Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants was 0.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Saudi Arabia, 1985–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 0.9% for annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in 2020.
That represents a change of down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Saudi Arabia peaked at 22.5% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2000.
Saudi Arabia ranks 54th of 144 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 22.5% | — |
| 1990 | 8.9% | -60.6% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | -56.7% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | -88.7% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | +304.2% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -30.6% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -38.1% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | +15.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.5% | 22.5% | 22.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.4% | 3.8% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.4% | 1.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 51 North Korea 0.9% compare
- 52 Hong Kong 0.9% compare
- 53 Afghanistan 0.9% compare
- 55 Zambia 0.8% compare
- 56 Mauritania 0.8% compare
- 57 Germany 0.8% compare
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5774 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1019 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 48,374 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.2 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.5868 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Population density 33.03 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.10 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Saudi Arabia?
- Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Saudi Arabia was 0.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.5% in 1985.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 54th out of 144 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average annual growth in the share of population living in cities with at least 300,000 people, calculated over five-year periods. For example, 2020 reflects average growth between 2015–2020. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.