The annual population of Saudi Arabia is. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a prime example of a country whose wealth is based entirely on resource rent. The country has huge reserves of oil (second largest in the world as of 2016) and natural gas (sixth largest in the world); The fields are convenient to develop and the cost of production is minimal - about $5.4 operating costs per barrel versus $8.4 in Russia, $13.9 in Venezuela and $22.4 in Canada. It is not surprising that in the international division of labor the country acts as a supplier of fossil fuels. In 2016, Saudi Arabia accounted for 17.7% of world oil exports; oil exports accounted for 69% of all foreign trade receipts. The kingdom received another 21% of its export earnings from trade in various types of petrochemicals. The state oil company Saudi Aramco has become the largest enterprise not only in its homeland, but throughout the world, surpassing the American corporate monsters in terms of profit.

Capital and operating costs for extracting one barrel of oil from the largest oil-producing countries. Saudi Arabia is among the countries with the most favorable conditions.

Huge reserves of easily accessible raw materials with a relatively small population have made Saudi Arabia very rich by world standards. In terms of per capita GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity, it ranks 21st in the world, ahead of the largest economies of Western Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan and only slightly behind the United States. It would seem that in such conditions the inhabitants of Arabia were guaranteed, if not wealth, then at least a prosperous life. But that's not true. Even in such abundance there is room for inequality, poverty and social disadvantage.

More than 5% of the kingdom's adult population is illiterate; among women, the proportion of illiterate people reaches 9%. According to this indicator, Saudi Arabia is inferior to the countries of the West and the former USSR with their complete literacy, corresponding to poor states such as Peru and the Philippines. The country still does not have full school coverage; 3.5% of children do not even attend primary school. Local health care is also not showing the best results. Saudi Arabia's infant mortality rate ranks 108th in the world, between Colombia and Jamaica, and performs worse than Mexico, Romania and Sri Lanka. Mortality among mothers in the kingdom is twice as high as in Germany and three times higher than in Italy, and life expectancy is inferior not only to residents of developed countries, but also to Mexicans, Chinese, and residents of Algeria and Ecuador.

An economic system based on the distribution of raw material rent gives rise to a hyperconcentration of wealth in the hands of the ruling elite: the royal family and the largest financiers associated with it. Those residents who do not work in oil production and its supporting industries depend on cash flows that the elites want to distribute down the social ladder. All sectors of the country's economy either directly or indirectly serve the oil industry, or exist at the expense of oil revenues redistributed by the state.

Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of oil to the world market

Such a system, in the absence of political democracy and public control over the elites, leads to high social stratification. The Gini index, a common indicator of inequality, reaches 45.9 points in Saudi Arabia. This is higher than the level of the United States and Russia, unevenly developed countries with long borders, and ahead of several Latin American countries famous for the highest uneven distribution of wealth, such as Peru and Argentina.

Formally, Saudi Arabia does not have a very high unemployment rate. But among the country's citizens it is more than double the overall figure - 12.1% versus 5.7%. Unemployment among young people has become especially alarming, with 28.5% of job seekers who have not found a job. The private sector prefers to hire cheap foreign workers, who number up to 11 million, more than a third of the kingdom's population. Local workers covered by the social security system are demanding jobs with higher labor standards. For the most part, such jobs are provided by the public sector: 2/3 of working Saudis are hired by the state, and in the private sector only 10% of jobs are held by local residents. But the government cannot provide jobs for everyone, which creates social tension, and plans to diversify the economy and raise labor standards in the private sector remain just plans.

Typical Jeddah slums, filled with migrants and poor Arabians.

Mass unemployment is combined with a high level of poverty. The cost of living in Saudi Arabia is $530 per month. According to various estimates, from 2 to 4 million citizens of the kingdom live below the poverty line - this is 10-20% of indigenous Arabians. Their situation is aggravated by a relatively underdeveloped social support system and the high cost of living in the country.

Local poor people, along with masses of migrant workers, inhabit slum areas located close to the fashionable neighborhoods of Saudi Arabian megacities. Although Saudi slums, unlike similar areas in poor countries, are provided with clean water and sanitation, they are overcrowded, and the quality of houses leaves much to be desired. However, the communal infrastructure of Saudi Arabia is not very developed: only 23% of households are connected to a public water supply, the rest use their own wells, bottled water or are supplied from tanker trucks. 18% of households still resort to the latter option. Public sewerage services only 57% of residential buildings.

