Saudi Arabia — GDP growth
GDP Growth (Annual %) for Saudi Arabia, 1961–2025.
GDP growth for Saudi Arabia was 4.50% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 65 years, from 1961 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 52.59% in 1970. The lowest was -16.11% in 1982 (about -3.6× the latest value). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -1.50% per year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 63 of 212 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 30%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 2.93%, so Saudi Arabia sits above it. It peaked in 1970 and has fallen 91% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 3%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 4 of 23 economies; Egypt, Arab Rep. (4.39%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 6260% in 1979. That is 42% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1961 level: doubled by 1970.
World ranking. Slipped: 7th of 107 in 1961 → 1st of 119 in 1970 → 47th of 152 in 1980 → 18th of 176 in 1990 → 77th of 199 in 2000 → 86th of 209 in 2010 → 105th of 209 in 2020 → 56th of 186 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1961 to 2025
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4.5% | +1.9 pp |
| 2024 | 2.65% | +2.1 pp |
| 2023 | 0.54% | -11.5 pp |
| 2022 | 12% | +5.5 pp |
| 2021 | 6.52% | +10.3 pp |
| 2020 | -3.8% | -5.5 pp |
| 2019 | 1.65% | -1.6 pp |
| 2018 | 3.23% | +2.0 pp |
| 2017 | 1.18% | -0.5 pp |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -3.0 pp |
| 2015 | 4.66% | +0.6 pp |
| 2014 | 4.02% | +1.1 pp |
| 2013 | 2.95% | -2.8 pp |
| 2012 | 5.76% | -6.0 pp |
| 2011 | 11.76% | +6.7 pp |
| 2010 | 5.04% | +6.1 pp |
| 2009 | -1.07% | -7.3 pp |
| 2008 | 6.24% | +4.0 pp |
| 2007 | 2.21% | -1.1 pp |
| 2006 | 3.31% | -2.6 pp |
| 2005 | 5.94% | -2.7 pp |
| 2004 | 8.63% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 8.77% | +9.5 pp |
| 2002 | -0.69% | -1.0 pp |
| 2001 | 0.34% | -4.4 pp |
| 2000 | 4.72% | +5.4 pp |
| 1999 | -0.63% | -3.4 pp |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 2.65% | -0.7 pp |
| 1996 | 3.3% | +3.0 pp |
| 1995 | 0.31% | -0.6 pp |
| 1994 | 0.95% | +0.6 pp |
| 1993 | 0.38% | -4.2 pp |
| 1992 | 4.58% | -3.6 pp |
| 1991 | 8.22% | -1.2 pp |
| 1990 | 9.43% | +9.0 pp |
| 1989 | 0.42% | -6.2 pp |
| 1988 | 6.6% | +9.7 pp |
| 1987 | -3.13% | -4.1 pp |
| 1986 | 1.01% | +8.2 pp |
| 1985 | -7.21% | -3.2 pp |
| 1984 | -4.01% | +7.0 pp |
| 1983 | -10.99% | +5.1 pp |
| 1982 | -16.11% | -19.1 pp |
| 1981 | 2.98% | -2.8 pp |
| 1980 | 5.8% | -5.2 pp |
| 1979 | 10.96% | +10.8 pp |
| 1978 | 0.17% | -5.7 pp |
| 1977 | 5.89% | -9.3 pp |
| 1976 | 15.22% | +20.7 pp |
| 1975 | -5.49% | -21.6 pp |
| 1974 | 16.1% | -6.4 pp |
| 1973 | 22.5% | +3.7 pp |
| 1972 | 18.79% | +3.6 pp |
| 1971 | 15.23% | -37.4 pp |
| 1970 | 52.59% | +46.6 pp |
| 1969 | 6.04% | -1.6 pp |
| 1968 | 7.66% | -1.2 pp |
| 1967 | 8.91% | +0.7 pp |
| 1966 | 8.18% | -4.0 pp |
| 1965 | 12.14% | +3.4 pp |
| 1964 | 8.78% | +0.1 pp |
| 1963 | 8.7% | -3.2 pp |
| 1962 | 11.92% | +0.0 pp |
| 1961 | 11.88% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Saudi Arabia’s GDP growth in 1962?
11.92% (1962). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Saudi Arabia’s GDP growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1961 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -62.1% in total — about 1.5% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 4.5%; 2024: 2.65%; 2023: 0.54%; 2022: 12%; 2021: 6.52%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG — GDP Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.