. |
|
Legislative branch:
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Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a
chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Council of Justice |
Economy
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over
major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% 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. High oil
prices have boosted growth, government revenues, and Saudi ownership of
foreign assets, while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The
government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in power
generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals -
to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase employment
opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, nearly 40% of which are
youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high, and the large youth
population generally lacks the education and technical skills the private
sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and
education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. As part of its
effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia
acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The
government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in
different regions of the country to promote development and diversification.
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GDP:
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$546 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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6.1% |
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GDP per capita:
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$12,800 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 61.3%
services: 35.4% |
|
Inflation rate:
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0.4% |
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Labor force:
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7 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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6.76 million
note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national |
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Unemployment:
|
13% male only (local bank estimate; some estimates range
as high as 25%) |
|
Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100% |
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Industries:
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crude oil production, petroleum refining,
basic petrochemicals, cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics |
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Agriculture:
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wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates,
citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk |
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Exports:
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petroleum and petroleum products 90% |
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Export partners:
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US 17%, Japan 16.8%, South Korea 8.7%, China 7.2%,
Singapore 5.3%, Taiwan 4.1% |
|
Imports:
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machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles |
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Import partners:
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US 13.2%, Germany 9.8%, Japan 8.1%, China 7.4%, France
4.8%, UK 4.4%, Italy 4.3% |
|
Currency:
|
Saudi riyal (SAR) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |