Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Total population (thousands), annual growth rate was 4.4 % change on previous year in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
4.4 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 342.0%
World rank
2nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
6.32 % change on previous year
in 1983
All-time low
-1.49 % change on previous year
in 2019
Years of data
53
1971–2023

Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2023

-20246197119972023

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia recorded 4.4 % change on previous year for total population (thousands), annual growth rate in 2023.

The figure is up 342.0% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 6.32 % change on previous year in 1983 and was at its lowest, -1.49 % change on previous year, in 2019.

That places Saudi Arabia 2nd out of 233 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 53 years of available data.

Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, 1971 to 2023.
Year % change on previous year Change
1971 4.35 % change on previous year
1972 4.72 % change on previous year +8.5%
1973 5.03 % change on previous year +6.8%
1974 5.23 % change on previous year +4.0%
1975 5.35 % change on previous year +2.1%
1976 5.41 % change on previous year +1.3%
1977 5.63 % change on previous year +3.9%
1978 5.81 % change on previous year +3.3%
1979 5.94 % change on previous year +2.2%
1980 6.01 % change on previous year +1.2%
1981 6.06 % change on previous year +0.7%
1982 6.26 % change on previous year +3.3%
1983 6.32 % change on previous year +1.1%
1984 6.24 % change on previous year -1.4%
1985 6.02 % change on previous year -3.4%
1986 5.79 % change on previous year -3.9%
1987 5.91 % change on previous year +2.0%
1988 5.72 % change on previous year -3.1%
1989 5.22 % change on previous year -8.8%
1990 5.15 % change on previous year -1.3%
1991 4.97 % change on previous year -3.5%
1992 4.81 % change on previous year -3.2%
1993 4.62 % change on previous year -3.9%
1994 4.44 % change on previous year -3.9%
1995 4.31 % change on previous year -3.0%
1996 4.15 % change on previous year -3.6%
1997 4 % change on previous year -3.6%
1998 3.87 % change on previous year -3.4%
1999 3.75 % change on previous year -3.0%
2000 3.62 % change on previous year -3.4%
2001 5.47 % change on previous year +50.9%
2002 5.22 % change on previous year -4.6%
2003 4.99 % change on previous year -4.3%
2004 4.79 % change on previous year -4.0%
2005 4.61 % change on previous year -3.8%
2006 4.45 % change on previous year -3.5%
2007 4.3 % change on previous year -3.2%
2008 4.17 % change on previous year -3.0%
2009 4.05 % change on previous year -2.9%
2010 3.94 % change on previous year -2.9%
2011 3.83 % change on previous year -2.8%
2012 3.72 % change on previous year -2.8%
2013 3.61 % change on previous year -2.8%
2014 3.51 % change on previous year -2.8%
2015 3.42 % change on previous year -2.7%
2016 3.32 % change on previous year -2.9%
2017 1.66 % change on previous year -49.9%
2018 -1.22 % change on previous year -173.3%
2019 -1.49 % change on previous year +22.5%
2020 2.23 % change on previous year -249.4%
2021 1.18 % change on previous year -47.0%
2022 0.9944 % change on previous year -15.9%
2023 4.4 % change on previous year +342.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5.27 % change on previous year 4.35 % change on previous year 5.94 % change on previous year 9
1980s 5.96 % change on previous year 5.22 % change on previous year 6.32 % change on previous year 10
1990s 4.41 % change on previous year 3.75 % change on previous year 5.15 % change on previous year 10
2000s 4.57 % change on previous year 3.62 % change on previous year 5.47 % change on previous year 10
2010s 2.43 % change on previous year -1.49 % change on previous year 3.94 % change on previous year 10
2020s 2.2 % change on previous year 0.9944 % change on previous year 4.4 % change on previous year 4

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 1 Oman 4.51 % change on previous year compare
  2. 3 Tokelau 4.36 % change on previous year compare
  3. 4 Chad 4.31 % change on previous year compare
  4. 5 Syria 4.12 % change on previous year compare

See the full ranking of 233 places →

More population data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia?
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia was 4.4 % change on previous year in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest total population (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 6.32 % change on previous year in 1983.
What is the lowest total population (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was -1.49 % change on previous year in 2019.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for total population (thousands), annual growth rate?
Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd out of 233 countries with data for 2023.
Is total population (thousands), annual growth rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Total population (thousands), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/total-population-thousands-annual-growth-rate/saudi-arabia/

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How this figure is calculated

The year-on-year percentage change in Total population (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
233 places, 12,573 data points, 1971–2025
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in Total population (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.