Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaAl Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
monarchyIndependence 23 September 1932 (unification)
Saudi Arabia as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, | north of Yemen
18 fieldsLand useshare of 1,960,582 sq km
Environment - current issues
- desertification;
- depletion of underground water resources;
- the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities;
- coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1997 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 43% (male 4,389,113; female 4,252,034)
- 15-64 years:
- 55% (male 6,561,725; female 4,410,589)
- 65 years and over:
- 2% (male 246,894; female 227,610) (July 1997 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth :
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.49 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.26 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Government
Monarchy; King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982)
19 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- conventional short form:
- Saudi Arabia
- local long form:
- Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
- local short form:
- Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Administrative divisions
- 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat);
- Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Legal system
- based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced;
- commercial disputes handled by special committees;
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982);
- Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996);
- note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982);
- Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996);
- note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers is appointed by the king and includes many royal family members
- elections:
- none; the king is an absolute monarch
Legislative branch
a consultative council (60 members and a chairman appointed by the king for four-year terms)
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
- chancery:
- 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 342-3800
- consulate(s) general :
- Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr.
- embassy :
- Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
- mailing address:
- American Embassy-Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
- telephone:
- [966] (1) 488-3800
Flag description
green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong | government controls over major economic activities.
22 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(1994 est.)
Economy - overview
This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties with the US are especially strong. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings.
Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic activity.
Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. For over a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and international outlays have outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs.
A substantial rise in oil prices was the key to a successful 1996. For 1997, the country looks to its policies of maintaining moderate fiscal reforms, restraining public spending, and encouraging non-oil exports.
Industries
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Exports
- total value:
- $53.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
- commodities:
- petroleum and petroleum products 90%
- partners:
- Japan 18%, US 15%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 7%, France 4% (1995 est.)
Imports
- total value :
- $25.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
- commodities:
- machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
- partners:
- US 21%, UK 9%, Germany 8%, Japan 8%, Switzerland 5%, France 5% (1995 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
modern system
- domestic:
- extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems
- international:
- microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan;
- coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
- submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain;
- satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Pipelines
- crude oil 6,400 km;
- petroleum products 150 km;
- natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports and harbors
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine
- total :
- 79 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 998,503 GRT/1,417,265 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 7, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 24, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 9 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
- total:
- 95
- over 3,047 m:
- 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66 914 to 1,523 m : 24 (1996 est.)
Military
Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense | Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public Security | Force, Ministry of Interior Forces
7 fieldsMilitary branches
Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public Security Force, Ministry of Interior Forces
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- large section of boundary with Yemen not defined;
- location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement;
- Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia;
- in 1996, agreed with Qatar to demarcate border per 1992 accord;
- that process is ongoing
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Saudi Arabia.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/saudi-arabia/1997.