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Population in Saudi Arabia compared to Switzerland: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 35,300,280 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 36,734,925 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 4.03 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 44th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.44% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.3% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 36.7M (71.2% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia Switzerland
2100 74,230,118 9,234,296
2099 73,760,045 9,226,472
2098 73,287,526 9,220,109
2097 72,813,125 9,212,728
2096 72,336,039 9,208,997
2095 71,858,206 9,203,477
2094 71,379,928 9,199,095
2093 70,900,460 9,196,672
2092 70,420,464 9,194,082
2091 69,940,749 9,191,145
2090 69,462,214 9,189,122
2089 68,985,976 9,188,754
2088 68,510,277 9,190,102
2087 68,035,545 9,189,763
2086 67,562,521 9,191,494
2085 67,091,615 9,195,728
2084 66,621,667 9,199,983
2083 66,152,653 9,204,908
2082 65,684,321 9,210,695
2081 65,216,102 9,217,065
2080 64,749,128 9,223,475
2079 64,282,393 9,230,920
2078 63,815,918 9,237,649
2077 63,348,712 9,245,300
2076 62,880,120 9,250,248
2075 62,409,793 9,255,753
2074 61,937,628 9,266,455
2073 61,462,662 9,275,439
2072 60,984,202 9,283,185
2071 60,502,791 9,292,913
2070 60,018,216 9,303,843
2069 59,529,456 9,311,935
2068 59,036,086 9,320,335
2067 58,539,487 9,327,741
2066 58,039,687 9,339,455
2065 57,537,106 9,351,481
2064 57,032,172 9,362,413
2063 56,524,331 9,372,441
2062 56,014,549 9,383,258
2061 55,501,467 9,395,036
2060 54,986,901 9,403,920
2059 54,469,809 9,414,241
2058 53,950,469 9,422,560
2057 53,430,639 9,428,212
2056 52,909,061 9,435,441
2055 52,386,571 9,443,890
2054 51,862,312 9,451,268
2053 51,336,335 9,456,389
2052 50,809,100 9,456,418
2051 50,280,719 9,456,395
2050 49,751,739 9,454,544
2049 49,221,828 9,451,083
2048 48,690,143 9,444,091
2047 48,157,605 9,437,061
2046 47,623,246 9,430,954
2045 47,087,215 9,425,155
2044 46,550,306 9,418,152
2043 46,013,232 9,410,763
2042 45,475,200 9,400,808
2041 44,936,131 9,393,857
2040 44,396,093 9,382,662
2039 43,856,006 9,373,984
2038 43,314,707 9,365,030
2037 42,773,375 9,354,254
2036 42,231,639 9,342,450
2035 41,690,245 9,328,907
2034 41,150,029 9,312,054
2033 40,611,021 9,294,881
2032 40,073,144 9,276,221
2031 39,535,357 9,253,034
2030 38,998,581 9,228,188
2029 38,417,447 9,201,743
2028 37,810,902 9,170,620
2027 37,189,969 9,135,740
2026 36,566,201 9,097,532
2025 35,932,673 9,053,983
2024 35,300,280 9,005,582
2023 33,702,731 8,888,822
2022 32,175,224 8,777,088
2021 30,784,383 8,704,546
2020 31,552,510 8,638,167
2019 30,063,799 8,575,280
2018 30,196,281 8,514,329
2017 30,977,355 8,451,840
2016 30,954,198 8,373,338
2015 29,816,382 8,282,396
2014 28,309,273 8,188,649
2013 27,624,004 8,089,346
2012 26,168,861 7,996,861
2011 25,091,867 7,912,398
2010 23,978,487 7,824,909
2009 24,217,654 7,743,831
2008 23,287,877 7,647,675
2007 22,368,313 7,551,117
2006 21,459,144 7,483,934
2005 20,559,890 7,437,115
2004 19,669,480 7,389,625
2003 18,786,767 7,339,001
2002 17,910,910 7,284,753
2001 17,041,397 7,229,854
2000 16,177,722 7,184,250
1999 15,472,075 7,143,991
1998 14,922,185 7,110,001
1997 14,374,943 7,088,906
1996 13,831,009 7,071,850
1995 13,289,245 7,040,687
1994 12,750,040 6,993,795
1993 12,215,862 6,938,265
1992 11,686,676 6,875,364
1991 11,160,744 6,799,978
1990 10,640,691 6,715,519
1989 10,128,394 6,646,912
1988 9,629,165 6,593,386
1987 9,130,194 6,545,106
1986 8,628,639 6,504,124
