Population in largest city in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Population in largest city was 7.95 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in largest city in Saudi Arabia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Saudi Arabia is 7.95 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Saudi Arabia peaked at 7.95 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 156,699, in 1960.
That places Saudi Arabia 29th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 231,830 | 156,699 | 362,454 | 10 |
| 1970s | 679,820 | 407,540 | 974,576 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.54 million | 1.05 million | 2.15 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.96 million | 2.33 million | 3.45 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.24 million | 3.57 million | 5.04 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.13 million | 5.22 million | 7.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.60 million | 7.23 million | 7.95 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More urban development data for Saudi Arabia
- Population in the largest city 25.4% (2025)
- Population density 15.68 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 73.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 18.19 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guidel 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Saudi Arabia?
- Population in largest city in Saudi Arabia was 7.95 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.95 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 156,699 in 1960.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for population in largest city?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 29th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.