Total population (thousands) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Total population (thousands) was 34,264 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
34,264 thousands
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
48th
of 233 countries
All-time high
34,264 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
3,487 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2025
Total population in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Saudi Arabia stood at 34,264 thousands. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Saudi Arabia peaked at 34,264 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,487 thousands, in 1970.
That places Saudi Arabia 48th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total population (thousands) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,487 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 3,638 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 3,810 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 4,002 thousands | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 4,211 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 4,436 thousands | +5.3% |
| 1976 | 4,676 thousands | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 4,939 thousands | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 5,227 thousands | +5.8% |
| 1979 | 5,537 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 5,870 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 6,226 thousands | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 6,615 thousands | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 7,034 thousands | +6.3% |
| 1984 | 7,472 thousands | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 7,922 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 8,381 thousands | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 8,876 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 9,384 thousands | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 9,874 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 10,383 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 10,899 thousands | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 11,423 thousands | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 11,950 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 12,481 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 13,019 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 13,560 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 14,102 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 14,648 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 15,197 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 15,747 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 16,608 thousands | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 17,475 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 18,347 thousands | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 19,226 thousands | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 20,113 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 21,007 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 21,911 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 22,826 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 23,750 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 24,685 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 25,629 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 26,582 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 27,543 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 28,511 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 29,485 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 30,464 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 30,971 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 30,594 thousands | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 30,137 thousands | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 30,809 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 31,173 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 31,483 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 32,867 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 34,264 thousands | +4.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 34,264 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 11.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 34,264 thousands is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11,575 thousands, 3.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,396 thousands | 3,487 thousands | 5,537 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 7,766 thousands | 5,870 thousands | 9,874 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,766 thousands | 10,383 thousands | 15,197 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 19,701 thousands | 15,747 thousands | 23,750 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,460 thousands | 24,685 thousands | 30,971 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,119 thousands | 30,809 thousands | 34,264 thousands | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 45 Mozambique 35,134 thousands compare
- 46 Ghana 34,746 thousands compare
- 47 Peru 34,401 thousands compare
- 49 Madagascar 32,352 thousands compare
- 50 Cote d'Ivoire 32,321 thousands compare
- 51 Nepal 29,628 thousands 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)
- 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 total population in Saudi Arabia?
- Total population in Saudi Arabia was 34,264 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 34,264 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,487 thousands in 1970.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for total population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 48th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release