1985 8,151,779 6,470,365
1984 7,697,307 6,441,865
1983 7,252,941 6,418,773
1982 6,824,486 6,391,309
1981 6,420,551 6,354,074
1980 6,047,997 6,319,408
1979 5,703,698 6,294,365
1978 5,381,902 6,281,738
1977 5,083,048 6,281,174
1976 4,807,933 6,302,504
1975 4,556,287 6,338,632
1974 4,323,632 6,341,405
1973 4,106,344 6,307,347
1972 3,905,722 6,260,956
1971 3,724,031 6,213,399
1970 3,562,470 6,180,877
1969 3,417,114 6,136,387
1968 3,282,711 6,067,714
1967 3,157,242 5,991,785
1966 3,039,887 5,918,002
1965 2,928,771 5,856,472
1964 2,821,968 5,789,228
1963 2,719,341 5,694,247
1962 2,620,910 5,573,815
1961 2,526,347 5,434,294
1960 2,435,403 5,327,827

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Saudi Arabia increased by 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 44th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Saudi Arabia's population will grow by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people with a rank change from 44th to 43rd. The population of Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Saudi Arabia Switzerland
2100 0.64% 0.08%
2099 0.64% 0.07%
2098 0.65% 0.08%
2097 0.66% 0.04%
2096 0.66% 0.06%
2095 0.67% 0.05%
2094 0.68% 0.03%
2093 0.68% 0.03%
2092 0.69% 0.03%
2091 0.69% 0.02%
2090 0.69% 0.004%
2089 0.69% -0.01%
2088 0.7% 0.004%
2087 0.7% -0.02%
2086 0.7% -0.05%
2085 0.71% -0.05%
2084 0.71% -0.05%
2083 0.71% -0.06%
2082 0.72% -0.07%
2081 0.72% -0.07%
2080 0.73% -0.08%
2079 0.73% -0.07%
2078 0.74% -0.08%
2077 0.75% -0.05%
2076 0.75% -0.06%
2075 0.76% -0.12%
2074 0.77% -0.1%
2073 0.78% -0.08%
2072 0.8% -0.1%
2071 0.81% -0.12%
2070 0.82% -0.09%
2069 0.84% -0.09%
2068 0.85% -0.08%
2067 0.86% -0.13%
2066 0.87% -0.13%
2065 0.89% -0.12%
2064 0.9% -0.11%
2063 0.91% -0.12%
2062 0.92% -0.13%
2061 0.94% -0.09%
2060 0.95% -0.11%
2059 0.96% -0.09%
2058 0.97% -0.06%
2057 0.99% -0.08%
2056 1% -0.09%
2055 1.01% -0.08%
2054 1.02% -0.05%
2053 1.04% -0%
2052 1.05% 0%
2051 1.06% 0.02%
2050 1.08% 0.04%
2049 1.09% 0.07%
2048 1.11% 0.07%
2047 1.12% 0.06%
2046 1.14% 0.06%
2045 1.15% 0.07%
2044 1.17% 0.08%
2043 1.18% 0.11%
2042 1.2% 0.07%
2041 1.22% 0.12%
2040 1.23% 0.09%
2039 1.25% 0.1%
2038 1.27% 0.12%
2037 1.28% 0.13%
2036 1.3% 0.15%
2035 1.31% 0.18%
2034 1.33% 0.18%
2033 1.34% 0.2%
2032 1.36% 0.25%
2031 1.38% 0.27%
2030 1.51% 0.29%
2029 1.6% 0.34%
2028 1.67% 0.38%
2027 1.71% 0.42%
2026 1.76% 0.48%
2025 1.79% 0.54%
2024 4.74% 1.31%
2023 4.75% 1.27%
2022 4.52% 0.83%
2021 -2.43% 0.77%
2020 4.95% 0.73%
2019 -0.44% 0.72%
2018 -2.52% 0.74%
2017 0.07% 0.94%
2016 3.82% 1.1%
2015 5.32% 1.14%
2014 2.48% 1.23%
2013 5.56% 1.16%
2012 4.29% 1.07%
2011 4.64% 1.12%
2010 -0.99% 1.05%
2009 3.99% 1.26%
2008 4.11% 1.28%
2007 4.24% 0.9%
2006 4.37% 0.63%
2005 4.53% 0.64%
2004 4.7% 0.69%
2003 4.89% 0.74%
2002 5.1% 0.76%
2001 5.34% 0.63%
2000 4.56% 0.56%
1999 3.69% 0.48%
1998 3.81% 0.3%
1997 3.93% 0.24%
1996 4.08% 0.44%
1995 4.23% 0.67%
1994 4.37% 0.8%
1993 4.53% 0.91%
1992 4.71% 1.11%
1991 4.89% 1.26%
1990 5.06% 1.03%
1989 5.18% 0.81%
1988 5.47% 0.74%
1987 5.81% 0.63%
1986 5.85% 0.52%
1985 5.9% 0.44%
1984 6.13% 0.36%
1983 6.28% 0.43%
1982 6.29% 0.59%
1981 6.16% 0.55%
1980 6.04% 0.4%
1979 5.98% 0.2%
1978 5.88% 0.009%
1977 5.72% -0.34%
1976 5.52% -0.57%
1975 5.38% -0.04%
1974 5.29% 0.54%
1973 5.14% 0.74%
1972 4.88% 0.77%
1971 4.54% 0.53%
1970 4.25% 0.73%
1969 4.09% 1.13%
1968 3.97% 1.27%
1967 3.86% 1.25%
1966 3.79% 1.05%
1965 3.78% 1.16%
1964 3.77% 1.67%
1963 3.76% 2.16%
1962 3.74% 2.57%
1961 3.73% 2%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia Switzerland
Current population
36734925
9107866
