Saudi Arabia: Forest Cover, 2005
| Total Land Area (ha) | 214,969,000 | | Total Forest Area (ha) | 2,728,000 | | Percent Forest Cover | 1.27% | | Primary Forest Cover (ha) | - | | Primary Forest, % total forest | - | | Primary Forest, % total land | - | | Other wooded land (ha) | 34,155,000 |
Saudi Arabia : Forest types
| Tropical (% forest area) | 91% | | Subtropical (% forest area) | 9% | | Temperate (% forest area) | 0% | | Boreal/polar (% forest area) | 0% |
Saudi Arabia: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
| Primary forest (ha | %) | - | - | | Modified natural (ha | %) | 2,728,000 | 100.0% | | Semi-natural (ha | %) | - | - | | Production plantation (ha | %) | - | - | | Production plantation (ha | %) | - | - |
Saudi Arabia: Change in Forest Cover
| TOTAL FOREST COVER | | Forest 1990 (ha) | 2,728,000 | | Forest 2000 (ha) | 2,728,000 | | Forest 2005 (ha) | 2,728,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Change in rate (%) | #DIV/0! | | PRIMARY FOREST COVER | | Primary 1990 (ha) | - | | Primary 2000 (ha) | - | | Primary 2005 (ha) | - | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | - | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | - | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | - | | Change in rate (%) | - | | OTHER WOODED LAND | | Other 1990 (ha) | 34,155,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 34,155,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 34,155,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Change in rate (%) | #DIV/0! | | PLANTATIONS | | Other 1990 (ha) | - | | Other 2000 (ha) | - | | Other 2005 (ha) | - | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | - | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | - | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | - | | Change in rate (%) | - | TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations | | Other 1990 (ha) | 36,883,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 36,883,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 36,883,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Change in rate (%) | #DIV/0! |
Saudi Arabia: Primary
| Primary or "old-growth" vegetation | | Primary Forest 2005 (ha) | - | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | - | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | 0 | | Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) | 0.00% |
Saudi Arabia: Forest designation
| Ownership of forest land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 99.3% | | Private (%) | 0.7% | | Other (%) | 0.0% | | Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 99.6% | | Private (%) | 0.4% | | Other (%) | 0.0% | | Designated functions of forest – primary function 2005 | | Production (%) | - | | Protection (%) | - | | Conservation (%) | - | | Social Services (%) | - | | Multiple Services (%) | 100.0% | | None of Unknown (%) | - |
Saudi Arabia: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
| Forest Area annually affected by | | Fire (%) | 0.00% | | Insects (ha) | 0.15% | | Diseases (ha) | 0.07% | | Other (ha) | 0.11% |
Saudi Arabia: Protected areas
| Protected areas | | Biosphere reserves, 2005 | | Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 | 0 | | World Heritage sites, 2004 | 0 | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land | 2.0% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land | 0.47% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 | 1.35% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 | 0.00% |
Saudi Arabia: Biodiversity - Wildlife
| Amphibians | | total species | 6 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 0 | | Birds | | total species | 433 | | endemic species | 3 | | threatened species | 17 | | Mammals | | total species | 94 | | endemic species | 1 | | threatened species | 9 | | Reptiles | | total species | 103 | | endemic species | 5 | | threatened species | 2 | | Wildlife diversity | | total species | 636 | | endemic species | 9 | | threatened species | 28 |
Saudi Arabia: Biodiversity - Plants
| Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | 60.40% | | Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | 90.20% | | Number of Native tree species | | | Native tree species | 52 | | Number of tree species in IUCN red list | | Critically Endangered | | 0 | | Endangered | 2 | | Vulnerable | 1 | | Vascular Plant Species, 2004 | | Total | 2028 | | Number endemic | 0 | | Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 | | Species threatened | 3 |
Saudi Arabia: Value of forests
