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 approximately 25% 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
Saudi Arabia
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: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 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
total: 17.32 cu km/yr
(10%/1%/89%) per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution 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
People
Saudi Arabia
Population:
28,161,417 note:
includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
total: 21.5 years
male: 22.9 years female: 19.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.945% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
28.83 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
2.52 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.86 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64
years: 1.3 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.09
male(s)/female total population: 1.19 male(s)/female (2008
est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.01
deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.09
years male: 74.04 years female: 78.25 years (2008
est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.89 children born/woman (2008
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.)
Government
Saudi Arabia
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:
name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E time
difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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 Islamic
law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and
responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992
Legal system:
based on Shari'a law, several
secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special
committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; male
Executive branch:
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; note - 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:
Consultative Council or Majlis
al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for
four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in
October 2003 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, to date no such elections have been held or announced
chief of mission:
Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR chancery: 601 New Hampshire
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113 consulate(s) general:
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ford FRAKER embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic
Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy, 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)
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
Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:
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, 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.
Japan 17.7%, US 15.8%, South
Korea 9%, China 7.2%, Taiwan 4.6%, Singapore 4.4% (2006)
Imports:
$82.77 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment,
foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports - partners:
US 12.2%, Germany 9.1%, China
7.9%, Japan 7.3%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.8%, South Korea 4.1% (2006)
Economic aid - donor:
since 2002, Saudi Arabia has
provided more than $480 million in budgetary support to the Palestinian
Authority, supported Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), provided more than $250 million to Arab
League funds for the Palestinians, and pledged $500 million in assistance
over the next three years at the Donors Conference in Dec 2007; pledged
$230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export
guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133 million in direct grant
aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and $153 million in export
credits for Pakistan earthquake relief; pledged a total of $1.59 billion
to Lebanon in assistance and deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in
2006 and pledged an additional $1.1 billion in early 2007
Economic aid - recipient:
$26.29 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$34 billion (31 December 2007
est.)
Debt - external:
$52.89 billion (31 December
2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$326.9 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:
SAR
Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals per US dollar -
3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.5 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19.663 million (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment:
modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular
subscribership has been increasing rapidly international:
country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable
Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and
SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia,
Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan,
Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
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:
18,369 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2003)
Internet users:
4.7 million (2006)
Transportation
Saudi Arabia
Airports:
213 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 77 over
3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437
m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 136 over
3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m:
73 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 15 (2007)
Heliports:
8 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880
km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1,148 km
(2007)
Railways:
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 59 ships (1000
GRT or over) 847,094 GRT/1,059,026 DWT by type: cargo 5,
chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 16,
refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 foreign-owned: 10
(Egypt 1, Greece 2, Kuwait 6, UAE 1) registered in other
countries: 63 (Bahamas 15, Comoros 1, Dominica 1, France 1, Liberia
24, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 3, Panama 14) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah,
Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Military
Saudi Arabia
Military branches:
Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air
Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces
(paramilitary)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no
conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49:
7,648,999 females age 18-49: 5,417,922 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49:
6,592,709 females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 247,334
females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
10% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its
concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully
demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities;
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with
Iran
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of
origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2006)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Saudi
Arabia is a destination country for workers from South and Southeast Asia
who are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude
including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of
wages, confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their
movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are
confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia
is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan,
Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and
involuntary servitude as street vendors; some Nigerian women were
reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers;
improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement
