Asia · Western Asia
Saudi Arabia Demographics
Saudi Arabia combines rapid post-2022 population growth, a large expatriate resident population, a young citizen population, and a male-heavy working-age structure.
Main sources used here: GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024, Saudi Census 2022, World Bank WDI, World Bank urban series, and UN WPP 2024-derived projection and median-age presentations.
Last updated: June 25, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 35,300,000 | 2024 | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024 |
| Total population, international series | 35,300,280 | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Annual population growth | 4.7% | 2024 | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024 |
| Annual population growth, international series | 4.6% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Saudi citizens | 19.6 million | 2024 | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024, rounded publication value |
| Non-Saudi residents | 15.7 million | 2024 | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024, rounded publication value |
| Saudi citizen share | 55.6% | 2024 | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024 |
| Non-Saudi resident share | 44.4% | 2024 | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024 |
| Male population | about 21.93 million | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT nationality and sex shares |
| Female population | about 13.37 million | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT nationality and sex shares |
| Sex ratio | about 164.1 males per 100 females | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT nationality and sex shares |
| Total fertility rate | 2.0 births per woman | 2024 | GASTAT charted total fertility estimate |
| Total fertility rate, international series | 2.3 births per woman | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.0 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI, total population |
| Saudi citizen life expectancy at birth | 78.0 years | 2024 | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024 |
| Median age | 29.6 years | 2024 | UN WPP 2024-derived total-population presentation |
| Urban population share | 85.17% | 2024 | World Bank urban series / UN WUP |
| Urban population | about 30.07 million | 2024 | Derived from World Bank WDI population and urban share |
| Net migration | +119,738 | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Surface area | 2,149,690 sq km | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Population density | about 16.4 people per sq km | 2024 | Derived from World Bank WDI population and surface area |
| Under-5 mortality | 6.0 per 1,000 live births | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
Table analysis
- The official 2024 population estimate is 35.3 million, closely aligned with the World Bank WDI value of 35,300,280.
- The resident population is split between 55.6% Saudi citizens and 44.4% non-Saudi residents.
- The sex ratio is high because the non-Saudi resident population is strongly male-heavy: 77.2% male in GASTAT’s 2024 estimate.
- Fertility differs by source: GASTAT’s charted 2024 total is 2.0, while World Bank WDI reports 2.3 for the same year.
- Urban share uses the World Bank urban series, which depends on national urban definitions and should not be compared with local municipal boundaries without checking definitions.
Population Trend
Saudi Arabia Population Trend
Selected historical population values from the World Bank WDI series
Source: World Bank WDI. Historical and estimated population values only; projection values are kept in a separate section.
Trend analysis
- The WDI series rises from 10.64 million in 1990 to 35.30 million in 2024.
- The series includes declines around 2018, 2019 and 2021, which makes source definition and resident coverage important when comparing year-to-year change.
- The strongest recent population increase in this selected series is between 2023 and 2024, from 33.70 million to 35.30 million.
Historical Population Table
| Year | Population | Annual growth | Life expectancy | Fertility rate | Density | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10,640,691 | 4.9% | 68.9 years | 5.8 | 4.9 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2000 | 16,177,722 | 4.5% | 72.6 years | 4.2 | 7.5 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2016 | 30,954,198 | 3.7% | 78.4 years | 2.7 | 14.4 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2017 | 30,977,355 | 0.1% | 78.7 years | 2.7 | 14.4 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2018 | 30,196,281 | -2.6% | 78.8 years | 2.7 | 14.0 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2019 | 30,063,799 | -0.4% | 78.3 years | 2.5 | 14.0 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2020 | 31,552,510 | 4.8% | 77.6 years | 2.3 | 14.7 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2021 | 30,784,383 | -2.5% | 77.1 years | 2.2 | 14.3 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2022 | 32,175,224 | 4.4% | 77.3 years | 2.1 | 15.0 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2023 | 33,702,731 | 4.6% | 78.7 years | 2.3 | 15.7 per sq km | World Bank WDI |
| 2024 | 35,300,280 | 4.6% | 79.0 years | 2.3 | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
Table analysis
- The WDI fertility series declines from 5.8 births per woman in 1990 to 2.3 in 2024.
- Life expectancy rises from 68.9 years in 1990 to 79.0 years in 2024.
- Density values are available through 2023 in the selected WDI extract; the 2024 density cell is left as “Data not available” rather than filled from another row definition.
