Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 16.42 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
16.42 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
196th
of 216 countries
All-time high
16.42 people per sq. km of land area
in 2024
All-time low
1.18 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Population density in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
In 2024, population density in Saudi Arabia stood at 16.42 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Saudi Arabia peaked at 16.42 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.18 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
That places Saudi Arabia 196th out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.18 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 1.22 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 1.26 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 1.31 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 1.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 1.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 1.47 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 1.53 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 1.59 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 1.66 people per sq. km of land area | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 1.73 people per sq. km of land area | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 1.82 people per sq. km of land area | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 1.91 people per sq. km of land area | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 2.01 people per sq. km of land area | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 2.12 people per sq. km of land area | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 2.24 people per sq. km of land area | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 2.36 people per sq. km of land area | +5.7% |
| 1978 | 2.5 people per sq. km of land area | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 2.65 people per sq. km of land area | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 2.81 people per sq. km of land area | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 2.99 people per sq. km of land area | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 3.17 people per sq. km of land area | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 3.37 people per sq. km of land area | +6.3% |
| 1984 | 3.58 people per sq. km of land area | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 3.79 people per sq. km of land area | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 4.01 people per sq. km of land area | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 4.25 people per sq. km of land area | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 4.48 people per sq. km of land area | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 4.71 people per sq. km of land area | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 4.95 people per sq. km of land area | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 5.19 people per sq. km of land area | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 5.44 people per sq. km of land area | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 5.68 people per sq. km of land area | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 5.93 people per sq. km of land area | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 6.18 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 6.43 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 6.69 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 6.94 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 7.2 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 7.53 people per sq. km of land area | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 7.93 people per sq. km of land area | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 8.33 people per sq. km of land area | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 8.74 people per sq. km of land area | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 9.15 people per sq. km of land area | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 9.56 people per sq. km of land area | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 9.98 people per sq. km of land area | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 10.41 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 10.83 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 11.27 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 11.15 people per sq. km of land area | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 11.67 people per sq. km of land area | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 12.17 people per sq. km of land area | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 12.85 people per sq. km of land area | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 13.17 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 13.87 people per sq. km of land area | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 14.4 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 14.41 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 14.05 people per sq. km of land area | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 13.99 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 14.68 people per sq. km of land area | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 14.32 people per sq. km of land area | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 14.97 people per sq. km of land area | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 15.68 people per sq. km of land area | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 16.42 people per sq. km of land area | +4.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 16.42 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for high income countries, which is 147 people per sq. km of land area, 11% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 16.42 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 117.07 people per sq. km of land area, 14% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.37 people per sq. km of land area | 1.18 people per sq. km of land area | 1.59 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.1 people per sq. km of land area | 1.66 people per sq. km of land area | 2.65 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.72 people per sq. km of land area | 2.81 people per sq. km of land area | 4.71 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.06 people per sq. km of land area | 4.95 people per sq. km of land area | 7.2 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.37 people per sq. km of land area | 7.53 people per sq. km of land area | 11.27 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.17 people per sq. km of land area | 11.15 people per sq. km of land area | 14.41 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.21 people per sq. km of land area | 14.32 people per sq. km of land area | 16.42 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 193 Paraguay 17.5 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 194 Oman 17.06 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 195 Argentina 16.7 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 197 Chad 16.12 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 198 Turkmenistan 15.95 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 199 New Caledonia 15.75 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Saudi Arabia
- Population in the largest city 25.4% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 73.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.4921 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 18.19 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 8.19 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 7.95 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 11.6 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 324.37 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Saudi Arabia?
- Population density in Saudi Arabia was 16.42 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.42 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.18 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for population density?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 196th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.