Saudi Arabia

In brief

Saudi Arabia is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Riyadh. With 37 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 43rd in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 2,149,690 km². It shares land borders with Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

GDP per capita stands at $34,537 (2025), 36th in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 79 years (2024). 85% of the population lives in cities.

History of Saudi Arabia

Mecca and Medina, in the west of the peninsula, were the cradle of Islam in the 7th century. In 1744 the alliance between Emir Muhammad ibn Saud and the preacher Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab gave rise to the first Saudi state. Abdulaziz ibn Saud retook Riyadh in 1902 and proclaimed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Oil, discovered in 1938, made it one of the richest countries in the world. It is an absolute monarchy; women won the right to drive in 2018.

Geography of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia covers about 80% of the Arabian Peninsula. The Rub’ al Khali, in the south, is the largest sand desert in the world. The country has no permanent rivers; it borders the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Map of Saudi Arabia

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Flag of Saudi Arabia

The flag of Saudi Arabia is green. Its official proportions are 2:3 (height to width).

• Green95%
• White5%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Green, with the Muslim profession of faith, the shahada, in white above a sword. Because it bears this sacred text, it is never flown at half-mast.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Saudi Arabia” and “Flag of Saudi Arabia”.

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Fact file

Economy and society