 Definition  Field Listing  Rank
Order
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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. Today, the monarchy is ruled by a son of ABD
AL-AZIZ, 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. Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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, 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
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
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Population: |
25,795,938
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
|
|
Age structure: |
0-14
years: 38.3% (male 5,039,578; female 4,845,937)
15-64
years: 59.3% (male 8,810,705; female 6,494,770)
65 years
and over: 2.3% (male 327,047; female 277,901) (2004 est.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 21.2 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 19.1 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate: |
2.44% (2004
est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
29.74
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
2.66
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
-2.71
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.36 male(s)/female
65
years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female
total population:
1.22 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total:
13.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.72 deaths/1,000
live births
female: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 75.23 years
male: 73.26 years
female: 77.3 years (2004 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
4.11 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
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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 |
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Ethnic groups: |
Arab 90%,
Afro-Asian 10% |
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Religions: |
Muslim 100%
|
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Languages: |
Arabic
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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 |
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Government type: |
monarchy
|
|
Capital: |
Riyadh
|
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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
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|
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: |
none
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 |
|
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: none; the monarch is hereditary |
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Legislative branch: |
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: |
Supreme
Council of Justice |
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Political parties and leaders: |
none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none |
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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,
NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER (since 8 January
2004)
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) 488-7360
consulate(s) general:
Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah) |
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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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Economy - overview: |
This is an
oil-based economy with strong government controls over major
economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of
petroleum in the world (25% of the proved 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. |
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GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $287.8 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
5.3% (2003
est.) |
|
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $11,800 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 4.7%
industry: 58.8%
services: 36.5% (2003 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed): |
18% of GDP
(2003) |
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Population below poverty line: |
NA |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
0.5% (2003
est.) |
|
Labor force: |
6.43 million
note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age
group is non-national (2003) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture
12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
25% (2003)
|
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Budget: |
revenues: $78.77 billion
expenditures: $66.76
billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.) |
|
Public debt: |
94.6% of GDP
(2003) |
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Agriculture - products: |
wheat,
barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs,
milk |
|
Industries: |
crude oil
production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement,
construction, fertilizer, plastics |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
7.7% (2003
est.) |
|
Electricity - production: |
122.4 billion
kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption: |
113.8 billion
kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2001)
|
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2001)
|
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Oil - production: |
8.711 million
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption: |
1.452 million
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports: |
7.92 million
bbl/day (2003) |
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Oil - imports: |
0 bbl/day
(2003) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
261.7 billion
bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production: |
53.69 billion
cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption: |
53.69 billion
cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2001
est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2001
est.) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
6.339
trillion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance: |
$22.27
billion (2003) |
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Exports: |
$86.53
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
petroleum
and petroleum products 90% |
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Exports - partners: |
US 20.9%,
Japan 15.6%, South Korea 9.8%, China 5.6%, Singapore 4.2% (2003
est.) |
|
Imports: |
$30.38
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities: |
machinery
and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
|
|
Imports - partners: |
US 9.5%,
Japan 7.7%, Germany 7.4%, UK 6.2%, China 4.4%, France 4.2% (2003
est.) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: |
$22.86
billion (2003) |
|
Debt - external: |
$39.16
billion (2003) |
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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
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Currency: |
Saudi riyal
(SAR) |
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Currency code: |
SAR |
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Exchange rates: |
Saudi riyals
per US dollar - 3.745 (2003), 3.745 (2002), 3.745 (2001), 3.745
(2000), 3.745 (1999) |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar
year Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
3,502,600
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
7,238,200
(2003) |
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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)
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 43, FM
31, shortwave 2 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
117 (1997)
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Internet country code: |
.sa |
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Internet hosts: |
15,931 (2004)
|
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Internet users: |
1.5 million
(2003) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Railways: |
total:
1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with
branch lines and sidings) (2003) |
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Highways: |
total:
151,470 km
paved: 45,592 km
unpaved: 105,878
km (1999) |
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Pipelines: |
condensate
212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil 5,062 km;
refined products 69 km (2003) |
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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 |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,306,706
GRT/1,963,191 DWT
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 11,
container 4, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23,
refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea/passenger 6
foreign-owned: Egypt 3, Greece 4, Norway 2, Sudan 1,
United Kingdom 3
registered in other countries: 54 (2003
est.) |
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Airports: |
204 (2003
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to
3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523
m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 133
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to
3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523
m: 38
under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports: |
5 (2003
est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Military branches: |
Land Force
(Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry
of Interior Forces (paramilitary) |
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Military manpower - military age: |
17 years of
age (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 8,240,714 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military
service: |
males age
15-49: 4,725,514 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age
annually: |
males: 246,343 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$18 billion
(2002) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
10% (2002)
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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