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National Map
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Saudi Arabia |
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National Flag
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Saudi Arabia |
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Flag Description:
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the
Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script
(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); design dates to the early
twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud
family which established the kingdom in 1932
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Saudi Arabia |
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National Anthem
Of |
Saudi Arabia |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Saudi Arabia |
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Background:
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In 1902,
ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh
and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian
Peninsula. A son of ABD AL-AZIZ rules the country today,
and the country's Basic Law stipulates that the throne
shall remain in the hands of the aging sons and
grandsons of the kingdom's founder. Following Iraq's
invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the
Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing
Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the
liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing
presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after Operation
Desert Storm remained a source of tension between the
royal family and the public until the US military's
near-complete withdrawal to neighboring Qatar in 2003.
The first major terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia in
several years, which occurred in May and November 2003,
prompted renewed efforts on the part of the Saudi
government to counter domestic terrorism and extremism,
which also coincided with a slight upsurge in media
freedom and announcement of government plans to phase in
partial political representation. A burgeoning
population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely
dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing
governmental concerns. |
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Location:
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Middle
East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north
of Yemen |
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Geographic coordinates:
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25 00 N,
45 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle
East |
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Area:
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total:
1,960,582 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
more than one-fifth the size of the US |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km,
Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km,
Yemen 1,458 km |
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Coastline:
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2,640 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified |
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Climate:
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harsh,
dry desert with great temperature extremes |
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Terrain:
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mostly
uninhabited, sandy desert |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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16,200 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent
sand and dust storms |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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extensive
coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great
leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal |
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Population:
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26,417,599
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2005
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 38.2% (male 5,149,960/female 4,952,138)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 8,992,348/female
6,698,633)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 334,694/female
289,826) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
21.28 years
male: 22.84 years
female: 19.28 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.31%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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29.56
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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2.62
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-3.85
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female
total population: 1.21 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
13.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 75.46 years
male: 73.46 years
female: 77.55 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.05
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.01%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab 90%,
Afro-Asian 10% |
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Religions:
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Muslim
100% |
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Languages:
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Arabic
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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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 |
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Government type:
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monarchy
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Capital:
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Riyadh
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Administrative divisions:
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13
provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al
Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar
Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il,
Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk |
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Independence:
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23
September 1932 (unification of the kingdom) |
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National holiday:
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Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932) |
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Constitution:
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governed
according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that
articulates the government's rights and responsibilities
was introduced in 1993 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced;
commercial disputes handled by special committees; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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adult
male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004
for partial municipal council elections scheduled
nationwide for February through April 2005 |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent
Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half
brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the
monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: King and Prime Minister
ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al
Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928)
note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the
monarch and includes many royal family members
elections: note - in October 2003, Council of
Ministers announced its intent to introduce elections
for half of the members of local and provincial
assemblies and a third of the members of the national
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally
over a period of four to five years; in November 2004,
the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs initiated
voter registration for partial municipal council
elections scheduled nationwide for February through
April 2005 |
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Legislative branch:
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Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and
a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Council of Justice |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA,
AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
(observer) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Turki al-Faysal 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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER
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
FAX: [966] (1) 488-3989
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
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Flag description:
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green, a
traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or
Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (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); design dates to the early twentieth
century and is closely associated with the Al Saud
family which established the kingdom in 1932 |
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Economy - overview:
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This is
an oil-based economy with strong government controls
over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia possesses
25% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as
the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading
role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly
75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export
earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private
sector. Roughly five and a half million foreign workers
play an important role in the Saudi economy, for
example, in the oil and service sectors. The government
in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the
electricity companies, which follows the ongoing
privatization of the telecommunications company. The
government is encouraging private sector growth to
lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase
employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi
population. Priorities for government spending in the
short term include additional funds for education and
for the water and sewage systems. Economic reforms
proceed cautiously because of deep-rooted political and
social conservatism. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$310.2
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 67.2%
services: 28.6% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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6.62
million
note: more than 35% of the population in the
15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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25%
(unofficial estimate) (2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.8%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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17.2% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $104.8 billion
expenditures: $78.66 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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75% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat,
barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton,
chickens, eggs, milk |
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Industries:
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crude oil
production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals,
ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic
soda), cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics,
commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2.8%
(2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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138.2
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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128.5
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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9.021
million bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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1.55
million bbl/day (2003) |
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Oil - exports:
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7.92
million bbl/day (2003) |
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Oil - imports:
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0 bbl/day
(2003) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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261.7
billion bbl (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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56.4
billion cu m (2002) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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56.4
billion cu m (2002) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2002) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2002) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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6.339
trillion cu m (2004) |
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Current account balance:
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$51.5
billion (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$113
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum
and petroleum products 90% |
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Exports - partners:
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US 18.2%,
Japan 14.9%, South Korea 9.5%, China 6.1%, Taiwan 4.5%,
Singapore 4.1% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$36.21
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,
textiles |
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Imports - partners:
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US 15.3%,
Japan 9.8%, Germany 8.1%, China 6.6%, UK 5.7% (2004)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$23.62
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$34.35
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - donor:
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pledged
$100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon;
since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for
assistance to the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to
development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export
guarantees and soft loans to Iraq |
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Currency (code):
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Saudi
riyal (SAR) |
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Currency code:
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SAR |
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Exchange rates:
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Saudi
riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2004), 3.745 (2003), 3.745
(2002), 3.745 (2001), 3.745 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 March -
28 February |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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3,502,600
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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7,238,200
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems
international: country code - 966; 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) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 43, FM
31, shortwave 2 (1998) |
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Radios:
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6.25
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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117
(1997) |
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Televisions:
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5.1
million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.sa |
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Internet hosts:
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15,931
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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22 (2003)
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Internet users:
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1.5
million (2003) |
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Railways:
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total:
1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with
branch lines and sidings) (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km
unpaved: 106,583 km (2000) |
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Pipelines:
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condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas
1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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Ad
Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,306,706 GRT/1,963,191 DWT
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 12, container
4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated
cargo 3, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 14 (Egypt 2, Hong Kong 1, Kuwait
5, Singapore 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1, United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 54 (2005) |
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Airports:
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201 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
72
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
129
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 72
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 12 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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5 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Land
Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces
(paramilitary) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age (est.); no conscription (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 7,648,999 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 6,592,709 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
247,334 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$18
billion (2002) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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10%
(2002) |
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Disputes - international:
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despite
resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation of the
Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under the 2000
Jeddah Treaty is almost complete; Yemen protests Saudi
erection of a concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier
in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities in
sections of the boundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran;
because the treaties have not been made public, the
exact alignment of the boundary with the UAE is still
unknown |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian
Territories) (2004) |
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Illicit drugs:
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death
penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of
heroin, cocaine, and hashish; not a major
money-laundering center, improving anti-money-laundering
legislation |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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