Saudi Arabia: Some estimates of non-nationals by country of citizenship (selected countries, 2017-2018)

Country of citizenship lower est. upper est.
1 India 2,266,216 3,200,000
2 Pakistan 1,343,737 2,700,000
3 Bangladesh 1,157,072 2,100,000
4 Egypt 871,621 2,900,000
5 Syria 673,669 2,480,000
6 Yemen 697,296 > 700,000 (workers?)
7 Philippines 583,985 1,500,000-1,800,000
8 Indonesia 470,000 1,548,032
9 Nepal 455,905
10 Sudan 435,810 470,000
11 Afghanistan 300,000 (workers) 435,810
12 Sri Lanka 200,000 650,000
13 Palestine (holders of n.a. n.a.
 travel documents)
14 Burma (Myanmar) 242,510
15 Jordan 217,904 400,000
16 Ethiopia 148,753 >400,000
17 Lebanon 139,459 210,000
Source: Various (see endnote)

1. Data collection methodology;

Estimates have been collected from the UN database, from academic publications,

from Saudi press sources quoting Saudi officials, foreign diplomatic missions, and authorities from sending countries.
The exact origin of the estimate (stocks of expatriates or number of permit holders, or rough guess)

was not disclosed in most sources, nor was it inscribed in a specific time period

(before/ after the crackdowns and the deportations, for instance).

2. Data availability

1-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision; http://www.arabnews.com/node/1192131/saudi-arabia

2-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision; http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/531055; https://arynews.tv/en/2-7-million-pakistanis-living-saudi-arabia/

3-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision; http://www.theindependentbd.com/post/142680; https://www.reuters.com/article/bangladesh-saudi/saudi-arabia-lifts-ban-on-bangladeshi-workers-after-seven-years-ministry-idUSL3N1AS3NP

4-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision; http://www.arabnews.com/news/483296; http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/87637/Business/Economy/Thousands-of-Egyptians-facing-visa-troubles-in-Sau.aspx

5-Figures of displaced Syrians residing in Saudi Arabia since 2011 on a visit visa (December 2018) only, in: Osmandzikovic, E. The Saudi Approach to Reception and Accommodation: The Case of Displaced Syrians, “Commentaries”, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, 22 April 2019;

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/12/05/Saudi-sets-pace-globally-in-humanitarian-aid-says-envoy.html

6-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-migrants/u-n-urges-saudi-arabia-not-to-deport-yemeni-migrants-to-war-zone-idUSKBN1IA1F7

7-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision; http://www.arabnews.com/node/1259591/middle-east

8-https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/saudi-arabia-population-statistics-2018/; UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision.

9-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision;

10-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision;  https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/saudi-arabia-population-statistics-2018/

11-https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/11/22/passports-being-distributed-afghans-saudi-arabia; UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision

12-http://www.arabnews.com/node/1048796/saudi-arabia; https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/saudi-arabia-population-statistics-2018/

13-n.a.

14-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 revision;

15-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 ; http://www.ammonnews.net/article/237713  (2015 estimate).

16-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017 ; http://www.africanews.com/2017/07/26/ethiopia-confirms-30-day-amnesty-extension-for-illegal-migrants-in-saudi/

17-UN/DESA. Migrant Stock By Origin And Destination, 2017; https://stepfeed.com/10-biggest-lebanese-diaspora-communities-4373

Last date of access: May 2019