| Biomass stock in forest, 2005 | | Above-ground biomass (M t) | 28 | | Below-ground biomass (M t) | 7 | | Dead wood (M t) | 5 | | Total (M t) | 40 | | Carbon stock in forest, 2005 | | Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) | 14 | | Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) | 4 | | Carbon in dead wood (M t) | 2 | | Carbon in litter (M t) | 6 | | Soil carbon (M t) | - | | Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) | | 1990-2000 | 0 | | 2000-2005 | 0 | | Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) | | 1990-2000 | 0 | | 2000-2005 | 0 | | Wood removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) | 0 | | Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) | 0 | | Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) | 0 | | Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) | 0 | | Plant products 2005 | | Food (t) | - | | Fodder (t) | - | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) | - | | Ornamental plants (t) | - | | Exudates (t) | - | | Other plant products (t) | - | | Animal products 2005 | | Living animals (units) | - | | Hides, skins and trophies (units) | - | | Wild honey and bee-wax (t) | 60 | | Bush meat (t) | - | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Other edible animal products (t) | - | | Other non-edible animal products (t) | - | | Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (US$) | $0,000 | | Wood fuel (US$) | $0,000 | | Non-wood forest products (US$) | $1,960,000 | | Total value (US$) | $1,960,000 | | Total value ($USD/ha) | $1 | | Employment in forestry 2000 | | Total people employed | 1,000 |
Saudi Arabia : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
| Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 4 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 4 | | Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 21 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 21 | | Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 1,184 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 1,184 | | Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 496 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 496 | | Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 94 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 94 | | Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 487 | | Exports | 17 | | Consumption | 470 |
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Saudi Arabia: Environment
| Environment - current issues | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | | Natural hazards | frequent sand and dust storms |
Saudi Arabia: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2001) | | Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper |
Saudi Arabia: Economy
| Economy - overview: | This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia possesses 25% of the world's proven petroleum 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 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly five and a half million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The government is encouraging private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. The government has begun to permit private sector and foreign investor participation in the power generation and telecom sectors. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia this year acceded to the WTO after many years of negotiations. With high oil revenues enabling the government to post large budget surpluses, Riyadh has been able to substantially boost spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. | | GDP - per capita | $12,900 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 6.4% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 3.3%, industry: 74.7%, services: 21.9% (2005 est.) | | Industries | crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair | | Population below poverty line (%) | NA | | Debt - external | $34.55 billion (2005 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.) |
Saudi Arabia: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 26,417,599 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.31% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 13.5 | | Percent rural (2003) | 12.3% | | Median age (years) | total: 21.28 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 4.05 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% |
Largest Cities in Saudi Arabia
Cities and urban areas in Saudi Arabia with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 3627700 | 3627700 |
| Jiddah | Saudi Arabia | 2674000 | 2674000 |
| Mecca | Saudi Arabia | 1541800 | 1541800 |
| Medinah | Saudi Arabia | 818800 | 818800 |
| ad-Dammam | Saudi Arabia | 675000 | 1549200 |
| at-Taif | Saudi Arabia | 633900 | 633900 |
| Tabuk | Saudi Arabia | 382300 | 382300 |
| Buraydah | Saudi Arabia | 324900 | 324900 |
| al-Hufuf | Saudi Arabia | 286100 | 784100 |
| Khamis Mushayt | Saudi Arabia | 284700 | 284700 |
| Hail | Saudi Arabia | 231000 | 231000 |
| Kharj | Saudi Arabia | 198700 | 198700 |
| Jubail | Saudi Arabia | 184000 | 184000 |
| Hafar-al-Batin | Saudi Arabia | 180100 | 180100 |
| Yanbu | Saudi Arabia | 156600 | 156600 |
| Abha | Saudi Arabia | 146800 | 146800 |
| Araar | Saudi Arabia | 141200 | 141200 |
| al-Hawiyah | Saudi Arabia | 122700 | 122700 |
| Unayzah | Saudi Arabia | 119100 | 119100 |
| Najran | Saudi Arabia | 112100 | 112100 |
 Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005) and the State of the World’s Forests (2005, 2003, 2001)
Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.
Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site
The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund
With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com
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