Saudi Arabia Population Pyramid (2026)
Saudi Arabia has a population of 35,165,787 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 47th-largest population in the world and 0.42% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 23.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.2%, with 152.0 males for every 100 females.
Saudi Arabia Demographics
Saudi Arabia has 35.2 million people in 2026, up 887.1% from 3.6 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 486,141 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 3.2% — the 26th-lowest of 194 countries.
Under-15 share 23.4% — the 93rd-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Millennials — 33.1% (11,648,668)
All generations in Saudi Arabia →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Saudi Arabia's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Saudi Arabia has 152.0 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 7,254,749 (20.6% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:21,210,268
- Percentage:60.3%
Female Statistics
- Population:13,955,519
- Percentage:39.7%
- Ratio Format:1:0.658
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Saudi Arabia indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 567,889 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 498,172 | 15.9 | 2.17 | estimate |
| 2022 | 489,608 | 15.2 | 2.14 | estimate |
| 2023 | 546,038 | 16.4 | 2.28 | estimate |
| 2024 | 560,224 | 16.5 | 2.31 | projection |
| 2025 | 564,878 | 16.3 | 2.29 | projection |
| 2026 | 567,889 | 16.1 | 2.27 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (567,889 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Saudi Arabia's median age is 29.7 years
Half the population is younger than 29.7 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 2,784,275 | 7.9% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 2,741,203 | 7.8% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 2,715,141 | 7.7% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 2,522,179 | 7.2% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 2,798,932 | 8.0% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 3,512,748 | 10.0% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 3,975,557 | 11.3% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 3,854,033 | 11.0% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 3,177,032 | 9.0% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 2,310,681 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,647,986 | 4.7% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 1,189,040 | 3.4% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 822,036 | 2.3% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 504,182 | 1.4% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 269,217 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 178,312 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 103,552 | 0.3% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 41,400 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 14,842 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 3,059 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 378 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 3 (falling birth rate): 2.27 children per woman and 16.1 births per 1,000, with a low death rate (2.3). Read more about Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Saudi Arabia Total Fertility Rate: 2.27 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.17 | 15.9 | |
| 2022 | 2.14 | 15.2 | ↓0.03 |
| 2023 | 2.28 | 16.4 | ↑0.14 |
| 2024 | 2.31 | 16.5 | ↑0.03 |
| 2025 | 2.29 | 16.3 | ↓0.02 |
| 2026 | 2.27 | 16.1 | ↓0.02 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Above global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 2.17
Saudi Arabia's total fertility rate is 2.27 children per woman in 2026 (above replacement), above the replacement level of 2.1. Saudi Arabia ranks 81 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −70.1% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Saudi Arabia's population has increased by 1964.6%.
The median age has increased from 18.0 in 1950 to 29.7 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Saudi Arabia's Demographics
Saudi Arabia has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 23.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.2%.
The largest five-year age band is 30–34, at 11.3% of the population, compared with 7.9% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Saudi Arabia's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 72.9% in 2016 to 73.4% in 2026 (dependency ratio 36.2).
Fertility Transition Stage
Saudi Arabia is in a period of above replacement, with a total fertility rate of 2.27 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Saudi Arabia's median age changed by +2.1 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 35,165,787 |
| Male Population | 21,210,268(60.3%) |
| Female Population | 13,955,519(39.7%) |
| Median Age | 29.7 years |
| Sex Ratio | 152.0 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 8,240,619(23.4%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 25,810,226(73.4%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 1,114,942(3.2%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 36.2 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 31.9 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 4.3 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Saudi Arabia
How long the average person in Saudi Arabia is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Saudi Arabia is projected to grow to 47.7 million people by 2050 (+35.6% from 2026).
The median age rises from 29.7 in 2026 to 32.0 by 2050.
Saudi Arabia's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 69.8%, growing from 3.6 million in 1970 to 6.0 million by 1980
The median age increased by 0.9 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 1.5 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion declined by 0.7 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 3.6M to 6.0M
- • Growth rate of 69.8% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 16.2 to 17.1 years (+0.9y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.7 points; under-15 share by −1.5 points
How Does Saudi Arabia Compare to Its Neighbors?
Saudi Arabia has a younger population than Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait. Saudi Arabia has an older population than Yemen.
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Kuwait
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia (Current) | 35,165,787 | 29.7 | 23.4% | 3.2% | stationary |
| Yemen | 42,961,653 | 18.5 | 40.9% | 2.6% | expansive |
| Oman | 5,671,458 | 29.8 | 24.0% | 2.7% | stationary |
| United Arab Emirates | 11,574,683 | 31.6 | 15.9% | 1.8% | constrictive |
| Kuwait | 5,102,773 | 34.8 | 17.8% | 3.3% | constrictive |
Frequently Asked Questions About Saudi Arabia
How does Saudi Arabia rank globally by population?
Saudi Arabia ranks 47th in the world by population with 35.2 million people as of 2026, representing 0.42% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Saudi Arabia's age structure reveal about its development?
Saudi Arabia's age structure — 23.4% under 15, 73.4% working-age (15–64) and 3.2% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 3 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 29.7 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has 36.2 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Saudi Arabia experiencing a demographic dividend?
Saudi Arabia is in its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 72.9% in 2016 to 73.4% in 2026 (dependency ratio 36.2). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Saudi Arabia's population?
Saudi Arabia has more males than females, with 152.0 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Saudi Arabia Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/saudi-arabia
View UN World Population Prospects Data →