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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 35,300,280 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 36,734,925 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 1.91 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 44th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.29% of the world: 0.44% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.3% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 36.7M (71.2% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% 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 74,230,118 74,700,585
2099 73,760,045 74,831,175
2098 73,287,526 74,950,267
2097 72,813,125 75,064,397
2096 72,336,039 75,176,691
2095 71,858,206 75,287,063
2094 71,379,928 75,383,856
2093 70,900,460 75,482,205
2092 70,420,464 75,575,769
2091 69,940,749 75,666,091
2090 69,462,214 75,753,129
2089 68,985,976 75,835,723
2088 68,510,277 75,907,614
2087 68,035,545 75,978,712
2086 67,562,521 76,046,742
2085 67,091,615 76,105,680
2084 66,621,667 76,156,223
2083 66,152,653 76,205,894
2082 65,684,321 76,246,844
2081 65,216,102 76,274,040
2080 64,749,128 76,306,205
2079 64,282,393 76,334,949
2078 63,815,918 76,353,484
2077 63,348,712 76,371,123
2076 62,880,120 76,373,520
2075 62,409,793 76,386,071
2074 61,937,628 76,397,426
2073 61,462,662 76,406,554
2072 60,984,202 76,398,941
2071 60,502,791 76,388,223
2070 60,018,216 76,378,505
2069 59,529,456 76,371,827
2068 59,036,086 76,370,973
2067 58,539,487 76,363,548
2066 58,039,687 76,356,638
2065 57,537,106 76,355,841
2064 57,032,172 76,352,770
2063 56,524,331 76,353,175
2062 56,014,549 76,346,535
2061 55,501,467 76,344,206
2060 54,986,901 76,344,725
2059 54,469,809 76,345,215
2058 53,950,469 76,326,961
2057 53,430,639 76,307,006
2056 52,909,061 76,274,247
2055 52,386,571 76,235,304
2054 51,862,312 76,167,710
2053 51,336,335 76,094,051
2052 50,809,100 76,001,979
2051 50,280,719 75,895,690
2050 49,751,739 75,777,445
2049 49,221,828 75,646,044
2048 48,690,143 75,499,380
2047 48,157,605 75,338,951
2046 47,623,246 75,171,300
2045 47,087,215 74,993,186
2044 46,550,306 74,807,530
2043 46,013,232 74,607,485
2042 45,475,200 74,407,783
2041 44,936,131 74,203,292
2040 44,396,093 73,994,525
2039 43,856,006 73,782,112
2038 43,314,707 73,559,085
2037 42,773,375 73,335,723
2036 42,231,639 73,101,646
2035 41,690,245 72,850,722
2034 41,150,029 72,597,177
2033 40,611,021 72,322,802
2032 40,073,144 72,046,316
2031 39,535,357 71,757,868
2030 38,998,581 71,442,811
2029 38,417,447 71,123,782
2028 37,810,902 70,783,199
2027 37,189,969 70,421,923
2026 36,566,201 70,055,911
2025 35,932,673 69,658,188
2024 35,300,280 69,226,000
2023 33,702,731 68,492,000
2022 32,175,224 67,604,000
2021 30,784,383 66,984,000
2020 31,552,510 66,744,000
2019 30,063,799 66,631,000
2018 30,196,281 66,289,000
2017 30,977,355 65,966,000
2016 30,954,198 65,607,000
2015 29,816,382 65,088,000
2014 28,309,273 64,620,000
2013 27,624,004 64,139,000
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 44th 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 35.4% to 49,751,739 people with a rank change from 44th to 43rd. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M people compared to the peak of 76.4M 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 1.79% 0.62%
2024 4.74% 1.07%
2023 4.75% 1.31%
2022 4.52% 0.93%
2021 -2.43% 0.36%
2020 4.95% 0.17%
2019 -0.44% 0.52%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia United Kingdom
Current population
36734925
70154914
Population rank 44/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.85%
One net population change
19.7 seconds
43 seconds
One birth every
57 seconds
45.9 seconds
One death every
6.66 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +4,377 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +1,597,549 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 97/197
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 - 122,170 - 417,114
2023 474,366 325,691 34,589 445,523
2022 406,920 977,072 39,751 487,029
2021 409,032 -106,287 30,612 462,967
2020 447,036 -74,725 -4,272 144,221
2019 474,407 191,582 108,342 232,727
2018 528,767 -988,751 119,321 259,744
2017 546,751 -920,812 145,125 272,311
2016 537,829 -26,997 177,139 324,649
2015 511,023 465,292 175,738 347,839
2014 493,431 469,144 206,784 306,091
2013 475,299 485,794 198,830 237,272
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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 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 (1960–2024, 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/united-kingdom | 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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