Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 29.25 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Saudi Arabia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Saudi Arabia stood at 29.25 million people. 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, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Saudi Arabia peaked at 29.25 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 362,797 people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 514,778 people | 362,797 people | 708,473 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.13 million people | 765,786 people | 1.61 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.62 million people | 1.75 million people | 3.70 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.79 million people | 4.02 million people | 7.73 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.26 million people | 8.19 million people | 12.34 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.31 million people | 12.94 million people | 19.83 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.85 million people | 20.65 million people | 25.64 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.55 million people | 25.97 million people | 29.25 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 448 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.28 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.25 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Saudi Arabia?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Saudi Arabia was 29.25 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.25 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 362,797 people in 1950.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 33rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.