Plan of one of the slum areas of Jeddah, al-Sabeel district. Public buildings are marked with colored circles. The depressing lack of social infrastructure (there is only one hospital and three schools in the area) is combined with an abundance of religious buildings - there are 27 mosques in this slum.

Slum areas are dense clusters of small buildings of poor quality, often in traditional Arab neighborhoods. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest metropolis and the country's economic capital, some 43 percent of its residents lived in slums, according to a 2006 municipal report. The population density of slum areas was 3.5 times higher than the city average. Now the situation has not improved much; Jeddah's slums still occupy 16% of the city's area and are home to a third of the population, about a million people. In Mecca, the problem is even more pronounced, with up to a quarter of the city's buildings occupied by slums. In the country as a whole, the proportion of slum dwellers in 2005 was 18% of the total population and by 2014 the situation had not improved.

One of the old buildings, common in Saudi slums.

Poverty and inequality, the abundance of disenfranchised migrant workers and mass unemployment became fertile ground for the mass unrest that broke out in Saudi Arabia in the wake of the Arab Spring. Although the government suppressed the unrest and made concessions in the social sphere, there was no fundamental change for the better. Super incomes from oil exports remain the property of a narrow elite, large sections of the population cannot participate in political life, and the solution to social problems is drowned in bureaucracy and corruption. Inequality, poverty and communal strife remain the tinderbox that could blow up the Gulf's largest monarchy.

Jun 4, 2018 Sergey Larionov

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah, is an absolute theocratic monarchy. The head of state and government - King (Malik) Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (since June 13, 1982) also has full executive, legislative and judicial power, and is also the religious leader of the country (his powers are limited only by the norms and traditions of Sharia ). Succession to the title is carried out through the line of the eldest male in the family with the approval of the Royal Family Council (includes 18 of the most influential direct descendants of the founder of the Saudi monarchy).

The executive branch (the Council of Ministers, appointed by the monarch every four years) consists of the prime minister, the first prime minister and twenty line ministers, to whose positions only members of the ruling family are nominated.

The legislative branch, the Consultative Assembly, or Majlis al-Shura, consists of 150 members appointed by the king for a four-year term. The Assembly has fairly limited powers - all its initiatives must be approved by the monarch. Recently, the role of the assembly has been strengthened; the Council of Ministers even announced its intention to introduce elections for half the members of local and provincial assemblies and one third of the assembly members, although a final decision has not been made.

Administratively, Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 provinces (mintaqah).

The population of Saudi Arabia is more than 29 million people.

National composition:

• Arabs (Saudi Arabs, Bedouins);
• Afro-Asians;
• other peoples (people from Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Europe, Egypt).

Most of the country's population is concentrated in cities and oases, and the Bedouins are concentrated in the eastern and northern regions of Saudi Arabia.

12 people live per 1 sq. km. But some cities and oases are very densely populated (1,000 people live per 1 sq. km). Thus, the most densely populated areas are those adjacent to the coasts of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and some areas are sparsely populated, in which there is no permanent settled population at all (the Dakhna, Rub al-Khali, Nefud deserts).

The official language is Arabic, but in Saudi Arabia they also speak English, Tagalog, Indonesian, Hindi, Urdu and others.

Major cities: Riyadh, Medina, Mecca, Jeddah, Damman, Tabuk, Taif.

The overwhelming number of residents of Saudi Arabia profess Islam (Sunnism, Shiism), the rest are Catholic.

Lifespan

On average, Saudi Arabian residents live to 68 years.

Quite good indicators are due to the fact that the state allocates sufficient funds from the budget for healthcare (8%). Healthcare in the country is at a high level: large administrative districts, as well as the capital, boast clinics that are considered the best in the Middle East (highly qualified specialists work here and highly specialized equipment is used).

It is worth noting that the provision of medical services is free not only for local residents, but also for pilgrims. In public clinics, medical services are provided within the framework of the insurance system. As for visiting private doctors, their services are paid (they only accept cash).

Traditions and customs of the people of Saudi Arabia

Families in Saudi Arabia are large, since representatives of different generations live under the same roof or, at least, in the same locality.

Despite the fact that modern families are becoming smaller in the number of people living together, local social relations are inextricably linked with such concepts as clan and clan.

