Population in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Population was 33.26 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in Saudi Arabia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Saudi Arabia is 33.26 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Saudi Arabia peaked at 33.26 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.70 million people, in 1950.
That places Saudi Arabia 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.01 million people | 1.70 million people | 2.35 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.89 million people | 2.44 million people | 3.42 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.52 million people | 3.56 million people | 5.70 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.99 million people | 6.05 million people | 10.13 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.03 million people | 10.64 million people | 15.47 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.15 million people | 16.18 million people | 24.22 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.77 million people | 25.16 million people | 30.78 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.94 million people | 30.99 million people | 33.26 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 45 Peru 33.85 million people compare
- 46 Ghana 33.79 million people compare
- 47 Mozambique 33.64 million people compare
- 49 Madagascar 31.20 million people compare
- 50 Cote d'Ivoire 31.17 million people compare
- 51 Nepal 29.69 million people compare
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 448 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.4% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.28 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Saudi Arabia?
- Population in Saudi Arabia was 33.26 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 33.26 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.70 million people in 1950.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. 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).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.