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Saudi Arabia

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is an unitary islamic absolute monarchy with its capital in Riyadh. This page brings together source-cited key facts, international memberships, economic and social indicators and practical information.

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Sources citedFigures link to the sources listed below
Data status Under reviewLast updated 24 September 2026
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Key facts

Core reference data for Saudi Arabia. Numbers in brackets link to the sources at the end of this page.

Official name
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [1]
Capital
Riyadh [2]
Official language
Arabic [2]
Population
36,973,555 [2]2025
Area
2,149,690 km² [2]
Currency
Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Time zone
Asia/Riyadh [4]
Calling code
+966
Internet domain
.sa
UN member since
24 October 1945 [3]
Recognition
Universally Recognized
Official portal
my.gov.sa

Government and leadership

Form of government
Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy [1]
Head of state
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud [1]
Head of government
Mohammed bin Salman [1]
Parliament
Consultative Assembly150 seats
Constitution
1 March 1992 [1]
Independence
4 October 2026 [2]
Legal system
Islamic Law

International memberships

Membership status in major international organizations and groups.

  • UNUnited Nations, since 1945Member
  • IMFInternational Monetary FundMember
  • World BankWorld Bank GroupMember
  • WTOWorld Trade OrganizationMember
  • G20Group of TwentyMember
  • EUEuropean UnionNot a member
  • NATONorth Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNot a member
  • SchengenSchengen AreaNot a member
  • G7Group of SevenNot a member
  • UNSC P5Permanent seat, UN Security CouncilNot a member

Economy

Headline indicators. Values marked est. are projections for the current or a future year.

GDP
$1,277 B [5]2025
GDP per capita
$34,537 [5]2025
GDP growth
4.5% [5]2025
Inflation
2.1% [5]2025
Unemployment
3.0% [5]2025
Exports
$311 B [10]Reference year not recorded
Imports
$360 B [10]Reference year not recorded

Main exports

  • Petroleum
  • Petrochemicals
  • Polymers
  • Fertilizers

Main imports

  • Machinery
  • Vehicles
  • Food
  • Chemicals
  • Metals

Geography

Area
2,149,690square kilometres
Coastline
2,640kilometres
Highest point
3,133 mJabal Sawda
Coordinates
24.6748, 46.6977Geographic centre (approx.)

Bordering countries

Society and development

Life expectancy
79.0 years [10]Reference year not recorded
Literacy rate
97.9% [10]2024
Human Development Index
0.875 [6]Rank 40, 2022
Corruption Perceptions Index
59/100 [7]Reference year not recorded
Press freedom rank
176 [8]Reference year not recorded
Internet use
100.0% [10]of population
International tourist arrivals
20.3 M [11]2019
Majority religion
Islam

Practical information

Emergency number
999
Driving side
Right
Electricity
127|220
Plug types
  • Type A
  • Type B
  • Type G
Tap water
Generally safe to drinkLocal conditions can vary; follow local advice.
Calling code
+966

Travel and visa

Passport rank
54 [9]Henley Passport Index
Visa-free or on-arrival access
91 [9]destinations for this country's passport holders

Visiting Saudi Arabia? Check official sources before you travel

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, the purpose of your trip and the length of your stay, and they can change at short notice. NexaNations does not provide immigration or legal advice.

Quick answers

What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?

The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh.

What currency does Saudi Arabia use?

Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Riyal (SAR).

What is the official language of Saudi Arabia?

The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic.

What is the emergency number in Saudi Arabia?

The emergency number in Saudi Arabia is 999.

Which side of the road do people drive on in Saudi Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia, traffic drives on the right.

Sources

  1. Official government portal of Saudi Arabia. my.gov.sa
  2. Wikidata, item Q851. wikidata.org
  3. United Nations, member states. un.org
  4. GeoNames, entry 102358. geonames.org
  5. International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. imf.org
  6. United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report. hdr.undp.org
  7. Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index. transparency.org
  8. Reporters Without Borders, World Press Freedom Index. rsf.org
  9. Henley and Partners, Henley Passport Index. henleyglobal.com
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators. data.worldbank.org
  11. UN Tourism, tourism statistics. untourism.int

Data last updated on 24 September 2026. Read how we select and verify sources in our methodology.

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