Reuters AlertNet Lite - Saudi Arabia

PEOPLE

Language
Arabic, with dialect varations. Languages of other communities, particularly foreign workers, include Farsi and Urdu.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	25.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	24.4 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	24.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	23.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	23.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	22.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	21.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	21.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	20.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
43.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Saudis are mainly of Arab origin. In recent years there has been large-scale immigration of Iranians, Pakistanis and Palestinians into Saudi Arabia.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Islam; Sunni Wahhabism (official) 95 percent, Shia 3 percent. There is a small Christian minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	81.4 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	81.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	81.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	80.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	80.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	80.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	80.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	79.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
No data available
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
84 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	34.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	37.8 percent	U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2006
2003	38.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	39.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	42.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +3

Climate description
Harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes.

Currency
Saudi riyal

Telephone dialling code
(+) 966

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	72.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	72.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	71.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	72.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	71.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	71.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	70.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	70.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	70.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	71.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	74.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	74.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	73.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	73.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	20 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	21 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	21 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	21 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	22 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	23 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	23 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	24 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	25 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	25 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	26 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	27 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	26 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	28 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	29 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	No data available percent
1996-2004	91 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	91 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	91 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	91 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	91 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	18 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	23 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	61	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	76	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	71	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	14 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	4 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	4 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2002	No data available percent
2000	95 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2002	No data available percent
2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	79.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	79.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	77.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	87.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	87.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	94.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	83.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	83.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	69.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	69.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	69.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	68.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	66.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	163 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	162 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	164 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	163 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	160 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	156 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	156 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	151 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	143 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1435 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	1150 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	814 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	600 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	398 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	322 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	228 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	118 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	66 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	285 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	256 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	187 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	122 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	99 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	77 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	45 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	21 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	80 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	79 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	70 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	70 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	71 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	46 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	Not ranked	Transparency International
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	15470 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	14150 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	12700 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	10840 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	9400 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	8560 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	8480 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	8140 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	381.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	356.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	315.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	250.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	214.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	188.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	183.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	188.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	6.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	5.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	7.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	0.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	4.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	9.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	19.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	10.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	5.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-3.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	11.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	137 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	137 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	153 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	153 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
No data available percent

Malaria
Risk from P. falciparum throughout the year in most of the southern region except the high altitude areas of Asir province and in certain rural areas of the western region. No risk in Mecca or Medina cities. Chloroquine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	46 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	45 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	43 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	42 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	43 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	44 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	46 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	47 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	712	UNHCR
2007	753	UNHCR
2006	617	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	151	UNHCR
2004	214	UNHCR
2003	236	UNHCR
2002	109	UNHCR
2001	35	UNHCR
2000	77	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	240572	UNHCR
2007	240742	UNHCR
2006	240772	UNHCR
2005	240701	UNHCR
2004	240552	UNHCR
2003	240835	UNHCR
2002	245290	UNHCR
2001	245268	UNHCR
2000	5309	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	8.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	8.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	8.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	6.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	No data available percent
1998-2000	9.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	4.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003