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| Introduction |
Saudi Arabia |
|
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. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy
largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing
governmental concerns. |
|
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 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 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: |
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% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land: |
16,200 sq km (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 |
|
Population: |
26,417,599
note:
includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 38.2% (male
5,149,960/female 4,952,138)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male
8,992,348/female 6,698,633)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male
334,694/female 289,826) (2005 est.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 21.28 years
male: 22.84 years
female: 19.28 years (2005 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate: |
2.31% (2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
29.56 births/1,000 population
(2005 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
2.62 deaths/1,000 population
(2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
-3.85 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64
years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.16
male(s)/female
total population: 1.21 male(s)/female (2005
est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 13.24
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 75.46
years
male: 73.46 years
female: 77.55 years (2005
est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
4.05 children born/woman (2005
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.)
|
|
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
(Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and
responsibilities was introduced in 1993 |
|
Legal system: |
based on Islamic 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 scheduled nationwide for February
through April 2005 |
|
Executive branch: |
chief of state: King and
Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982, but
largely incapacitated since late 1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June 1982, also
Saudi Arabian National Guard Commander since 1963 and de facto ruler since
early 1996; note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin
Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982, but largely incapacitated since
late 1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June 1982, also Saudi Arabian National Guard
Commander since 1963 and de facto ruler since early 1996; 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: 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 scheduled nationwide for February
through April 2005 |
|
Legislative branch: |
Consultative Council or Majlis
al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for
four-year terms) |
|
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, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador BANDAR BIN SULTAN 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,
and 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
Riyadh, 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
|
|
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 five and a half million foreign workers play an important
role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors.
The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the
electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the
telecommunications company. The government is encouraging private sector
growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment
opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Priorities for government
spending in the short term include additional funds for education and for
the water and sewage systems. Economic reforms proceed cautiously because
of deep-rooted political and social conservatism. |
|
GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$310.2 billion (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
5% (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$12,000 (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 67.2%
services: 28.6% (2004 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed): |
17.2% of GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line: |
NA |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
0.8% (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
6.62 million
note:
more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2004 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 12%, industry 25%,
services 63% (1999 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
25% (unofficial estimate) (2004
est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $104.8 billion
expenditures: $78.66 billion, including capital expenditures of
NA (2004 est.) |
|
Public debt: |
75% of GDP (2004 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, construction, fertilizer, plastics,
commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
2.8% (2004 est.) |
|
Electricity - production: |
138.2 billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
|
|
Electricity - consumption: |
128.5 billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2002) |
|
Oil - production: |
9.021 million bbl/day (2004
est.) |
|
Oil - consumption: |
1.55 million bbl/day (2003)
|
|
Oil - exports: |
7.92 million bbl/day (2003)
|
|
Oil - imports: |
0 bbl/day (2003) |
|
Oil - proved reserves: |
261.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - production: |
56.4 billion cu m (2002) |
|
Natural gas - consumption: |
56.4 billion cu m (2002) |
|
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2002) |
|
Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2002) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
6.339 trillion cu m (2004)
|
|
Current account balance: |
$51.5 billion (2004 est.)
|
|
Exports: |
$113 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
|
|
Exports - commodities: |
petroleum and petroleum
products 90% |
|
Exports - partners: |
US 19.3%, Japan 16.4%, South
Korea 8.7%, China 5.8%, Singapore 4.5% (2004) |
|
Imports: |
$36.21 billion f.o.b. (2004
est.) |
|
Imports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment,
foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles |
|
Imports - partners: |
US 9.3%, Germany 6.8%, Japan
6.7%, UK 5.4%, China 5% (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$23.62 billion (2004 est.)
|
|
Debt - external: |
$34.35 billion (2004 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 $240 million to
development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and
soft loans to Iraq |
|
Currency: |
Saudi riyal (SAR) |
|
Currency code: |
SAR |
|
Exchange rates: |
Saudi riyals per US dollar -
3.745 (2004), 3.745 (2003), 3.745 (2002), 3.745 (2001), 3.745 (2000)
|
|
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
| Communications |
Saudi Arabia |
|
Telephones - main lines in use: |
3,502,600 (2003) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
7,238,200 (2003) |
|
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) |
|
Radios: |
6.25 million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations: |
117 (1997) |
|
Televisions: |
5.1 million (1997) |
|
Internet country code: |
.sa |
|
Internet hosts: |
15,931 (2004) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
22 (2003) |
|
Internet users: |
1.5 million (2003)
|
| Transportation |
Saudi Arabia |
|
Railways: |
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2003) |
|
Highways: |
total: 152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km
unpaved: 106,583 km (2000) |
|
Pipelines: |
condensate 212 km; gas 1,780
km; liquid petroleum gas 1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km
(2004) |
|
Ports and harbors: |
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba,
Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr,
Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah |
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 64 ships (1,000
GRT or over) 1,306,706 GRT/1,963,191 DWT
by type: cargo 5,
chemical tanker 12, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 23,
refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 14
(Egypt 2, Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 5, Singapore 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1, United
Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 54 (2005) |
|
Airports: |
201 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 72
over
3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437
m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 129
over
3047 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 (2004 est.)
|
|
Heliports: |
5 (2004 est.) |
|
Military branches: |
Land Force (Army), Navy, Air
Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces
(paramilitary) |
|
Military manpower - military age and obligation: |
18 years of age (est.); no
conscription (2004) |
|
Military manpower - availability: |
males age 18-49:
7,648,999 (2005 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 18-49:
6,592,709 (2005 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age
annually: |
males: 247,334 (2005
est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$18 billion (2002) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
10% (2002) |
| Transnational Issues |
Saudi Arabia |
|
Disputes - international: |
despite resistance from nomadic
groups, the demarcation of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established
under the 2000 Jeddah Treaty is almost complete; Yemen protests Saudi
erection of a concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier in 2004 to stem
illegal cross-border activities in sections of the boundary; Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran;
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the
boundary with the UAE is still unknown |
|
Refugees and internally displaced persons: |
refugees (country of
origin): 240,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2004) |
|
Illicit drugs: |
death penalty for traffickers;
increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine, and hashish; not a major
money-laundering center, improving anti-money-laundering legislation
|
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