Country profile

Saudi Arabia

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia · Western Asia

👥 Population

36,973,555

World Bank · 2025

🏛 Capital

Riyadh

🗺 Area

2,149,690 km²

among the world’s largest

💹 GDP (nominal)

$1.28T

World Bank · 2025

📈 HDI

0.900

UNDP · 2023

📍 Pop. density

17 /km²

💱 Currency

SAR

Saudi riyal

🗣 Languages

Arabic

About Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia (officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is a country in Western Asia, with Riyadh as its capital. It is home to roughly 36.97 million people, giving a population density of about 17 people per square kilometre. The country covers 2,149,690 km² of land and shares land borders with 7 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $1.28T in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.900. The official currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR), and the main language is Arabic.

How Saudi Arabia is governed

🏛 Absolute monarchy

Head of State

King

Head of state and government; holds nearly all power.

Head of Government

King (Prime Minister)

Chairs the Council of Ministers; supreme executive authority.

Legislature

Consultative Assembly (Majlis al-Shura)

Unicameral (advisory) — Shura Council — 150 members, appointed, advisory only

Who holds the power?

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy governed by the Al Saud royal family. The King holds legislative, executive and judicial authority, chairs the Council of Ministers and serves as head of state and government. There is no elected national legislature — the Consultative Assembly is appointed and can only advise. The legal system is based on Islamic (Sharia) law, and the King's power is constrained mainly by religious authorities and consensus within the royal family.

Development profile (each axis 0–100%, higher is stronger)

Key indicators

Latest available data · World Bank & UNDP.

💹 Economy

GDP (PPP)

$2.52T

GDP/capita (PPP)

$71,375

GDP growth

4.5%

Inflation

2.1%

Unemployment

3.0%

👥 People

Life expectancy

79.0 yrs

Fertility rate

2.31

Pop. growth

4.6%

Urban population

84.6%

Infant mortality /1k

4.7

🌍 Quality of Life

Internet users

100.0%

Literacy rate

97.9%

Physicians /1k

3.41

Renewable energy

0.1%

Saudi Arabia's GDP over time (nominal, US$)

Travel & practical

Capital

Riyadh

Currency

SAR

Dialing code

+966

Internet TLD

.sa

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Fun facts about Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the 43rd most populous country in the world, with about 36.97 million people.
By land area it is the 12th-largest country in the world, covering 2,149,690 km².
It has the world's 19th-largest economy by nominal GDP ($1.28T).
Saudi Arabia shares land borders with 7 countries.
It is classed by the UN as a country of very high human development, with an HDI of 0.900.
Saudi Arabia has a population density of about 17 people per square kilometre.