Urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Urban and rural population was 29.25 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
29.25 million
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
33rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.25 million
in 2025
All-time low
362,797
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia stood at 29.25 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia peaked at 29.25 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 362,797, in 1950.
That places Saudi Arabia 33rd out of 236 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.
Urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 362,797 | — |
| 1951 | 388,037 | +7.0% |
| 1952 | 416,200 | +7.3% |
| 1953 | 447,456 | +7.5% |
| 1954 | 481,951 | +7.7% |
| 1955 | 519,834 | +7.9% |
| 1956 | 561,256 | +8.0% |
| 1957 | 606,380 | +8.0% |
| 1958 | 655,395 | +8.1% |
| 1959 | 708,473 | +8.1% |
| 1960 | 765,786 | +8.1% |
| 1961 | 827,487 | +8.1% |
| 1962 | 893,730 | +8.0% |
| 1963 | 967,114 | +8.2% |
| 1964 | 1.05 million | +8.6% |
| 1965 | 1.14 million | +8.8% |
| 1966 | 1.24 million | +8.9% |
| 1967 | 1.36 million | +9.0% |
| 1968 | 1.48 million | +9.0% |
| 1969 | 1.61 million | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 1.75 million | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 1.91 million | +8.9% |
| 1972 | 2.08 million | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 2.26 million | +8.8% |
| 1974 | 2.45 million | +8.6% |
| 1975 | 2.66 million | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 2.89 million | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 3.14 million | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 3.41 million | +8.7% |
| 1979 | 3.70 million | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 4.02 million | +8.6% |
| 1981 | 4.36 million | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 4.73 million | +8.5% |
| 1983 | 5.12 million | +8.3% |
| 1984 | 5.53 million | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 5.95 million | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 6.38 million | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 6.83 million | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 7.28 million | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 7.73 million | +6.2% |
| 1990 | 8.19 million | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 8.66 million | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 9.12 million | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 9.57 million | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 10.03 million | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 10.49 million | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 10.95 million | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 11.41 million | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 11.88 million | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 12.34 million | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 12.94 million | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 13.66 million | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 14.39 million | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 15.13 million | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 15.88 million | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 16.65 million | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 17.43 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 18.21 million | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 19.01 million | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 19.83 million | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 20.65 million | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 21.47 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 22.31 million | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 23.15 million | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 24.01 million | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 24.87 million | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 25.54 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 25.64 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 25.35 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 25.49 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 25.97 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 26.31 million | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 27.07 million | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 28.04 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 28.68 million | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 29.25 million | +2.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 29.25 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 13.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 29.25 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.75 million, 3.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 514,778 | 362,797 | 708,473 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.13 million | 765,786 | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.62 million | 1.75 million | 3.70 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.79 million | 4.02 million | 7.73 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.26 million | 8.19 million | 12.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.31 million | 12.94 million | 19.83 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.85 million | 20.65 million | 25.64 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.55 million | 25.97 million | 29.25 million | 6 |
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)
- 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 urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia?
- Urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia was 29.25 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.25 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 362,797 in 1950.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for urban and rural population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 33rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. 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 Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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