Family members and good friends greet each other with hugs or kisses on both cheeks. As for unfamiliar people, it is customary in the country to greet them with a European handshake.

If you are going to Saudi Arabia, keep in mind that it is better not to wear shorts or short skirts here - modest clothing is encouraged here.

SAUDI ARABIA
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a state on the Arabian Peninsula in South-West Asia. In the north, Saudi Arabia borders Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait; in the east it is washed by the Persian Gulf and borders with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in the southeast it borders with Oman, in the south with Yemen, and in the west it is washed by the Red Sea. In 1975 and 1981, agreements were signed between Saudi Arabia and Iraq to divide a small neutral zone on the border of the two states, which was implemented in 1987. Another agreement was signed with Qatar to demarcate the border until 1998. In 1996, the neutral zone was divided into border with Kuwait, but both countries continue to share oil and other natural resources in the area. Border issues with Yemen have not yet been resolved. Saudi Arabia is divided into Hejaz on the Red Sea coast, Najd in the central part of the peninsula, Al Hasa on the Persian Gulf coast and the small region of Asir in the southwest. The total area of ​​the country is 2.15 million square meters. km, population - 18.8 million people (1997). The capital Riyadh is located in Najd. Saudi Arabia occupies almost 80% of the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. In the southwest of the country, on the coast of the Red Sea, near the border with Yemen, the geographical region of Asir is located. In the Asir Mountains, the relief varies from mountain peaks with a height of approx. 3000 m to large valleys. This area of ​​the peninsula was once connected to Africa, and some species of African plants and animals survive here. In the mid-1980s, the Saudi Arabian government established Asir National Park, home to nearly extinct species such as the oryx and Nubian ibex.

Saudi Arabia. The capital is Riyadh. Population - 18.8 million people (1997). Population density - 9 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 80%, rural - 20%. Area - 2.15 million square meters. km. Highest point: Mount Sauda (3207 m). The official language is Arabic. The main religion is Islam. Administrative division - 13 provinces. Currency: Saudi Riyal = 20 Qirsham = 100 Halala. National holiday: Proclamation Day - September 23. National Anthem: "Royal Salute to Saudi Arabia!"

POPULATION
Population composition. According to the first census conducted in 1974, the population of Saudi Arabia was 7.013 million. Most of the population lived in the countryside and small towns of Hijaz and Asir, as well as in the oases and cities of Najd and Al-Hasa. Only a small part of the country's population belongs to the true nomads, the Bedouins. Bedouins inhabit mainly the northern and eastern regions of the country. The overwhelming majority of the population are Arabs, most of whom have retained their tribal organization. Saudi Arabia is home to several thousand Americans and Europeans, most of them employed in the oil industry. Saudi Arabia also employs more than 5 million foreign workers, mostly from Arab countries such as Egypt and Yemen.
Language. The population of Saudi Arabia speaks Arabian dialects of Arabic. The spoken language of urban residents differs from the dialects of nomads.
Religion. Saudi Arabia is the center of the Islamic world. Here are the two holy cities of Muslims - Mecca and Medina, respectively the birthplace and burial place of the Prophet Muhammad. In 1998, these cities were visited by approx. 1.13 million pilgrims, including approx. 1 million foreigners from various Muslim countries, as well as North and South America, Europe and Asia. The majority of Saudis (85%) are Sunni. The Shiites, living mainly in the east, in Al-Hasa, make up approx. 15% of the population. Saudi Arabia, especially the area around Riyadh, is the center of Wahhabism, a puritanical religious and political movement in Islam that rose to prominence in the second half of the 18th century. Wahhabis are the guardians of sacred places, under their control the pilgrimage to Mecca takes place.

