Population and Demographics of Saudi Arabia
Population changed +2.1% in 2024 · median age 30 years
The UN medium outlook puts Saudi Arabia at 47.69 million people in 2050, with a 20.87-point gap between the under-15 and 65-plus shares. The 2000-to-2024 series records a 109.9% increase, which is more informative than a single annual rate alone.
Population Over Time in Saudi Arabia
Between 2000 and 2024, Saudi Arabia's population increased by about 17.79 million, moving from 16.178M to 33.963M. By 2050, the medium path reaches 47.694M, which would make the population substantially larger than in 2024. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Saudi Arabia has a mixed demographic profile in the 2024 broad age data. Children under 15 make up 23.82% of the population, compared with 2.95% aged 65 or older, and 73.23% are 15 to 64. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
Saudi Arabia's 2024 population is 39.5% female and 60.5% male in the World Bank series. Males exceed females by 21.0 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Males made up 60.5% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 39.5% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Population is moving +2.10% annually in Saudi Arabia, where fertility is estimated at 2.3, beside an age profile led by 73.23% in the 15-to-64 group.
The historical series puts Saudi Arabia's 2000-to-2024 population change at +109.9%, followed by +40.4% projected change from 2024 to 2050; the figures describe direction, not a causal split between migration and natural change.
2024 estimate for Saudi Arabia. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Saudi Arabia vs. World
Saudi Arabia's demographic position looks different depending on the measure: annual change is higher than the world rate, fertility is close to it, and its population is close in age to the global median-age profile.
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +2.1% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.3 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 30 | 30.6 | 2024 |
Same-year comparability takes priority here. Growth, fertility and median age are all taken from the 2024 harmonized table for both Saudi Arabia and the world.
Key Takeaways
At 33.963M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of +2.10%.
Broad age shares show 2.95% aged 65+ compared with 23.82% under 15; the 15 to 64 group accounts for 73.23%.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 39.5% female and 60.5% male.
The 2050 medium projection is 47.694M, 40.4% above the 2024 estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Saudi Arabia?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Saudi Arabia is 33,962,757 people.
Is the population of Saudi Arabia growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Saudi Arabia's population is growing, with annual change of +2.10%.
What percentage of the population of Saudi Arabia is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 2.95% of Saudi Arabia's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Saudi Arabia in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Saudi Arabia's 2050 population at 47,693,910.
What is the fertility rate in Saudi Arabia?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Saudi Arabia is 2.3 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.