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Population in Saudi Arabia compared to the United Kingdom: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 36,973,555 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 37,955,120 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 1.85 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 43rd most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.3% of the world: 0.46% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 38M (76.9% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia United Kingdom
2100 76,380,382 74,517,005
2099 75,896,692 74,647,273
2098 75,410,485 74,766,073
2097 74,922,342 74,879,923
2096 74,431,436 74,991,940
2095 73,939,761 75,102,041
2094 73,447,628 75,198,597
2093 72,954,272 75,296,704
2092 72,460,372 75,390,038
2091 71,966,760 75,480,137
2090 71,474,363 75,566,962
2089 70,984,330 75,649,353
2088 70,494,851 75,721,067
2087 70,006,368 75,791,990
2086 69,519,641 75,859,854
2085 69,035,093 75,918,647
2084 68,551,533 75,969,065
2083 68,068,933 76,018,614
2082 67,587,034 76,059,464
2081 67,105,252 76,086,593
2080 66,624,751 76,118,679
2079 66,144,495 76,147,352
2078 65,664,508 76,165,841
2077 65,183,768 76,183,437
2076 64,701,603 76,185,828
2075 64,217,651 76,198,349
2074 63,731,809 76,209,676
2073 63,243,084 76,218,781
2072 62,750,764 76,211,187
2071 62,255,408 76,200,495
2070 61,756,796 76,190,801
2069 61,253,878 76,184,140
2068 60,746,216 76,183,288
2067 60,235,232 76,175,881
2066 59,720,954 76,168,987
2065 59,203,814 76,168,193
2064 58,684,254 76,165,129
2063 58,161,702 76,165,534
2062 57,637,152 76,158,910
2061 57,109,207 76,156,587
2060 56,579,736 76,157,104
2059 56,047,666 76,157,593
2058 55,513,281 76,139,384
2057 54,978,393 76,119,478
2056 54,441,706 76,086,799
2055 53,904,081 76,047,952
2054 53,364,635 75,980,524
2053 52,823,422 75,907,047
2052 52,280,914 75,815,200
2051 51,737,228 75,709,173
2050 51,192,924 75,591,218
2049 50,647,663 75,460,140
2048 50,100,576 75,313,837
2047 49,552,613 75,153,802
2046 49,002,774 74,986,563
2045 48,451,215 74,808,886
2044 47,898,754 74,623,687
2043 47,346,122 74,424,133
2042 46,792,504 74,224,922
2041 46,237,820 74,020,934
2040 45,682,139 73,812,680
2039 45,126,407 73,600,788
2038 44,569,427 73,378,310
2037 44,012,415 73,155,497
2036 43,454,985 72,921,995
2035 42,897,909 72,671,687
2034 42,342,044 72,418,766
2033 41,787,423 72,145,065
2032 41,233,964 71,869,259
2031 40,680,599 71,581,519
2030 40,128,273 71,267,237
2029 39,530,306 70,948,992
2028 38,906,191 70,609,246
2027 38,267,271 70,248,858
2026 37,625,434 69,883,746
2025 36,973,555 69,487,000
2024 35,300,280 69,281,000
2023 33,702,731 68,526,000
2022 32,175,224 67,636,000
2021 30,784,383 66,978,000
2020 31,552,510 66,740,000
2019 30,063,799 66,628,000
2018 30,196,281 66,287,000
2017 30,977,355 65,964,000
2016 30,954,198 65,606,000
2015 29,816,382 65,087,000
2014 28,309,273 64,619,000
2013 27,624,004 64,138,000
2012 26,168,861 63,711,000
2011 25,091,867 63,258,810
2010 23,978,487 62,766,365
2009 24,217,654 62,276,270
2008 23,287,877 61,806,995
2007 22,368,313 61,322,463
2006 21,459,144 60,846,820
2005 20,559,890 60,401,206
2004 19,669,480 59,987,905
2003 18,786,767 59,647,577
2002 17,910,910 59,370,479
2001 17,041,397 59,119,673
2000 16,177,722 58,892,514
1999 15,472,075 58,682,466
1998 14,922,185 58,487,141
1997 14,374,943 58,316,954
1996 13,831,009 58,166,950
1995 13,289,245 58,019,030
1994 12,750,040 57,865,745
1993 12,215,862 57,718,614
1992 11,686,676 57,580,402
1991 11,160,744 57,424,897
1990 10,640,691 57,247,586
1989 10,128,394 57,076,711
1988 9,629,165 56,928,327
1987 9,130,194 56,802,050
1986 8,628,639 56,681,396
