SAUDI ARABIA OVERVIEW

According to the latest consensus by the General Authority for Saudi Statistics, the Kingdom’s total population is estimated at 31,742,308 inhabitants. Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid urbanization due to factors such as demographic, social and economic growth, which make the country one of the most urbanized countries in the world. Globally cities are becoming more youthful. There are more people under the age of 25 today than ever, totaling nearly three billion or almost half of the total global population. These youth live, by and large, in cities and towns. It is estimated that as many as 60% of all urban dwellers will be under the age of 18 by 20307

Saudi’s cities are distributed over 13 regions and 118 governorates, with most of the population being located in the capital Riyadh, as well as the secondary cities Jeddah and Dammam and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. According to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs8 approximately 82.1% of the total population lives in urban areas whereas 17.9% live in a rural environment. The urbanization rates at the regions level show that 6 regions have recorded rates that exceed 80%, including the Eastern Province (93.2%), Riyadh (90.9%), Holy Makkah (87.6%), the Northern Borders (86.7%), Tabuk (85.9%), and Jouf (84.5%).