The population in Saudi Arabia is very heterogenous with high concentrations in a few areas, particularly in the capital Riyadh, and in the centers of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah. Over 80% of the Saudi population lives in urban areas, with the rest of the country sparsely populated. The Saudi population is comprised of majority ethnic Saudis (over 60%).

Total population is expected to rise by 30% to 45 million by 2050. The overall population age distribution in Saudi Arabia is relatively young, with the majority of people under 45 years of age. There are slightly more men (especially middle-aged) in Saudi Arabia than women.

While population is growing overall in Saudi Arabia, the annual population growth rate is declining.

Source: WDI 2020

Source: WDI 2020

In addition, urban population growth has increased significantly in recent history, and now comprises the majority of the population across Saudi Arabia.

In addition to the permanent domestic population, Saudi Arabia also has a large number of seasonal foreign workers, employed primarily in agriculture, domestic services and cleaning. The arrival of large numbers of skilled and unskilled workers in Saudi Arabia after the discovery of oil in the 1930s led to the Saudi population doubling by 1985. In 2019, immigrants to Saudi Arabia made up nearly 40% of the population (UN data).