Population rank 44/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.11%
One net population change
19.7 seconds
4.5 minutes
One birth every
57 seconds
6.57 minutes
One death every
6.66 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +4,377 +320
Annual growth/decline +1,597,549 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 81/197
One migration net change every
4.4 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +119,738 +37,253
Net migration rank 13/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 13,683,841 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 3/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 40.3% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 14/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Saudi Arabia Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 119,738 - 37,253
2024 - 122,170 - 40,099
2023 474,366 325,691 8,000 45,098
2022 406,920 977,072 7,899 96,424
2021 409,032 -106,287 18,279 50,665
2020 447,036 -74,725 9,502 55,523
2019 474,407 191,582 18,008 44,517
2018 528,767 -988,751 20,434 41,253
2017 546,751 -920,812 20,284 45,658
2016 537,829 -26,997 22,608 71,009
2015 511,023 465,292 19,050 71,876
2014 493,431 469,144 21,290 78,122
2013 475,299 485,794 17,797 83,823
2012 465,649 479,206 18,393 67,840
2011 443,675 491,253 18,990 67,194
2010 418,641 504,955 17,997 76,388
2009 438,557 496,229 15,487 69,324
2008 433,457 491,337 15,295 94,430
2007 425,199 489,136 13,592 72,475
2006 399,333 504,661 12,723 37,308
2005 375,938 518,565 11,899 33,203
2004 362,843 523,472 13,302 39,484
2003 364,520 514,606 8,807 42,567
2002 372,099 500,508 10,199 49,650
2001 382,153 484,252 10,845 35,420
2000 392,407 468,515 15,806 24,463
1999 390,112 160,263 16,431 25,599
1998 389,499 159,898 16,353 11,325
1997 385,033 160,066 17,722 -1,939
1996 382,248 160,532 19,801 -131
1995 380,231 160,512 19,010 25,343
1994 377,351 160,306 20,982 30,274
1993 372,621 158,074 21,509 40,267
1992 366,763 160,908 24,064 42,014
1991 361,329 162,857 23,800 69,738
1990 355,495 160,416 20,146 58,428
1989 349,399 159,273 19,941 34,432
1988 342,865 146,918 21,099 34,602
1987 333,088 175,075 15,708 27,081
1986 322,340 172,606 16,261 23,242
1985 310,558 148,208 14,882 14,402
1984 296,615 153,562 16,105 12,532
1983 280,616 157,930 12,837 5,663
1982 264,831 153,528 15,339 21,929
1981 249,156 140,355 13,979 24,229
1980 234,372 121,220 14,535 17,841
1979 220,186 112,826 14,477 4,262
1978 205,331 105,263 13,820 -6,552
1977 191,103 96,015 16,959 -22,516
1976 178,024 85,083 17,017 -54,255
1975 166,223 73,960 22,820 -58,187
1974 155,478 69,653 27,902 2,008
1973 145,450 63,995 30,906 8,158
1972 136,360 55,439 35,061 19,991
1971 127,600 43,989 38,523 2,636
1970 120,440 31,097 42,648 -18,326
1969 113,859 25,312 44,182 20,754
1968 108,281 21,366 47,328 25,828
1967 103,343 17,947 52,128 27,697
1966 98,361 15,054 53,854 14,979
1965 93,820 15,000 56,222 -1,351
1964 89,776 15,000 59,050 21,455
1963 85,480 15,000 52,956 58,415
1962 81,393 15,000 49,050 82,798
1961 77,743 15,000 48,365 101,278
1960 74,143 15,000 42,090 22,313

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/switzerland | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people). In Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 13,683,841 residents or 40.3% of the population were not native-born in Saudi Arabia, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest cities by population

Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/switzerland | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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