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Saudi Arabia: Population by nationality (Saudi/non-Saudi) and sex (2010-2022)

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Saudis Non-Saudis Total population
  Males Females Total Males Females Total Males Females Total
2010 7,066,599 6,979,565 14,046,164 7,156,237 2,776,086 9,932,323 14,222,836 9,755,651 23,978,487
2011 7,210,243 7,131,886 14,342,129 7,896,884 2,852,854 10,749,738 15,107,127 9,984,740 25,091,867
2012 7,380,972 7,302,574 14,683,546 8,568,573 2,916,742 11,485,315 15,949,545 10,219,316 26,168,861
2013 7,581,015 7,498,386 15,079,401 9,469,421 3,075,182 12,544,603 17,050,436 10,573,568 27,624,004
2014 7,812,695 7,722,341 15,535,036 9,641,977 3,132,260 12,774,237 17,454,672 10,854,601 28,309,273
2015 8,029,058 7,939,013 15,968,071 10,621,855 3,226,456 13,848,311 18,650,913 11,165,469 29,816,382
2016 8,218,925 8,136,387 16,355,312 11,296,387 3,302,499 14,598,886 19,515,312 11,438,886 30,954,198
2017 8,383,654 8,313,326 16,696,980 10,949,843 3,330,532 14,280,375 19,333,497 11,643,858 30,977,355
2018 8,578,445 8,507,191 17,085,636 10,002,472 3,108,173 13,110,645 18,580,917 11,615,364 30,196,281
2019 8,790,733 8,716,438 17,507,171 9,553,850 3,002,778 12,556,628 18,344,583 11,719,216 30,063,799
2020 9,030,279 8,948,308 17,978,587 10,248,548 3,325,375 13,573,923 19,278,827 12,273,683 31,552,510
2021 9,228,524 9,152,145 18,380,669 9,341,023 3,062,691 12,403,714 18,569,547 12,214,836 30,784,383
2022 9,434,131 9,358,131 18,792,262 10,244,464 3,138,498 13,382,962 19,678,595 12,496,629 32,175,224
2023 9,641,422 9,604,507 19,245,929 3,303,290 11,153,512 14,456,802 20,794,934 12,907,797 33,702,731
2024 9,827,595 9,807,663 19,635,258 3,576,445 12,088,577 15,665,022 21,916,172 13,384,108 35,300,280

Source: GAStat

ANNEXED NOTE

1. Technical Notes and Definitions

2023-2024: The methodology involves estimating the population for each age group, as well as gender and nationality, following international standards and practices. The General Authority for Statistics uses the (Method Component-Cohort) approach, leveraging data from various sources, including the National Information Center for administrative records to provide key components such as births, deaths, and migration. Changes in the demographic characteristics for 2024 are assessed against the previous population report from the Authority, using data from the 2022 Saudi Census.
https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435273/Population+Estimates+Statistics+2024+EN.pdf/9b71e303-5fd9-19cb-9913-850a9d521639?t=1738859947691

Methodological report:
https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435133/Methodology+and+Quality+Report+for+Population+Projections+and+Estimates+Statistics+_EN.pdf/0fdb394f-8a13-82e0-ed7c-c240b338d25f?t=1738829096975

2010-2022: Source: Saudi census 2022
Date of reference: 10 May 2022
Population of reference: Families and individual citizens and residents within the Kingdom, regardless of the status of their identification documents.
Visitors for Hajj, Umrah and tourism are excluded from the census.

Methodology:
The first phase of the 2020 census began on 3 February 2020 (enumeration of buildings and households). Census 2022 used geospatial data, including satellite images, electricity consumption and mobile phone data, to improve the accuracy and geographic coverage of address canvassing. The 2022 census used a combined methodology – administrative records, fieldwork and digital self-enumeration.
Household data were collected from e-portals of self-enumeration (on residents’ mobile devices, laptops or personal computers, or self-enumeration stations/kiosks, located in shopping centers).
The digital self-enumeration process was complemented by face-to-face interviews, using digital tablets.
Census 2022 used a de jure approach: enumerating people according to their usual place of residence.
Administrative data from multiple sources was used to cross-validate collected census data.
Census 2022 was designed as a launchpad for several new secure statistical data registers for population, housing, and businesses.

See census methodology in: 
https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal/public/methodology
Portal of the Saudi census:
https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal

Population data for 2010-22 were revised and backcasted, based on 2022 population census and past years’ administrative data. 

2. Institution which provides data 

General Authority for Statistics (GAStat)

3. Data availability 

2010-2022: retrieved from the Saudi census section on GAStat website:
https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal

Accessible from the “Statistics” section, then “Social Statistics”, “Vitals and Demographics Statistics”, Saudi census statistics 2022
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/statistics?index=119025&subindex=127380#
“Population statistics” section, then “Population growth statistics”
https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal/public/1/15?type=TABLE
Selected, pre-set tables can be downloaded from the thematic section.

2023-2024: “Statistics”, “Social Statistics”, “Vitals and Demographics Statistics”, “population estimates statistics”.
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/statistics-tabs?tab=436312&category=2366987

Last date of access: 10 March 2025.

GLMM and GRC cannot guarantee that the link to access the source will not change; 
that the information will not be removed from the website it was obtained from;
that no geo-blockages will be imposed; or that the information will not be available for any another reason.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia, Foreign Population, National Population, Foreign & National Populations

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