GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 1.8% for gdp growth in 2024.
The figure is up 233.2% on the previous year and down 55.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Saudi Arabia peaked at 52.6% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -16.1%, in 1982.
Saudi Arabia ranks 151st of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 52.6% | — |
| 1971 | 15.2% | -71.0% |
| 1972 | 18.8% | +23.4% |
| 1973 | 22.5% | +19.7% |
| 1974 | 16.1% | -28.4% |
| 1975 | -5.5% | -134.1% |
| 1976 | 15.2% | -377.4% |
| 1977 | 5.9% | -61.3% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | -97.1% |
| 1979 | 11.0% | +6260.3% |
| 1980 | 5.8% | -47.1% |
| 1981 | 3.0% | -48.6% |
| 1982 | -16.1% | -640.1% |
| 1983 | -11.0% | -31.8% |
| 1984 | -4.0% | -63.5% |
| 1985 | -7.2% | +80.0% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | -114.0% |
| 1987 | -3.1% | -410.8% |
| 1988 | 6.6% | -310.7% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -93.7% |
| 1990 | 9.4% | +2170.3% |
| 1991 | 8.2% | -12.8% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | -44.3% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -91.7% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +150.9% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | -67.3% |
| 1996 | 3.3% | +960.2% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -19.9% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +5.9% |
| 1999 | -0.6% | -122.6% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | -844.9% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -92.7% |
| 2002 | -0.7% | -299.8% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | -1373.8% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | -31.1% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -44.3% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | -33.2% |
| 2008 | 6.2% | +181.8% |
| 2009 | -1.1% | -117.1% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | -572.4% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | +133.3% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -51.0% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | -48.9% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | +36.6% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +15.7% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -63.4% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | -30.6% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | +173.0% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -48.8% |
| 2020 | -3.8% | -330.4% |
| 2021 | 6.5% | -271.4% |
| 2022 | 12.0% | +84.1% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -95.5% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | +233.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.3%, 80% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.3%, 80% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +6260.3% | 0.2% | 11.0% |
| 1990 | +2170.3% | 0.4% | 9.4% |
| 2003 | +1373.8% | -0.7% | 8.8% |
| 1996 | +960.2% | 0.3% | 3.3% |
| 2000 | +844.9% | -0.6% | 4.7% |
| 1982 | -640.1% | 3.0% | -16.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.2% | -5.5% | 52.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.5% | -16.1% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | -0.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | -1.1% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 1.2% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | -3.8% | 12.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
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)
- Population growth rate 0.629 (2100)
- Population density 33.03 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.10 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Saudi Arabia?
- Gdp growth in Saudi Arabia was 1.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 52.6% in 1970.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.1% in 1982.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for gdp growth?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 151st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release