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Browse additional economic indicators and data sets, selected by Global Finance editors, to learn more about Saudi Arabia economic outlook, debt to GDP ratio, international trade performance and population trends. Rankings of Saudi Arabia best banks and safest banks are also available.
Country Report | Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit is ballooning, but a ministerial reshuffle has fueled hopes the kingdom is resolute in kicking its hydrocarbon addiction.
USD 496.6 billion (2018)
International Monetary Fund (IMF), data retrieved October 2019
USD 782.5 billion (2018, estimate)
Intl$ 1,857.5 billion (2018, estimate)
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
1.8% | 6.3% | -2.1% | 5% | 10% | 5.4% | 2.7% |
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018* | ||
3.7% | 4.1% | 1.7% | -0.7% | 2.2% |
*Estimate
USD 23,566.4 (2018, estimate)
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2019* |
2.01% | 1.44% | 1.27% | 1.41% | 1.4% |
*Estimate
(2018 estimate)
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018* | 2019* |
1.3% | 2% | -0.9% | 2.5% | -1.1% |
*Estimate
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018* | 2019 |
5.6% | 5.6% | 6% | 6% | N/A |
*Estimate
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018* | 2019* |
5.8% | 13.1% | 17.2% | 19% | 23.2% |
*Estimate
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018* | 2019* |
-15.8% | -17.2% | -9.2% | -5.9% | -6.1% |
*Estimate
Standard & Poor's: A-
Moody's: A1
Standard & Poor's / Moody's
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
USD 448.8 billion | USD 451.4 billion | USD 496.4 billion |
Petro Rabigh, Saudi Arabian Fertilizers, Saudi Basic Industries, Saudi Telecom, National Commercial Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi Electricity, Samba Financial Group, Riyad Bank, Saudi British Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Arab National Bank, Alinma Bank, Saudi Arabian Mining, Almarai
-10.9 % (2018 estimate)
N/A
0.0001% (2018)
0.001% (2018)
Cocoa 68%, copra, coffee, palm oil (2010 est.)
Machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Guyana 43.7%, Germany 23.6%, Portugal 6%, Netherlands 5.5%, Poland 4.4% (2017)
Portugal 54.7%, Angola 16.5%, China 5.6% (2017)
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
USD 22 million | USD 41 million | USD 17 million |
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
USD 1.0 million | USD 0.3 million | USD 2.1 million |
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A
(for a monthly update on M&A; click here )
N/A
(for a monthly update on M&A; click here )
Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm.
Overall ranking:
170 out of 190 countries
Subcategories:
Starting a Business: 150 out of 190 countries
Dealing with Construction Permits: 111 out of 190 countries
Getting Electricity: 130 out of 190 countries
Registering Property: 172 out of 190 countries
Getting Credit: 165 out of 190 countries
Protecting Minority Investors: 179 out of 190 countries
Paying Taxes: 137 out of 190 countries
Trading across Borders: 124 out of 190 countries
Enforcing Contracts: 185 out of 190 countries
Resolving Insolvency: 168 out of 190 countries
Ranking: 134 / Score: 54 (Mostly unfree)
(100=totally free 0=totally repressed)
Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-15% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2012 est.)
1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020* |
15.19 million | 20.47 million | 27.56 million | 31.06 million | 34.76 million |
*Estimate
1960 | 1980 | 2000 | 2018 |
31.3% | 65.9% | 79.8% | 83.8% |
Total population: 94.7%
Male: 97%
Female: 91.1%
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Not Free
Political Rights: 7
Civil Liberties: 7 (2019)
(1 represents the most free, 7 the least free rating)
Fixed: 16% Mobile: 122.6% (2018)
(fixed-telephone subscribers and mobile-cellular subscribers)