Saudi Arabia population put at 30m

Saudi Arabia’s population grew by around 2.7 per cent to peak at nearly 30 million at the end of 2013 and nearly a third of them are foreigners.

Official data published in local newspapers estimated Saudis at 20.3 million and expatriates, mostly Arabs and Asians, at around 9.7 million.

The figures by the central department of statistics and information showed Saudis accounted for 67.6 per cent and expatriates for 32.4 per cent at the end of 2013.

“The Kingdom’s total population recorded growth of around 2.7 per cent over 2012, when the population stood at 29.2 million,” Aliqtisadiah daily said.

Saudi Arabia is the largest global oil exporter and its proven crude resources of nearly 266 billion barrels account for almost a fifth of the world’s total proven oil deposits.

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