Age Structure and Resident Composition
Broad Age Structure
Estimated share by broad age group, derived from GASTAT nationality-age shares
Source: Derived from GASTAT 2024 Saudi and non-Saudi age-group shares. Component shares are rounded in the source publication.
| Age group | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | about 7,922,873 | 22.4% | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT nationality-age shares |
| 15-64 | about 26,396,210 | 74.8% | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT nationality-age shares |
| 65+ | about 996,590 | 2.8% | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT nationality-age shares |
Data analysis
- The derived broad age structure is dominated by the 15-64 group at about 74.8% of residents.
- The 65+ group is about 2.8%, based on rounded nationality-age shares.
- The youth share differs sharply by nationality in GASTAT’s publication: 33.5% of Saudis are 0-14, compared with 8.6% of non-Saudis.
Nationality and Sex Structure
Saudi and Non-Saudi Population by Sex
Derived counts using GASTAT nationality shares and sex shares
Source: Derived from GASTAT 2024 nationality and sex shares. Values are approximate because source shares are rounded.
| Group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi citizens | about 9,833,027 | about 9,793,773 | about 19,626,800 | 50.1% | 49.9% | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 shares |
| Non-Saudi residents | about 12,099,710 | about 3,573,490 | about 15,673,200 | 77.2% | 22.8% | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 shares |
Data analysis
- The Saudi citizen population is nearly balanced by sex, with 50.1% male and 49.9% female.
- The non-Saudi resident population is 77.2% male, which heavily affects the national sex ratio.
- The derived total male population is about 21.93 million, compared with about 13.37 million females.
Age-Sex Population Structure
Saudi Arabia Population Pyramid
Population by age group and sex, derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution
Source: GASTAT 2024 population pyramid percentages and GASTAT 2024 nationality-sex shares. Counts are derived from rounded source percentages.
Age-sex analysis
- The largest derived age-sex blocks are in the 25-39 working ages.
- Male counts exceed female counts most strongly in the working ages, with sex ratios above 200 males per 100 females from ages 25-29 through 50-54.
- Younger age groups from 0-4 through 15-19 are close to parity, with sex ratios near 103 males per 100 females.
- Counts are derived from rounded relative distributions, so row totals are approximate and may not sum exactly to the headline population.
Age-Sex Population Table
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,272,099 | 1,229,788 | 2,501,887 | 50.8% | 49.2% | 103.4 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 5-9 | 1,403,695 | 1,363,461 | 2,767,156 | 50.7% | 49.3% | 103.0 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 10-14 | 1,337,897 | 1,296,624 | 2,634,521 | 50.8% | 49.2% | 103.2 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 15-19 | 1,184,368 | 1,149,585 | 2,333,952 | 50.7% | 49.3% | 103.0 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 20-24 | 1,908,148 | 1,136,217 | 3,044,365 | 62.7% | 37.3% | 167.9 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 25-29 | 2,851,256 | 1,350,094 | 4,201,349 | 67.9% | 32.1% | 211.2 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 30-34 | 2,829,323 | 1,336,726 | 4,166,049 | 67.9% | 32.1% | 211.7 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 35-39 | 2,807,390 | 1,256,523 | 4,063,913 | 69.1% | 30.9% | 223.4 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 40-44 | 2,171,341 | 962,443 | 3,133,784 | 69.3% | 30.7% | 225.6 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 45-49 | 1,447,561 | 668,363 | 2,115,924 | 68.4% | 31.6% | 216.6 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 50-54 | 1,008,906 | 494,589 | 1,503,495 | 67.1% | 32.9% | 204.0 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 55-59 | 723,780 | 387,651 | 1,111,431 | 65.1% | 34.9% | 186.7 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 60-64 | 438,655 | 280,713 | 719,367 | 61.0% | 39.0% | 156.3 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 65-69 | 241,260 | 187,142 | 428,402 | 56.3% | 43.7% | 128.9 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 70-74 | 131,596 | 106,938 | 238,535 | 55.2% | 44.8% | 123.1 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 75-79 | 65,798 | 66,836 | 132,635 | 49.6% | 50.4% | 98.4 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 80-84 | 43,865 | 40,102 | 83,967 | 52.2% | 47.8% | 109.4 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
| 85+ | 43,865 | 40,102 | 83,967 | 52.2% | 47.8% | 109.4 | 2024 | Derived from GASTAT 2024 relative age-sex distribution |
Table analysis
- The table uses 5-year age groups, which supports a real age-sex module rather than a broad-age substitute.
