Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 18.19 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.19 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
23rd
of 121 countries
All-time high
18.19 million
in 2025
All-time low
546,611
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Saudi Arabia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 18.19 million for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 26.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Saudi Arabia peaked at 18.19 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 546,611, in 1960.
Saudi Arabia ranks 23rd of 121 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 546,611 | — |
| 1961 | 558,064 | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 569,886 | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 605,719 | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 670,408 | +10.7% |
| 1965 | 742,060 | +10.7% |
| 1966 | 821,769 | +10.7% |
| 1967 | 910,354 | +10.8% |
| 1968 | 1.01 million | +10.8% |
| 1969 | 1.12 million | +10.8% |
| 1970 | 1.24 million | +10.9% |
| 1971 | 1.38 million | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 1.53 million | +11.0% |
| 1973 | 1.69 million | +11.0% |
| 1974 | 1.88 million | +11.0% |
| 1975 | 2.03 million | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 2.18 million | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 2.34 million | +7.3% |
| 1978 | 2.51 million | +7.3% |
| 1979 | 2.69 million | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 2.89 million | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 3.10 million | +7.3% |
| 1982 | 3.32 million | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 3.57 million | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 3.83 million | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 4.11 million | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 4.41 million | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 4.74 million | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 5.08 million | +7.4% |
| 1989 | 5.46 million | +7.4% |
| 1990 | 5.86 million | +7.4% |
| 1991 | 6.30 million | +7.4% |
| 1992 | 6.76 million | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 7.04 million | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 7.25 million | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 7.47 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 7.70 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 7.93 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 8.17 million | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 8.42 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 8.68 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 8.94 million | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 9.21 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 9.49 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 9.78 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 10.18 million | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 10.62 million | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 11.07 million | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 11.45 million | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 11.83 million | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 12.23 million | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 12.64 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 13.06 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 13.50 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 13.96 million | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 14.43 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 14.91 million | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 15.41 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 15.93 million | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 16.28 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 16.62 million | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 16.96 million | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 17.28 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 17.60 million | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 17.90 million | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 18.19 million | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 755,216 | 546,611 | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.95 million | 1.24 million | 2.69 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.05 million | 2.89 million | 5.46 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.29 million | 5.86 million | 8.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.13 million | 8.68 million | 11.83 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.24 million | 12.23 million | 16.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.43 million | 16.62 million | 18.19 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More urban development data for Saudi Arabia
- Population in the largest city 25.4% (2025)
- Population density 15.68 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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, 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Saudi Arabia?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Saudi Arabia was 18.19 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.19 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 546,611 in 1960.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 23rd out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.