Net migration (UNICEF) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Net migration was 119,738 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
119,738
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
6th
of 74 countries
All-time high
977,072
in 2022
All-time low
-988,751
in 2018
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Saudi Arabia, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Saudi Arabia is 119,738, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 74.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Saudi Arabia peaked at 977,072 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -988,751, in 2018.
Saudi Arabia ranks 6th of 74 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 15,000 | — |
| 1961 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 15,054 | +0.4% |
| 1967 | 17,947 | +19.2% |
| 1968 | 21,366 | +19.1% |
| 1969 | 25,312 | +18.5% |
| 1970 | 31,097 | +22.9% |
| 1971 | 43,989 | +41.5% |
| 1972 | 55,439 | +26.0% |
| 1973 | 63,995 | +15.4% |
| 1974 | 69,653 | +8.8% |
| 1975 | 73,960 | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 85,083 | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 96,015 | +12.8% |
| 1978 | 105,263 | +9.6% |
| 1979 | 112,826 | +7.2% |
| 1980 | 121,220 | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 140,355 | +15.8% |
| 1982 | 153,528 | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 157,930 | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 153,562 | -2.8% |
| 1985 | 148,208 | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 172,606 | +16.5% |
| 1987 | 175,075 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 146,918 | -16.1% |
| 1989 | 159,273 | +8.4% |
| 1990 | 160,416 | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 162,857 | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 160,908 | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 158,074 | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 160,306 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 160,512 | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 160,532 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 160,066 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 159,898 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 160,263 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 468,515 | +192.3% |
| 2001 | 484,252 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 500,508 | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 514,606 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 523,472 | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 518,565 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 504,661 | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 489,136 | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 491,337 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 496,229 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 504,955 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 491,253 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 479,206 | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 485,794 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 469,144 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 465,292 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | -26,997 | -105.8% |
| 2017 | -920,812 | +3310.8% |
| 2018 | -988,751 | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 191,582 | -119.4% |
| 2020 | -74,725 | -139.0% |
| 2021 | -106,287 | +42.2% |
| 2022 | 977,072 | -1019.3% |
| 2023 | 325,691 | -66.7% |
| 2024 | 122,170 | -62.5% |
| 2025 | 119,738 | -2.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 119,738 is above the median for high income countries, which is 9,502, 12.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 119,738 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -376.5. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | -3310.8% | -26,997 | -920,812 |
| 2022 | +1019.3% | -106,287 | 977,072 |
| 2000 | +192.3% | 160,263 | 468,515 |
| 2020 | -139.0% | 191,582 | -74,725 |
| 2019 | +119.4% | -988,751 | 191,582 |
| 2016 | -105.8% | 465,292 | -26,997 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16,968 | 15,000 | 25,312 | 10 |
| 1970s | 73,732 | 31,097 | 112,826 | 10 |
| 1980s | 152,868 | 121,220 | 175,075 | 10 |
| 1990s | 160,383 | 158,074 | 162,857 | 10 |
| 2000s | 499,128 | 468,515 | 523,472 | 10 |
| 2010s | 115,067 | -988,751 | 504,955 | 10 |
| 2020s | 227,276 | -106,287 | 977,072 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 3 United Kingdom 389,911 compare
- 4 Sudan 291,469 compare
- 5 United Arab Emirates 158,634 compare
- 7 Iran 116,786 compare
- 8 Oman 113,734 compare
- 9 Netherlands 104,681 compare
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 48,374 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1019 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.10 million people (2100)
- Population density 33.03 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.5868 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Saudi Arabia?
- Net migration in Saudi Arabia was 119,738 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 977,072 in 2022.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -988,751 in 2018.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for net migration?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 6th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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