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Saudi Arabia Population 2026 & Religious Demographics: Trends & Insights
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia. Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the second-largest country in the Arab world.
As of 2022, Saudi Arabia’s population was reported to be 32,175,224, making it the fourth most populous country in the Arab world. Approximately 42% of its population consists of immigrants, primarily from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. According to the UN World Population Prospects Report, the estimated population of Saudi Arabia in 2026 is projected to reach 38,494,876 (38 million)
read about the top countries in Asia by population
Saudi Arabia Location Map
Saudi Arabia Demographics
| Saudi Arabia | 2026 Population |
| Total Population | 38,494,876 (38 million) |
| Global Rank | 41 |
| Share of World Pop. | 0.45% |
| Land Area | 2,149,690 sq. km (830,000 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank | 12 |
| Pop. Density | 16 people/sq. km |
| Growth rate | 1.46% |
| Fertility Rate* of Saudi Arabia | 2.34 |
| Infant mortality rate ** in Saudi Arabia | 5.3 |
| Median Age in Saudi Arabia | 31.8 years |
| Life Expectancy in Saudi Arabia | 75.69 years |
| Urban Population of Saudi Arabia | 84.0 % |
Religion in Saudi Arabia
The official form of Islam is Sunni of the Hanbali school, in its Salafi version. As per the official statistics, 90% of Saudi Arabian citizens are Sunni Muslims, 10% are Shia.
More than 30% of the population is made up of foreign workers who are predominantly but not entirely Muslim. There are about 9 million foreign workers, many of whom are non-Muslim. About 1 million Christians, as well as Hindus and Buddhists—nearly all foreign workers, are in Saudi Arabia.
Religion percentage in Saudi Arabia
- Islam – 100%
- Others – <1%
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Top Cities in Saudi Arabia by Population
| # | City | Region | Population |
| 1 | Riyadh | Riyadh | 65,06,700 |
| 2 | Jeddah | Makkah | 39,76,400 |
| 3 | Mecca | Makkah | 19,19,900 |
| 4 | Medina | Madinah | 12,71,800 |
| 5 | Hofuf | Ash-Sharqiyyah | 11,36,900 |
| 6 | Ta’if | Makkah | 11,09,800 |
| 7 | Dammam | Ash-Sharqiyyah | 9,75,800 |
| 8 | Buraidah | Al-Qassim | 6,58,600 |
| 9 | Khobar | Ash-Sharqiyyah | 6,26,200 |
| 10 | Tabuk | Tabuk | 6,09,000 |
| 11 | Qatif | Ash-Sharqiyyah | 5,59,300 |
| 12 | Khamis Mushait | ‘Asir | 5,49,000 |
| 13 | Ha’il | Ha’il | 4,41,900 |
| 14 | Hafar Al-Batin | Ash-Sharqiyyah | 4,16,800 |
| 15 | Jubail | Ash-Sharqiyyah | 4,11,700 |
| 16 | Kharj | Riyadh | 4,04,100 |
| 17 | Abha | ‘Asir | 3,92,500 |
| 18 | Najran | Najran | 3,52,900 |
| 19 | Yanbu | Al Madinah | 3,20,800 |
| 20 | Al Qunfudhah | Makkah | 3,04,400 |
Indian Population in Saudi Arabia
Indians make around 10 – 13 % of the Saudi Arabia population and are the largest community of expatriates in Saudi Arabia. The population of Indians in Saudi Arabia as of 2022 is 28 – 30 Lakhs.
Read more about Indian Population in Saudi Arabia