Cities. The population of the country's capital, Riyadh (since 1984 the location of diplomatic missions), amounted to almost 2.5 million inhabitants in 1998, mainly Saudis, as well as Egyptians, Palestinians, citizens of other Arab, Asian and Western countries. The population of Mecca is approx. 1 million inhabitants and has a diverse national composition. The population of Medina has the same composition (750 thousand people). Jeddah, the main port of the Hijaz, has a population of 2 million. Jeddah is the most important business center of Saudi Arabia. Until 1984, diplomatic missions of foreign states were located here. On the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, on the shores of the Persian Gulf, there are ports such as Dammam, Dhahran (Ez-Zahran), Al-Khobar and Al-Jubail. Their population consists of representatives of various Arab countries, including the Gulf countries, Indians, as well as people from North America and Europe.
STATE STRUCTURE
Central government. Saudi Arabia is an absolute theocratic monarchy. The head of state is the king (malik), who is also the religious leader of the country (imam), is the head of the ruling Saudi dynasty and bears the ancient honorary title of “guardian of the two holy mosques.” The Royal Decree of 1992 introduced the “Fundamentals of the System of Government”, based on the provisions of Islamic law. The basis of the country's government is Sharia. In Saudi Arabia, sharia is interpreted in accordance with the Hanbali school of law, the strictest of the four Sunni schools. The king rules the country through decrees. He has an Advisory Council consisting of scientists, writers, businessmen and prominent members of the royal family. This Council, first assembled in 1993 and representing the first public forum in the history of Saudi Arabia, consists of a chairman and 60 members appointed by the king for a term of four years. In 1997, the number of the Council was increased to 90 people. The reports and recommendations of the Council are presented directly to the king. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the king, who heads it. This body combines both executive and legislative functions. All its decisions are made by a majority vote and are subject to final approval by the king. The most important ministries are usually headed by representatives of the royal family. The actual structure of monarchical power in Saudi Arabia is somewhat different from how it is presented in theory. To a large extent, the king's power rests on the Al Saud family, which consists of more than 5 thousand people and forms the basis of the monarchical system in the country. The king rules based on the advice of leading members of the family, in particular his brothers. His relations with religious leaders are built on the same basis. Equally important to the stability of the kingdom is the support of noble families such as the al-Sudairi and Ibn Jiluwi, as well as the religious Al ash-Sheikh family, a subsidiary branch of the Saudi dynasty. These families have remained loyal to the Al Saud clan for almost two centuries.
Local authorities. According to a royal decree in 1993, Saudi Arabia was divided into 13 provinces. By decree of 1994, these 13 provinces were in turn divided into 103 districts. Power in the provinces belongs to governors (emirs) appointed by the king. The most important cities, such as Riyadh, Mecca and Medina, are headed by governors belonging to the royal family. Local affairs are administered by Provincial Councils, whose members are appointed by the King from among the most distinguished families.
Judicial system. The civil and judicial codes are based on Sharia law. Thus, all marriage, divorce, property, inheritance, criminal and other matters are regulated by Islamic regulations. Religious judges, qadis, preside over the courts. The country's judicial system consists of disciplinary and general courts, the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Court, the basis of which is Islamic law.
Armed forces. Since the 1970s, Saudi Arabia has spent enormous amounts of money expanding and modernizing its military. After the Gulf War in 1991, Saudi Arabia's armed forces were further expanded and equipped with the latest weapons, much of which came from the United States. In the mid-1990s they numbered approx. 70 thousand military personnel. Still ok. The 40,000 members of the highly trained National Guard have their own command and budget. In 1997, the armed forces of Saudi Arabia numbered 105.5 thousand people, including 70 thousand in the ground forces, 13.5 thousand in the navy, 18 thousand in the air force and 4 thousand in the air defense forces defense The total strength of the National Guard was approx. 77 thousand people. The share of defense and security expenditures in the 1997 budget was 37.5%.
ECONOMY