- The largest total age group is 25-29, at about 4.20 million.
- Age groups from 25-29 to 40-44 each have more than 2.8 million derived male residents.
- The 75-79 group is close to female parity, with a sex ratio of about 98.4 males per 100 females.
- Derived counts are rounded estimates; use source percentages for precise distribution rather than treating every derived count as an administrative total.
Sex Ratio by Age Group
Males per 100 females by five-year age group
Source: Derived from GASTAT 2024 age-sex distribution. Sex ratio is calculated as male population divided by female population times 100.
Chart analysis
- The highest derived sex ratio is in ages 40-44, at about 225.6 males per 100 females.
- The sex ratio remains above 200 from ages 25-29 through 50-54.
- Youth ages are much closer to parity than working ages.
Fertility and Life Expectancy
Fertility Rate by Population Group
GASTAT 2024 fertility estimate compared with the replacement-level benchmark
Source: GASTAT 2024 charted fertility values. The replacement benchmark is a reference value, not a Saudi administrative estimate.
Chart analysis
- The GASTAT charted total fertility estimate is 2.0 births per woman.
- The Saudi citizen fertility estimate is higher at 2.7, while the non-Saudi resident estimate is 0.8.
- The total fertility estimate is just below the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1 births per woman.
Life Expectancy Trend
Life expectancy at birth, total population
Source: World Bank WDI. Values are total-population life expectancy at birth.
Trend analysis
- Life expectancy rises by about 10.1 years between 1990 and 2024 in the WDI series.
- The WDI total-population value reaches 79.0 years in 2024.
- GASTAT’s 2024 publication also reports 78.0 years for Saudi citizens, which is a narrower population definition than the WDI total-population series.
Nationality Trend
Saudi and Non-Saudi Population Over Time
Selected resident population by nationality group
Source: GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data for 2010-2021; Saudi Census and GASTAT population estimates for 2022-2024. Later values are rounded where the publication reports rounded totals.
| Year | Saudi citizens | Non-Saudi residents | Total | Non-Saudi share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 14,046,164 | 9,932,323 | 23,978,487 | 41.4% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2011 | 14,342,129 | 10,749,738 | 25,091,867 | 42.8% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2012 | 14,683,546 | 11,485,315 | 26,168,861 | 43.9% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2013 | 15,079,401 | 12,544,603 | 27,624,004 | 45.4% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2014 | 15,535,036 | 12,774,237 | 28,309,273 | 45.1% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2015 | 15,968,071 | 13,848,311 | 29,816,382 | 46.4% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2016 | 16,355,312 | 14,598,886 | 30,954,198 | 47.2% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2017 | 16,696,980 | 14,280,375 | 30,977,355 | 46.1% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2018 | 17,085,636 | 13,110,645 | 30,196,281 | 43.4% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2019 | 17,507,171 | 12,556,628 | 30,063,799 | 41.8% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2020 | 17,978,587 | 13,573,923 | 31,552,510 | 43.0% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2021 | 18,380,669 | 12,403,714 | 30,784,383 | 40.3% | GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data |
| 2022 | 18,792,262 | 13,382,962 | 32,175,224 | 41.6% | Saudi Census 2022 |
| 2023 | about 19,300,000 | about 14,500,000 | about 33,700,000 | about 43.0% | GASTAT population estimates, rounded publication values |
| 2024 | about 19,600,000 | about 15,700,000 | about 35,300,000 | 44.4% | GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024 |
Trend analysis
- The non-Saudi resident share moves from 41.4% in 2010 to 44.4% in 2024 in the displayed series.
- The non-Saudi population falls in parts of 2018-2021, then rises again after the 2022 census base period.
- GASTAT reports that non-Saudis accounted for most of the 2023-2024 population increase, so the latest growth is strongly tied to resident composition.
Population Projection Scenario
UN WPP Medium-Variant Projection
Projected population values kept separate from observed and estimated historical data
Source: UN WPP 2024-derived medium-variant presentation. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
| Year | Projected population | Yearly change | Net migration assumption | Median age | Fertility rate | Scenario | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34,566,328 | 603,571 | 119,738 | 29.6 years | 2.29 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024-derived presentation |
| 2026 | 35,165,787 | 599,459 | 108,660 | 29.7 years | 2.27 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024-derived presentation |
| 2030 | 37,443,751 | 575,485 | 22,042 | 29.7 years | 2.17 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024-derived presentation |
| 2035 | 40,012,640 | 513,778 | 23,610 | 30.0 years | 2.07 | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024-derived presentation |
Projection analysis
- The displayed medium-variant projection rises from 34.57 million in 2025 to 40.01 million in 2035.
