Economy - overview:
This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved reserves), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is supporting private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Priorities for government spending in the short term include additional funds for the water and sewage systems and for education. Water shortages and rapid population growth constrain the government's efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $242 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 51.2%
services: 43.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002)
Labor force:
7 million
note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $46 billion
expenditures: $56.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)
Industries:
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
122.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
113.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
8.711 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
261.7 billion bbl (January 2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.339 trillion cu m (January 2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports:
$71 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners:
US 18.5%, Japan 15.8%, South Korea 10.3%, Singapore 5.4%, India 3.5% (2001)
Imports:
$39.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports - partners:
US 16.6%, Japan 10.4%, Germany 7.4%, UK 6.1% (2001)
Debt - external:
$25.9 billion (2003 est.)
Currency:
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:
SAR
Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2002), 3.745 (2001), 3.745 (2000), 3.745 (1999), 3.745 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
NOTE: The information regarding Saudi Arabia on this page is re-published from the 2003 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Guinea Geography 2003 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Saudi Arabia Economy 2003 should be addressed to the CIA.
