Saudi Arabia — Population
Population, Total for Saudi Arabia, 1960–2025.
Population for Saudi Arabia was 36.97 million in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 2.44 million in 1960 (about 15.2× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 4.27% per year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 43 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 20%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 11.52 million, so Saudi Arabia sits above it. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 24%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 9 of 23 economies; Syrian Arab Republic (25.62 million) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 6% in 1982. That is 15% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1977; grown tenfold by 2011. Doubling roughly every 17 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 107th of 216 in 1960 → 101st of 216 in 1970 → 82nd of 216 in 1980 → 61st of 217 in 1990 → 57th of 217 in 2000 → 49th of 217 in 2010 → 47th of 217 in 2020 → 43rd of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36,973,555 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 35,300,280 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 33,702,731 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 32,175,224 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 30,784,383 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 31,552,510 | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 30,063,799 | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 30,196,281 | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 30,977,355 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 30,954,198 | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 29,816,382 | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 28,309,273 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 27,624,004 | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 26,168,861 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 25,091,867 | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 23,978,487 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 24,217,654 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 23,287,877 | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 22,368,313 | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 21,459,144 | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 20,559,890 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 19,669,480 | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 18,786,767 | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 17,910,910 | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 17,041,397 | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 16,177,722 | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 15,472,075 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 14,922,185 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 14,374,943 | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 13,831,009 | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 13,289,245 | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 12,750,040 | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 12,215,862 | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 11,686,676 | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 11,160,744 | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 10,640,691 | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 10,128,394 | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 9,629,165 | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 9,130,194 | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 8,628,639 | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 8,151,779 | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 7,697,307 | +6.1% |
| 1983 | 7,252,941 | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 6,824,486 | +6.3% |
| 1981 | 6,420,551 | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 6,047,997 | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 5,703,698 | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 5,381,902 | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 5,083,048 | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 4,807,933 | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 4,556,287 | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 4,323,632 | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 4,106,344 | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 3,905,722 | +4.9% |
| 1971 | 3,724,031 | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 3,562,470 | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 3,417,114 | +4.1% |
| 1968 | 3,282,711 | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 3,157,242 | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 3,039,887 | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 2,928,771 | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 2,821,968 | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 2,719,341 | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 2,620,910 | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 2,526,347 | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 2,435,403 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Saudi Arabia’s Population in 1961?
2,526,347 (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are Saudi Arabia’s Population figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — people — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is Saudi Arabia’s Population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +1418.2% in total — about 4.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.POP.TOTL. 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: 36,973,555; 2024: 35,300,280; 2023: 33,702,731; 2022: 32,175,224; 2021: 30,784,383. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.POP.TOTL — Population, Total. 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.