- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) or Saudi Arabia, as it is formally referred to, is one of the most strategic nations in the Middle East. It is internationally famous as the location of the two most sacred cities of Islam- Mecca and Medina and therefore it plays an important role both in religious and economic terms. The country has a well organized three tier administrative system which consists of 13 provinces, more than 130 governorates and thousands of districts and towns.
- Saudi Arabia is the largest country of the Middle East and the 12th largest nation in the world with the land size of about 2.15 million square kilometers. Currently, the population is around 32.2 million people, with more than 85 per cent of them residing in urban centres. There are also over 4,580 cities and towns that are located within the kingdom showing a highly urbanized society that has been driven by high development and modernization.
- The exchange rate is stable against the American dollar at approximately 3.75 Saudi Riyal to every American dollar, a rate that has not changed in decades given the fact that the country has strong economic bases and financial system which is oil based.
- The report gives a detailed description of the administrative nature of Saudi Arabia, geographical size, its urban population, and the currency system of this country- this is a valuable source of information that researchers, policymakers, students, and anyone interested in knowing the basic facts about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will find useful.
Top 20 Major Cities in Saudi Arabia (with Population Estimates 2025)
Saudi Arabia Provinces & Cities
Complete guide to the administrative divisions of the Kingdom
Administrative Provinces of Saudi Arabia
| English Name | Arabic Name | Capital City |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | الرياض | Riyadh |
| Makkah | مكة المكرمة | Makkah |
| Madinah | المدينة المنورة | Medina |
| Eastern Province | المنطقة الشرقية | Dammam |
| Qassim | القصيم | Buraidah |
| Asir | عسير | Abha |
| Tabuk | تبوك | Tabuk |
| Hail | حائل | Ha'il |
| Northern Borders | الحدود الشمالية | Arar |
| Jazan | جازان | Jazan |
| Najran | نجران | Najran |
| Al-Baha | الباحة | Al-Baha |
| Al-Jouf | الجوف | Sakaka |
Top 20 Major Cities in Saudi Arabia (2025)
| Rank | City | Province | Approx. Population |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Riyadh | Riyadh | 7,000,100 |
2 |
Jeddah | Makkah | 3,751,917 |
3 |
Dammam | Eastern Province | 2,638,166 |
4 |
Mecca | Makkah | 2,385,509 |
5 |
Medina | Madinah | 1,477,023 |
6 |
Ta’if | Makkah | 1,200,000+ |
7 |
Buraidah | Qassim | 700,000+ |
8 |
Khobar | Eastern Province | 500,000+ |
9 |
Abha | Asir | 450,000+ |
10 |
Tabuk | Tabuk | 600,000+ |
11 |
Hail | Hail | 500,000+ |
12 |
Najran | Najran | 400,000+ |
13 |
Jazan | Jazan | 350,000+ |
14 |
Sakaka | Al-Jouf | 250,000+ |
15 |
Arar | Northern Borders | 200,000+ |
16 |
Al-Baha | Al-Baha | 180,000+ |
17 |
Hofuf | Eastern Province | 1,000,000+ (metro) |
18 |
Dhahran | Eastern Province | 200,000+ |
19 |
Yanbu | Madinah | 200,000+ |
20 |
Al-Kharj | Riyadh | 300,000+ |
Saudi Arabia’s Land Area and Global Ranking
Saudi Arabia: Land Area & Global Ranking
Overview
Saudi Arabia covers approximately 2,149,690 square kilometers (830,000 square miles), making it the largest country in the Middle East and the 12th-largest globally. It lies in Western Asia and is bordered by Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Yemen. Its western coast meets the Red Sea and eastern coast meets the Persian Gulf.
Terrain
The terrain consists of vast deserts such as the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), lowland steppes, and mountain ranges in the southwest (Asir Highlands). Its total coastline spans around 2,640 km.
