GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Beautiful view of Riyadh Water Tower silhouetted against a stunning sunset sky.Cityscape of Riyadh with busy streets and modern skyscrapers on a sunny day.

Saudi Arabia

Asia · Western Asia

Medium safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

Incomes are high, and essential health services reach most people. The air is polluted.

vs United Arab Emiratesvs Qatarvs Kuwait
Safety

94th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.067lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#94 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.9per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2019
Safety index
76.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery highNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$36,070national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
13.5New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
4.3years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 97% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 16% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$73,784 PPP$34,537Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $17,564 a person, $54,639 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2007, $18,596 a person, $55,030 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2008, $22,320 a person, $57,236 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2009, $17,718 a person, $54,787 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2010, $22,028 a person, $58,829 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2011, $27,127 a person, $64,125 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2012, $28,733 a person, $65,034 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2013, $27,865 a person, $62,203 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2014, $27,805 a person, $62,578 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2015, $23,256 a person, $53,931 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2016, $22,268 a person, $49,937 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2017, $23,929 a person, $53,120 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2018, $29,360 a person, $59,378 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2019, $29,567 a person, $59,560 at PPP, inflation -1.2%2020, $24,339 a person, $47,518 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2021, $31,921 a person, $62,690 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2022, $38,510 a person, $71,957 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2023, $36,157 a person, $71,624 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2024, $35,528 a person, $71,936 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2025, $34,537 a person, $73,784 at PPP, inflation 2.1%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $17,564 a person, $54,639 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2007, $18,596 a person, $55,030 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2008, $22,320 a person, $57,236 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2009, $17,718 a person, $54,787 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2010, $22,028 a person, $58,829 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2011, $27,127 a person, $64,125 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2012, $28,733 a person, $65,034 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2013, $27,865 a person, $62,203 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2014, $27,805 a person, $62,578 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2015, $23,256 a person, $53,931 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2016, $22,268 a person, $49,937 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2017, $23,929 a person, $53,120 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2018, $29,360 a person, $59,378 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2019, $29,567 a person, $59,560 at PPP, inflation -1.2%2020, $24,339 a person, $47,518 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2021, $31,921 a person, $62,690 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2022, $38,510 a person, $71,957 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2023, $36,157 a person, $71,624 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2024, $35,528 a person, $71,936 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2025, $34,537 a person, $73,784 at PPP, inflation 2.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
79.0years, at birthHigh
#45 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
83WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
43.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
164 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
404EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet164 MbpsVery fast
Mobile227 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Cityscape of Riyadh with busy streets and modern skyscrapers on a sunny day.
How it changed

Saudi Arabia's Human Development Index

0.900Very high human development

37th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 6th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #35Poland0.906
  2. #36Estonia0.905
  3. #37Saudi Arabia0.900
  4. #38Bahrain0.899
  5. #39Lithuania0.895
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.670 in 1990 to 0.900 in 2023.

0.650.800.950.90019902000201020231990: 0.6701991: 0.6811992: 0.6881993: 0.6931994: 0.6991995: 0.7051996: 0.7111997: 0.7181998: 0.7251999: 0.7292000: 0.7372001: 0.7442002: 0.7502003: 0.7622004: 0.7732005: 0.7822006: 0.7852007: 0.7862008: 0.7922009: 0.7942010: 0.8012011: 0.8112012: 0.8192013: 0.8272014: 0.8412015: 0.8512016: 0.8602017: 0.8692018: 0.8752019: 0.8782020: 0.8752021: 0.8782022: 0.8932023: 0.9000.650.800.9519902000201020231990: 0.6701991: 0.6811992: 0.6881993: 0.6931994: 0.6991995: 0.7051996: 0.7111997: 0.7181998: 0.7251999: 0.7292000: 0.7372001: 0.7442002: 0.7502003: 0.7622004: 0.7732005: 0.7822006: 0.7852007: 0.7862008: 0.7922009: 0.7942010: 0.8012011: 0.8112012: 0.8192013: 0.8272014: 0.8412015: 0.8512016: 0.8602017: 0.8692018: 0.8752019: 0.8782020: 0.8752021: 0.8782022: 0.8932023: 0.900

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
79 years2024at birthUp 4.6 years from 74.4 years in 2005
Internet users
100%2024of people onlineUp 81 points from 19% in 2006
Urban population
85%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 81% in 2006
Births per woman
2.312024births per womanDown 0.85 from 3.16 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
0%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
52024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 10 from 15 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
18.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 1.6 t from 16.9 t in 2005
Forest area
0%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Tax-free and opening up rapidly, with massive Vision 2030 investment and a conservative society. The case for living here is high incomes and wide access to essential health services. The case against is polluted air and little English among locals.

About Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a vast Arabian Peninsula country with a landscape that ranges from the ancient Nabataean ruins of AlUla and the dramatic Asir highlands to the Red Sea coast and the emptiness of the Rub' al Khali, the largest continuous sand desert on earth. The culture is one of deep Arab and Islamic heritage, and the country is opening gradually to international visitors in ways that offer access to extraordinary ancient sites previously seen by very few. Those who approach with genuine curiosity and respect will find a hospitality rooted in a very old and dignified tradition.

Practical facts

  • CapitalRiyadh
  • LanguagesArabic
  • CurrencySaudi riyal (SAR)
  • Area2,149,690 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

IraqJordanKuwaitOmanQatarUnited Arab EmiratesYemen

Side by side

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Quick answers

What is Saudi Arabia's Human Development Index?

Saudi Arabia's Human Development Index is 0.900 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #37 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Saudi Arabia safe?

Saudi Arabia scores 2.07 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #94 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Saudi Arabia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Saudi Arabia at 43.9 (New York = 100); that is #81 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Saudi Arabia?

Life expectancy at birth in Saudi Arabia is 79.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #45 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Saudi Arabia?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Saudi Arabia at 165.3, ranked #32 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.