Net migration metrics in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Net migration metrics was 325,691 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
325,691
Change on year
down 66.7%
World rank
8th
of 236 countries
All-time high
977,072
in 2022
All-time low
-988,751
in 2018
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in Saudi Arabia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 325,691 for net migration metrics in 2023.
That represents a change of down 66.7% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in Saudi Arabia peaked at 977,072 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -988,751, in 2018.
Saudi Arabia ranks 8th of 236 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 metrics in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15,000 | — |
| 1951 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 15,000 | +0.0% |
| 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% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 325,691 is above the median for high income countries, which is 5,173, 63.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 325,691 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 500, 651.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 10 |
| 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 | 280,438 | -106,287 | 977,072 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 5 South Sudan 455,000 compare
- 6 United Kingdom 445,523 compare
- 7 Canada 433,842 compare
- 9 Egypt 305,006 compare
- 10 United Arab Emirates 300,004 compare
- 11 Iran 262,044 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)
- 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 net migration metrics in Saudi Arabia?
- Net migration metrics in Saudi Arabia was 325,691 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 977,072 in 2022.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -988,751 in 2018.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for net migration metrics?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 8th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).