The basis of the Saudi Arabian economy is free private enterprise. Proven crude oil reserves amount to approx. 35 billion tons (about 26% of the world's proven recoverable reserves), and natural gas - approx. 5.1 trillion cube m. In 1992, its gross domestic product (GDP) was equivalent to 112.98 billion dollars, or 6042 dollars per capita. In 1997, GDP was $146.25 billion, or $7,792 per capita. The share of economic sectors not related to oil production and refining in GDP increased from 46% in 1970 to 67% in 1992 (in 1996 it decreased to 65%). At the beginning of the 20th century, before oil fields were discovered and began to be developed, Saudi Arabia was one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. The basis of the economy was nomadic cattle breeding, to a lesser extent coastal fishing and poorly developed agriculture in the oases. Oil industry and its role. The start of oil production completely changed the country's economy and ensured its rapid growth. The impetus for the country's rapid development was the creation of a network of roads, ports and communications, as well as demographic changes due to the development of medical care and education. For example, a road network was built to connect vast arid areas located in remote parts of the country. As a result of large-scale construction, the length of paved roads increased from 1,600 km in 1960 to more than 39,200 km of highways and 90,000 km of local roads in 1994. In 1997, the length of highways was 43,200 km and local roads - 96,000 km. In 1986, construction was completed on a 24-kilometer highway built over a causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. In the mid-1980s, the railway linking Riyadh with Dammam was extended to the industrial center of Jubail, located north of Dammam. In the mid-1990s, the country had three international and 22 regional and local airports, as well as five main seaports, Jeddah, Yanbu and Jizan on the Red Sea, Dammam and Jubail on the Persian Gulf. The communications networks in Saudi Arabia are considered the most advanced in the entire region. The largest holder of oil concessions and the main oil producer is the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). Since the early 1970s, it has been under the control of the Saudi Arabian government, and before that it was entirely owned by a consortium of American companies. The company received a concession in 1933 and began exporting oil in 1938. The Second World War interrupted the development of the oil industry, which resumed in 1943 with the start of construction of an oil refinery at the oil port of Ras Tannura. Oil production gradually increased from 2.7 thousand tons/day before 1944 to 33.5 thousand tons/day in 1947 and 68.1 thousand tons/day in 1949. By 1977, daily oil production in Saudi Arabia increased to 1. 25 million tons and remained high throughout the 1980s, until it began to decline as a result of decreasing demand for oil on the world market. In 1992, approx. 1.15 million tons/day, with 97% of production coming from ARAMCO. Other smaller companies also produce oil, such as the Japanese Arabian Oil Company, which operates offshore near the Kuwait border, and the Getty Oil Company, which produces onshore near the Kuwait border. In 1996, Saudi Arabia's quota, determined by OPEC, was approx. 1.17 million tons per day. The largest oil fields are located in the eastern part of the country, on the Persian Gulf coast or on the shelf. The most important factor in the development of the oil industry is the close and mutually beneficial relationship that has developed between ARAMCO and Saudi Arabia. ARAMCO's activities contributed to the influx of qualified personnel into the country and the creation of new jobs for Saudis. Significant changes in the relationship between oil companies and the government of Saudi Arabia began in 1972. In accordance with the agreement signed by the parties, the government received 25% of ARAMCO's assets. It was established that Saudi Arabia's share would gradually increase to 51% by 1982. However, in 1974 the government accelerated this process and acquired ownership of 60% of ARAMCO shares. In 1976, oil companies promised to transfer all ARAMCO properties to Saudi Arabia. In 1980, all ARAMCO property was transferred to the Saudi Arabian government. In 1984, a citizen of Saudi Arabia became the president of the company for the first time. Since 1980, the government of Saudi Arabia began to determine oil prices and production volumes itself, and oil companies received rights to develop oil fields as government subcontractors. The growth in oil production was accompanied by a significant increase in revenues from its sales, especially after the quadruple jump in oil prices in 1973-1974, which led to a gigantic increase in government revenues, which increased from $334 million in 1960 to $2.7 billion in 1972, 33.5 billion dollars in 1976 and 102 billion dollars in 1981. Subsequently, the demand for oil on the world market began to decline, and by 1989 Saudi Arabia’s income from oil exports fell to 24 billion. dollars. The crisis that began after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 again raised world oil prices; Accordingly, Saudi Arabia's revenues from oil exports increased in 1991 to almost 43.5 billion dollars. In 1998, as a result of a sharp drop in world oil prices at the beginning of the year, Saudi Arabia's revenues from oil exports amounted to 43.7 billion dollars.
Industry. In the past, Saudi Arabia's industry was underdeveloped, especially non-oil industries. In 1962, the government General Organization of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (PETROMIN) was created, whose task is to develop the oil and mining industries, as well as the creation of new oil, mining and metallurgical enterprises. In 1975, the Ministry of Industry and Energy was formed, to which responsibility for PETROMIN enterprises not related to oil production and refining was transferred. PETROMIN's largest projects were the Jeddah steel plant, built in 1968, and the Jeddah and Riyadh oil refineries, built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, respectively. PETROMIN also provided 51% of the funds for the construction of a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Dammam, completed in 1970. In 1976, the government-owned Saudi Arabian Heavy Industry Corporation (SABIK) was created - a holding company with an initial capital of $ 2.66 billion. By 1994, SABIC owned 15 large plants in Jubail, Yanbu and Jeddah that produced chemicals, plastics, industrial gas, steel and other metals. Saudi Arabia has well-developed food and glass industries, handicrafts and the building materials industry, in particular the cement industry. In 1996, industrial production amounted to approx. 