1985 8,151,779 56,550,268
1984 7,697,307 56,422,072
1983 7,252,941 56,332,848
1982 6,824,486 56,313,641
1981 6,420,551 56,333,829
1980 6,047,997 56,314,216
1979 5,703,698 56,246,951
1978 5,381,902 56,196,504
1977 5,083,048 56,193,492
1976 4,807,933 56,211,968
1975 4,556,287 56,225,800
1974 4,323,632 56,229,974
1973 4,106,344 56,194,527
1972 3,905,722 56,086,065
1971 3,724,031 55,896,223
1970 3,562,470 55,663,250
1969 3,417,114 55,441,750
1968 3,282,711 55,211,700
1967 3,157,242 54,943,600
1966 3,039,887 54,648,500
1965 2,928,771 54,348,050
1964 2,821,968 54,000,000
1963 2,719,341 53,650,000
1962 2,620,910 53,250,000
1961 2,526,347 52,800,000
1960 2,435,403 52,400,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Saudi Arabia increased by 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 43rd in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Saudi Arabia's population will grow by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people with a rank change from 43rd to 42nd. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 76.4M people compared to the peak of 76.2M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Saudi Arabia United Kingdom
2100 0.64% -0.17%
2099 0.64% -0.16%
2098 0.65% -0.15%
2097 0.66% -0.15%
2096 0.66% -0.15%
2095 0.67% -0.13%
2094 0.68% -0.13%
2093 0.68% -0.12%
2092 0.69% -0.12%
2091 0.69% -0.11%
2090 0.69% -0.11%
2089 0.69% -0.09%
2088 0.7% -0.09%
2087 0.7% -0.09%
2086 0.7% -0.08%
2085 0.71% -0.07%
2084 0.71% -0.07%
2083 0.71% -0.05%
2082 0.72% -0.04%
2081 0.72% -0.04%
2080 0.73% -0.04%
2079 0.73% -0.02%
2078 0.74% -0.02%
2077 0.75% -0.003%
2076 0.75% -0.02%
2075 0.76% -0.01%
2074 0.77% -0.01%
2073 0.78% 0.01%
2072 0.8% 0.01%
2071 0.81% 0.01%
2070 0.82% 0.009%
2069 0.84% 0.001%
2068 0.85% 0.01%
2067 0.86% 0.009%
2066 0.87% 0.001%
2065 0.89% 0.004%
2064 0.9% -0%
2063 0.91% 0.009%
2062 0.92% 0.003%
2061 0.94% -0.001%
2060 0.95% -0.001%
2059 0.96% 0.02%
2058 0.97% 0.03%
2057 0.99% 0.04%
2056 1% 0.05%
2055 1.01% 0.09%
2054 1.02% 0.1%
2053 1.04% 0.12%
2052 1.05% 0.14%
2051 1.06% 0.16%
2050 1.08% 0.17%
2049 1.09% 0.19%
2048 1.11% 0.21%
2047 1.12% 0.22%
2046 1.14% 0.24%
2045 1.15% 0.25%
2044 1.17% 0.27%
2043 1.18% 0.27%
2042 1.2% 0.28%
2041 1.22% 0.28%
2040 1.23% 0.29%
2039 1.25% 0.3%
2038 1.27% 0.3%
2037 1.28% 0.32%
2036 1.3% 0.34%
2035 1.31% 0.35%
2034 1.33% 0.38%
2033 1.34% 0.38%
2032 1.36% 0.4%
2031 1.38% 0.44%
2030 1.51% 0.45%
2029 1.6% 0.48%
2028 1.67% 0.51%
2027 1.71% 0.52%
2026 1.76% 0.57%
2025 4.74% 0.3%
2024 4.74% 1.1%
2023 4.75% 1.32%
2022 4.52% 0.98%
2021 -2.43% 0.36%
2020 4.95% 0.17%
2019 -0.44% 0.51%
2018 -2.52% 0.49%
2017 0.07% 0.55%
2016 3.82% 0.8%
2015 5.32% 0.72%
2014 2.48% 0.75%
2013 5.56% 0.67%
2012 4.29% 0.71%
2011 4.64% 0.78%
2010 -0.99% 0.79%
2009 3.99% 0.76%
2008 4.11% 0.79%
2007 4.24% 0.78%
2006 4.37% 0.74%
2005 4.53% 0.69%
2004 4.7% 0.57%
2003 4.89% 0.47%
2002 5.1% 0.42%
2001 5.34% 0.39%
2000 4.56% 0.36%
1999 3.69% 0.33%
1998 3.81% 0.29%
1997 3.93% 0.26%
1996 4.08% 0.25%
1995 4.23% 0.26%
1994 4.37% 0.25%
1993 4.53% 0.24%
1992 4.71% 0.27%
1991 4.89% 0.31%
1990 5.06% 0.3%
1989 5.18% 0.26%
1988 5.47% 0.22%
1987 5.81% 0.21%
1986 5.85% 0.23%
1985 5.9% 0.23%
1984 6.13% 0.16%
1983 6.28% 0.03%
1982 6.29% -0.04%
1981 6.16% 0.03%
1980 6.04% 0.12%
1979 5.98% 0.09%
1978 5.88% 0.005%
1977 5.72% -0.03%
1976 5.52% -0.02%
1975 5.38% -0.007%
1974 5.29% 0.06%
1973 5.14% 0.19%
1972 4.88% 0.34%
1971 4.54% 0.42%
1970 4.25% 0.4%
1969 4.09% 0.42%
1968 3.97% 0.49%
1967 3.86% 0.54%
1966 3.79% 0.55%
1965 3.78% 0.64%
1964 3.77% 0.65%
1963 3.76% 0.75%
1962 3.74% 0.85%
1961 3.73% 0.76%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia United Kingdom
Current population
37955120
70071289
