Middle East
Living in Saudi Arabia
Photo: Qasr al-Farid tomb at Hegra, AlUla · Sammy Six, CC BY 2.0 · source
The largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, mostly desert, with large expatriate workforces and very hot summers. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate14° to 36°CColdest and warmest month averages, Riyadh · 2020
Average temperature26.0°CRiyadh (whole country 25.9°C) · 2020
Price level50%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,665Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$73,800GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment3.0%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides0.9Per 100,000 people a year · 2019
Life expectancy79.0 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air74 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest1%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers85%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue8.1%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Arabic. Some English, mostly in cities and business.
- Public transport: Limited: daily life mostly needs a car or taxis.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Riyadh.
Moving to Saudi Arabia
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: visa.mofa.gov.sa.
- Saudi Arabia tourist / visit visa guide
- Saudi Arabia umrah visa guide
- Saudi Arabia work visa guide
- Study in Saudi Arabia
- Scholarships in Saudi Arabia
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 73,783.56 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 3.04 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 0.94 per 100,000 people | 2019 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.02 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 0.74 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.98 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 1,825.25 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 8.09 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 84.61 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 1.29 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 73.52 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.5 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,665 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 25.9 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 26 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 13.8 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 36 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 33 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Riyadh are 2001–2020 averages.
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