Saudi Arabia: Population
Chapter 3: Persian Gulf, Arabian Peninsula
Saudi Arabia: Population
Population, Ethnic Groups
/ Language, Religion / Education, Health
/ Statistics
Overview
/ Leadership / System Essentials
/ Infrastructure / Fielded Forces
/ Table of Contents
Recess at a girls' school
Saudi Arabia has a population of 18.2 million with a growth rate of 3.24% (1994 est.). The population estimate includes 4-5 million foreign residents who are not citizens. Until the 1960s, most of the population was nomadic or semi-nomadic; due to rapid economic and urban growth, more than 95% of the population is settled. Some cities and oases have densities of more than 1,000 people per sq. km.
Most Saudis are ethnically Arab. Some are of mixed ethnic origin and are descended from Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians, and Africans, most of whom immigrated as pilgrims and reside in the Hijaz region along the Red Sea coast. Many Arabs from nearby countries are employed in the kingdom as are significant numbers of expatriate workers from North America, South Asia, Europe and East Asia.
The official language is Arabic, which is spoken by almost all of the population. English is common in business and government.
Strict Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam is the official faith of about 95 percent of Saudis. The remainder are Shiite Muslims, most of whom reside in vicinity of Al Ahsa and Al Qatif in the Eastern Province. Public worship by non-Muslims prohibited.
The education system experienced massive growth in 1970s and 1980s. Attendance is not compulsory. Females accounted for close to 44 percent of public school student total of 2.6 million in 1989. About 130,000 students in 1989 enrolled in non-vocational institutions of higher learning, 9,000 in vocational institutions; about 4,000 enrolled abroad. Literacy is estimated at 62 percent of those over age fifteen in 1990, 73 percent for males and 48 percent for females.
Infant mortality is declining with twenty-one per 1,000 births in Ministry of Health hospitals in 1990. Immunization of infants and young children is compulsory. Health care facilities underwent a huge expansion in 1970s and 1980s. Official policy is to provide comprehensive medical care free or at a nominal fee. Introduction of an epidemic control system in 1986 eliminated cholera, plague, and yellow fever. The incidence of malaria and bilharzia was reduced to 1.6 and 1.9 percent respectively of the total 1988 population. Despite trachoma campaigns, disease remains a major cause of blindness.
World ranking (of 191)