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;
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