Urban Population: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's urban population is currently 84.5% as of 2024. # Saudi Arabia Urban Population Saudi Arabia's urban population reached 84.
Current (2024)
84.5%
+0.2% y/y
Peak (2024)
84.5%
Low (1960)
31.4%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — Saudi Arabia
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — Saudi Arabia
Analysis# Saudi Arabia Urban Population
Saudi Arabia's urban population reached 84.455% in 2024, matching its all-time peak. This represents a dramatic transformation from 1960, when only 31.444% of the population lived in urban areas—a 168.6% increase over 64 years. The country ranks among the world's most urbanized nations, with the overwhelming majority of residents concentrated in cities rather than rural regions.
The urbanization trajectory accelerated sharply during the oil-boom decades following the 1960s. Recent data from 2015 onward shows consistent annual growth of approximately 0.16 percentage points, with urban population climbing steadily from 82.956% to 84.455%. This plateau near 84% suggests urbanization is nearing saturation, as continued growth becomes increasingly constrained by the limited remaining rural population available for migration.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 84.5% | +0.19% |
| 2023 | 84.3% | +0.19% |
| 2022 | 84.1% | +0.19% |
| 2021 | 84.0% | +0.20% |
| 2020 | 83.8% | +0.20% |
| 2019 | 83.6% | +0.20% |
| 2018 | 83.5% | +0.20% |
| 2017 | 83.3% | +0.21% |
| 2016 | 83.1% | +0.21% |
| 2015 | 83.0% | +0.21% |
| 2014 | 82.8% | +0.21% |
| 2013 | 82.6% | +0.21% |
| 2012 | 82.4% | +0.22% |
| 2011 | 82.3% | +0.21% |
| 2010 | 82.1% | +0.26% |
| 2009 | 81.9% | +0.27% |
| 2008 | 81.6% | +0.27% |
| 2007 | 81.4% | +0.27% |
| 2006 | 81.2% | +0.28% |
| 2005 | 81.0% | +0.28% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 80.8% | +0.26% |
| 2003 | 80.5% | +0.25% |
| 2002 | 80.3% | +0.24% |
| 2001 | 80.2% | +0.23% |
| 2000 | 80.0% | +0.23% |
| 1999 | 79.8% | +0.24% |
| 1998 | 79.6% | +0.26% |
| 1997 | 79.4% | +0.28% |
| 1996 | 79.2% | +0.31% |
| 1995 | 78.9% | +0.35% |
| 1994 | 78.6% | +0.39% |
| 1993 | 78.3% | +0.44% |
| 1992 | 78.0% | +0.56% |
| 1991 | 77.6% | +0.72% |
| 1990 | 77.0% | +0.87% |
| 1989 | 76.3% | +0.99% |
| 1988 | 75.6% | +1.10% |
| 1987 | 74.8% | +1.18% |
| 1986 | 73.9% | +1.32% |
| 1985 | 72.9% | +1.52% |
| 1984 | 71.8% | +1.71% |
| 1983 | 70.6% | +1.90% |
| 1982 | 69.3% | +2.07% |
| 1981 | 67.9% | +2.23% |
| 1980 | 66.4% | +2.37% |
| 1979 | 64.9% | +2.51% |
| 1978 | 63.3% | +2.62% |
| 1977 | 61.7% | +2.72% |
| 1976 | 60.1% | +2.80% |
| 1975 | 58.4% | +2.88% |
| 1974 | 56.8% | +3.13% |
| 1973 | 55.1% | +3.51% |
| 1972 | 53.2% | +3.85% |
| 1971 | 51.2% | +4.15% |
| 1970 | 49.2% | +4.42% |
| 1969 | 47.1% | +4.64% |
| 1968 | 45.0% | +4.81% |
| 1967 | 42.9% | +4.91% |
| 1966 | 40.9% | +4.92% |
| 1965 | 39.0% | +4.84% |
| 1964 | 37.2% | +4.63% |
| 1963 | 35.6% | +4.29% |
| 1962 | 34.1% | +4.11% |
| 1961 | 32.8% | +4.17% |
| 1960 | 31.4% | — |
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