- The projection table does not use GASTAT’s 2024 official estimate as a starting row because the chart keeps projection values in one dataset.
- Net migration assumptions fall sharply after 2026 in the displayed projection presentation, so projection rows should not be read as administrative migration totals.
- Fertility in the projection path declines from 2.29 in 2025 to 2.07 in 2035.
Demographic Overview
The official 2024 estimate is 35.3 million, with GASTAT reporting 4.7% annual growth from 2023 to 2024.
Saudi citizens account for 55.6% of residents, while non-Saudi residents account for 44.4%.
The working-age population is large, while the 65+ share remains low at about 2.8% using derived 2024 broad-age counts.
The total sex ratio is high because non-Saudi residents are 77.2% male in the 2024 GASTAT estimate.
GASTAT’s charted total fertility estimate is 2.0 births per woman, with a higher value for Saudi citizens and a lower value for non-Saudi residents.
Official estimates, census counts, WDI model series and UN projection rows use different definitions and should be compared with year and measure labels visible.
Data Sources and Methodology
Values are shown with their source year and measure type. Official GASTAT values are preferred for 2024 resident composition, nationality structure and age-sex distribution. World Bank WDI is used for comparable historical series, life expectancy, fertility comparison, under-5 mortality, land area and net migration. Projection values are separated from historical estimates.
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| GASTAT Population Estimates Publication 2024 | 2024 release; mid-2024 population estimate | Headline population, annual growth, nationality structure, broad age groups, sex and nationality shares, fertility values, Saudi citizen life expectancy, age-sex distribution and method note. |
| Saudi Census 2022 | 2022 census base | Census base context in the methodology and the 2022 nationality row in the resident composition table. |
| World Bank WDI | 1990-2024 series; 2025 net migration row | Historical population, annual growth, total life expectancy, fertility comparison, under-5 mortality, surface area, density context and net migration. |
| World Bank urban series / UN World Urbanization Prospects | 2024 estimate | Urban population share and derived urban population count. |
| UN WPP 2024-derived presentation | 2024 median-age presentation; 2025-2035 medium-variant projection rows | Median age, projection chart, projection table and scenario labels. |
| GLMM/Gulf Migration database based on GASTAT data | 2010-2021 nationality series | Saudi and non-Saudi resident trend table and chart before the latest census and GASTAT estimate rows. |
Method note
- GASTAT’s 2024 population estimate uses the 2022 Saudi Census as a base and applies births, deaths and migration records in a cohort-component approach.
- Several tables include derived counts from rounded percentages; these are marked as derived and may not sum exactly.
- The median age and projection rows use UN WPP-derived presentations because the GASTAT publication segment used here does not expose a total-population median-age table.
- Urban share depends on the World Bank urban series and UN WUP definition, not a local city-boundary count.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: Saudi Arabia demographic values can differ by source because a census count, official resident estimate, World Bank model series and UN projection scenario are not the same measure. GASTAT 2024 values are official national estimates, while WDI values support cross-country comparability. Projection values are scenario-based estimates and are not observed data. Age-sex counts in this page are derived from rounded GASTAT percentage distributions, so totals may differ slightly from the headline population. Urban population depends on national urban definitions. Sex ratio means males per 100 females. Fertility values should be read with the exact source shown because GASTAT and WDI present different 2024 totals.
FAQ
What is the population of Saudi Arabia?
GASTAT estimates Saudi Arabia’s mid-2024 resident population at 35.3 million. World Bank WDI reports a closely aligned 2024 value of 35,300,280.
Why is Saudi Arabia’s sex ratio high?
The 2024 national sex ratio is high because the non-Saudi resident population is male-heavy. GASTAT reports the non-Saudi resident population as 77.2% male and 22.8% female.
Are the projection values official counts?
No. Projection values are scenario-based estimates from a UN WPP 2024-derived medium-variant presentation. They are kept separate from GASTAT and WDI historical estimates.
Why do fertility values differ by source?
GASTAT’s charted 2024 total fertility estimate is 2.0 births per woman, while World Bank WDI reports 2.3. Different data processing and release definitions can produce different totals for the same calendar year.