Saudi Arabia is a sovereign country in Western Asia, in the wider region of Asia. In formal use it is Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is the capital.
Around 35.3 million people live there, placing it 45th of 250 by population — between Malaysia above it and Mozambique below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 1st of 17 in size and 4th in population.
By land area it covers 2,149,690 km², which ranks it 14th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Greenland and just ahead of Mexico. For scale, it is a fraction smaller than DR Congo.
Where Saudi Arabia is and what surrounds it
Its reference point sits at 25.0° north and 45.0° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 2,783 km from the equator, in what geographers would call subtropical latitudes.
The Tropic of Cancer runs through or very close to it. Countries on the same parallel, far away in longitude, include Mexico, Western Sahara and Bangladesh.
7 countries share a land border with it: Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The largest of them by area is Yemen, while the most populous is Iraq. Together those neighbours hold about 122.2 million people.
With both a coast and land borders, it has the trade options a landlocked country does not.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of Saudi Arabia
Population divided by land area gives roughly 16 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. The median across all 250 entries here is about 90 per square kilometre.
Arabic is the only official language. Arabic is one of the widely shared official languages here, listed by 24 other entries including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad and the Comoros.
Someone from Saudi Arabia is a Saudi Arabian.
Inside Asia it places 19th of 50 by population, and it accounts for 11% of everyone living in Western Asia.
Currency and codes
Money there is the Saudi riyal (ر.س, SAR). It shares that currency with.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Saudi Arabia, the answer is Riyadh.
Websites there use the .sa domain. Calls from overseas start with +966. Standard country codes: sa and SAU.
Saudi Arabia is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Saudi Arabia shares borders with 7 countries:
Fun facts about Saudi Arabia
- People from Saudi Arabia are known as Saudi Arabians.
- Websites based there use the .sa domain.
- It lies about 2,783 km from the equator, in subtropical latitudes.
- The Tropic of Cancer runs across or very near it.
- Population density works out at roughly 16 people per square kilometre.
- Arabic is official here and in 24 other entries worldwide.
- Mexico and Western Sahara sit at almost the same latitude, on the far side of the globe.
- Within Western Asia it is the 1st largest of 17.
Saudi Arabia — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
- The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh.
- Where is Saudi Arabia located?
- Saudi Arabia is in Western Asia, part of Asia. Its reference coordinates are 25.0° north and 45.0° east, roughly 2,783 km from the equator in subtropical latitudes.
- Which countries border Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia borders 7 countries: Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Yemen is the largest of them by area.
- Is Saudi Arabia a country?
- Yes. Saudi Arabia is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What language is spoken in Saudi Arabia?
- The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. It is also official in 24 other entries on this list.
- What is the population of Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia has a population of about 35.3 million, which makes it the 45th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Malaysia sits just above it and Mozambique just below.
- How big is Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², ranking 14th of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than DR Congo.
- What currency does Saudi Arabia use?
- Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi riyal, written ر.س (currency code SAR).
