Share of population living in the capital city in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of population living in the capital city was 20.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in Saudi Arabia, 1980–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in the capital city in Saudi Arabia is 20.3%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Saudi Arabia peaked at 20.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1980.
Saudi Arabia ranks 64th of 170 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of population living in the capital city in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.1% | — |
| 1985 | 8.1% | +289.9% |
| 1990 | 12.9% | +59.4% |
| 1995 | 14.8% | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 15.8% | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 20.3% | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.1% | 2.1% | 8.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 13.8% | 12.9% | 14.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.3% | 15.8% | 16.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.4% | 17.9% | 18.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.3% | 20.3% | 20.3% | 1 |
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)
- 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 share of population living in the capital city in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Saudi Arabia was 20.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1980.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 64th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.