NationMaster - Statistics on Saudi Arabia. facts and figures, stats and information on Saudi economy, crime, people, government, health and education. 13 maps and 19 flags

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 more than 20% 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.

Borders:

Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Population:

28,146,656

GDP per capita:

$13,399.31 per capita

Capital with population:

Riyadh - 4,700,000

Largest city with population:

Riyadh - 4,700,000

Alternative names:

Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah, Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah , saudi arabia b, saudi-arabia

Top Rankings

Bottom Rankings

More Top Rankings »

More Bottom Rankings »

Maps of Saudi Arabia

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia	Administrative Divisions (61k)	Saudi Arabia (Political) 2003	Saudi Arabia (Political) 1991
(View 9 more maps)

Lists and articles

Transnational issues

COMMENTARY

MY Shariff 24th October 2009	The Saudi Arabians boasts themselves to be the pioneers of Islam. They are proud of Islam and Holy Prophet having taken birth on the Arabian soil. But they follow Islam more in breach than in principle. They still continue remain ignorant as before, not alive to the realities of today, and still living in the 7th century, and in darkness. They must rise up to the occasion and set a shining example to other Muslim countries not only in Religion but also in Science and Technology.
TAUSEEF AHAMED 11th May 2009	Hi, Iam from India ,I respect from bottom of my heart the word saudi arabia .but heared that the bloody shakes they doo all nonsences in dubai they come to dubai to fulfill there bad needs & go away ,& they say they will pray five times a day as ALLAH orderd us to do so yes it is right ,but what shakes do is not right ...........bloody shakes..........................
george 9th July 2005	is turkey in south asia and would that be asia minor
Packard Bell 31st December 2004	Saudi Arabia is a country in Arabia. The main religion is Islam. The main language is Arabic. Nedjed annexed Nedjed and Asir and became independent in 1927 as Hedshas-Nedjed. The country was renamed into Saudi-Arabia in 1932. The country is an absolute monarchy.