Population rank 43/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.46% 0.84%
One net population change
18.9 seconds
2.56 minutes
One birth every
54.2 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
6.37 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +4,584 +564
Annual growth/decline +1,673,275 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 2/197 145/197
One migration net change every
4.4 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +119,738 +389,911
Net migration rank 13/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 13,683,841 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 3/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 40.3% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 14/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Saudi Arabia United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 119,738 - 389,911
2024 499,782 122,170 13,233 417,114
2023 474,366 325,691 34,606 445,523
2022 406,920 977,072 39,770 487,029
2021 409,032 -106,287 30,609 462,967
2020 447,036 -74,725 -4,272 144,221
2019 474,407 191,582 108,338 232,727
2018 528,767 -988,751 119,317 259,744
2017 546,751 -920,812 145,121 272,311
2016 537,829 -26,997 177,136 324,649
2015 511,023 465,292 175,735 347,839
2014 493,431 469,144 206,781 306,091
2013 475,299 485,794 198,827 237,272
2012 465,649 479,206 248,473 172,088
2011 443,675 491,253 259,361 228,773
2010 418,641 504,955 251,066 274,811
2009 438,557 496,229 230,422 249,639
2008 433,457 491,337 216,325 263,390
2007 425,199 489,136 196,232 309,385
2006 399,333 504,661 176,455 288,923
2005 375,938 518,565 144,963 308,279
2004 362,843 523,472 131,974 276,077
2003 364,520 514,606 89,471 211,846
2002 372,099 500,508 65,308 203,577
2001 382,153 484,252 65,032 175,133
2000 392,407 468,515 70,671 153,917
1999 390,112 160,263 64,551 152,653
1998 389,499 159,898 87,730 125,541
1997 385,033 160,066 99,138 59,723
1996 382,248 160,532 98,884 54,964
1995 380,231 160,512 87,028 61,385
1994 377,351 160,306 127,304 45,339
1993 372,621 158,074 103,893 27,403
1992 366,763 160,908 149,709 17,846
1991 361,329 162,857 143,562 27,601
1990 355,495 160,416 154,569 57,132
1989 349,399 159,273 119,861 49,586
1988 342,865 146,918 136,628 13,952
1987 333,088 175,075 136,325 8,266
1986 322,340 172,606 90,690 41,836
1985 310,558 148,208 79,170 83,164
1984 296,615 153,562 84,633 71,107
1983 280,616 157,930 61,966 27,063
1982 264,831 153,528 56,314 -61,152
1981 249,156 140,355 73,234 -83,876
1980 234,372 121,220 95,734 -25,187
1979 220,186 112,826 61,872 11,255
1978 205,331 105,263 16,859 3,783
1977 191,103 96,015 0 -21,636
1976 178,024 85,083 -5,621 -19,135
1975 166,223 73,960 33,735 -40,241
1974 155,478 69,653 67,476 -65,710
1973 145,450 63,995 112,389 -33,840
1972 136,360 55,439 162,650 -1,406
1971 127,600 43,989 257,123 1,175
1970 120,440 31,097 244,918 -15,254
1969 113,859 25,312 260,577 -60,655
1968 108,281 21,366 292,622 -38,852
1967 103,343 17,947 346,145 -39,659
1966 98,361 15,054 333,356 -27,935
1965 93,820 15,000 364,132 -24,955
1964 89,776 15,000 405,000 -23,885
1963 85,480 15,000 337,995 8,271
1962 81,393 15,000 340,800 76,443
1961 77,743 15,000 311,519 52,295
1960 74,143 15,000 314,400 19,953

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/united-kingdom | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 people). In the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 people).

As of 2024, 13,683,841 residents or 40.3% of the population were not native-born in Saudi Arabia, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/united-kingdom | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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