Data from Authoritative Sources
- World Bank: 2,149,690 km² (2022)
- Wikipedia: ~2,150,000 km²
- Britannica: ~829,995 sq mi
- CIA World Factbook: Confirms land area and regional ranking
Global Land Area Ranking (2025)
| Rank | Country | Land Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 17,098,242 |
| 2 | Canada | 9,984,670 |
| 3 | China | 9,596,961 |
| 4 | United States | 9,833,520 |
| 5 | Brazil | 8,515,767 |
| 6 | Australia | 7,692,024 |
| 7 | India | 3,287,263 |
| 8 | Argentina | 2,780,400 |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | 2,724,900 |
| 10 | Algeria | 2,381,741 |
| 11 | DR Congo | 2,344,858 |
| 12 | Saudi Arabia | 2,149,690 |
| 13 | Mexico | 1,964,375 |
| 14 | Indonesia | 1,904,569 |
Regional Comparison
Saudi Arabia is confirmed as the largest country in the Middle East, with Iran (~1.65 million km²) as the second-largest. Within Asia, it ranks 5th after Russia, China, India, and Kazakhstan.
Historical Context
Boundary agreements with Jordan (1965) and Iraq (1981) have solidified Saudi Arabia’s current borders. No recent major changes in territory have been reported.
Unemployment Rate in Saudi Arabia Reaches 2.8% in Q1 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Employment by Sector & Nationality Share (Saudi Arabia – Q1 2025)
1. Broad Sector Employment Share
| Sector | Total Employees (millions) | Saudis (%) | Non‑Saudis (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Sector | 11.2 | ≈ 20 % | ≈ 80 % |
| Public Sector | 2.92 | ≈ 97 % | ≈ 3 % |
| Other / Misc. | — | ≈ 0.3 % | ≈ 22 % |
2. Detailed Sector‑wise Nationality Distribution (Saudis vs Non‑Saudis)
| Economic Sector (ISIC Rev. 4) | Saudi % | Non‑Saudi % |
|---|---|---|
| Public Administration & Defence | 92 % | 8 % |
| Education | 65 % | 35 % |
| Health & Social Work | 60 % | 40 % |
| Wholesale & Retail Trade | 34 % | 66 % |
| Construction | 5 % | 95 % |
| Manufacturing | 12 % | 88 % |
| Transportation & Storage | 10 % | 90 % |
| Financial & Insurance Activities | 48 % | 52 % |
| Information & Communication | 40 % | 60 % |
| Administrative & Support Services | 38 % | 62 % |
| Mining & Quarrying (Oil & Gas) | 89 % | 11 % |
| Real Estate Activities | 42 % | 58 % |
| Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing | 15 % | 85 % |
| Electricity, Gas & Water Supply | 93 % | 7 % |
| Other Services | 45 % | 55 % |
स्रोत: GASTAT – Register‑based Labour Market Statistics, Q1 2025; EconomyMiddleEast & Arab News रिपोर्ट्स.
सभी प्रतिशत निकटतम पूर्णांक तक गोल किए गये हैं, इसलिए योग 100 % से थोड़ा अधिक/कम हो सकता है।
(Public Sector / State-Owned Enterprises - SOEs)
State‑Owned Enterprises (SOEs)
| Company | Sector | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Aramco | Oil & Gas | ≈ 75,100 (2024) |
| SABIC | Petrochemicals | ≈ 32,700 (2019) |
| Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) | Electricity | Data not found |
| Saudi Telecom Company (STC) | Telecom | Data not found |
| Ma’aden | Mining | Data not found |
| Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) | Airline | Data not found |
Privately‑Owned / Publicly‑Traded (Private‑Majority)
| Company | Sector | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Almarai | Dairy & Food | 43,918 (as of Dec 2024) |
| Rezayat Group | Engineering & Logistics | ≈ 16,000 |
| Jarir Bookstore | Retail | Data not found |
| Savola Group | Food & Consumer | Data not found |
| Mobily | Telecom | Data not found |
Sources:
• Saudi Aramco ≈ 75,100 employees in 2024 :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• SABIC employs ≈ 32,700 (2019) :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Almarai had 43,918 employees as of Dec 2024 :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
• Rezayat Group employs ≈ 16,000 globally :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Other companies’ workforce numbers weren’t readily available—need deep dive or official reports.