55% of GDP. Back in the 1st millennium BC. residents of the Arabian Peninsula mined gold, silver and copper in deposits located approximately 290 km northeast of Jeddah. Currently, these deposits are being developed again, and in 1992 approx. 5 tons of gold. Electricity production in Saudi Arabia increased from 344 kW in 1970 to 17,049 mW in 1992. To date, approx. 6,000 cities and rural settlements throughout the country. In 1998, electricity production was 19,753 MW, with an annual increase in electricity demand of 4.5% expected over the next two decades. To meet them, electricity production will need to be increased to approximately 59,000 MW.
Agriculture. The share of agriculture in the country's gross domestic product increased from 1.3% in 1970 to over 6.4% in 1993. During this period, production of staple foods increased from 1.79 million tons to 7 million tons. Saudi Arabia is completely deprived permanent watercourses. Land suitable for cultivation occupies less than 2% of its territory. Despite the fact that the average annual rainfall is only 100 mm, agriculture in Saudi Arabia, using modern technology and machinery, is a dynamically developing industry. The area of ​​cultivated land increased from 161.8 thousand hectares in 1976 to 3 million hectares in 1993, and Saudi Arabia transformed from a country that imported most of its food into a food exporter. In 1992, agricultural products amounted to $5.06 billion in monetary terms, while the export of wheat, dates, dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, vegetables and flowers brought in income of $533 million. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP from 1985 to 1995 increased by 6.0% per year. The country also produces barley, corn, millet, coffee, alfalfa and rice. An important industry is livestock farming, represented by the breeding of camels, sheep, goats, donkeys and horses. Long-term hydrological studies, begun in 1965, have revealed significant water resources suitable for agricultural use. In addition to deep wells throughout the country, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources operates more than 200 reservoirs with a total capacity of 450 million cubic meters. m. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of desalinated water. In the mid-1990s, the country's 33 desalination plants desalinated 2.2 billion liters of seawater daily, thus satisfying 70% of the population's drinking water needs. The Al Hasa agricultural project alone, completed in 1977, irrigated 12 thousand hectares and provided jobs for 50 thousand people. Other major irrigation projects include the Wadi Jizan project on the Red Sea coast (8 thousand hectares) and the Abha project in the Asirah mountains, in the southwest. In 1998, the government announced a new agricultural development project worth $294 million. The budget of the Ministry of Agriculture increased from $395 million in 1997 to $443 million in 1998.
The state budget. The monetary unit of Saudi Arabia is the rial, equal to 20 qirsh. The functions of the central bank are performed by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. The budget of Saudi Arabia in 1993-1994 was $46.7 billion, in 1992-1993 - $52.5 billion, and in 1983-1984 - $69.3 billion. Such fluctuations were a consequence of falling export revenues oil, providing 80% of all state revenues. However, in FY 1994, $11.5 billion was allocated for construction and renovation programs and $7.56 billion for higher education, universities, industrial development, and other development projects such as improving salinity soils and electrification. In 1997, the revenue side of the Saudi Arabian budget was $43 billion, and the expenditure side was $48 billion, the budget deficit was $5 billion. Expenditures in the 1998 budget were planned at $47 billion, and revenues - 52 billion. dollars. Since 1970, five-year development plans have been adopted. The Fifth Five Year Plan (1990-1995) aimed to strengthen the private sector, develop education, health and social welfare; they also provided for an increase in defense spending. The sixth five-year development plan (1995-1999) provides for the continuation of the economic policies of the previous period. Saudi Arabia's foreign economic ties reflect its role as the world's leading oil exporter. Most of the profits from foreign trade were invested abroad and went to help foreign countries, particularly Egypt, Jordan and other Arab countries. Even after the fall in oil prices in the mid- and late 1980s, Saudi Arabia maintained a positive foreign trade balance: in 1991, imports totaled $29.6 billion and exports totaled $48.5 billion. In 1996, the trade surplus the balance amounted to $31,345 billion. Saudi Arabia's main imports are industrial equipment, vehicles, weapons, food, construction materials, scientific equipment, chemical products, fabrics and clothing. The main flow of imports comes from the USA, Japan, Great Britain, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and France. The government has promised to make appropriate changes to trade, investment and tax laws in preparation for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Oil, which provides the main export earnings, is supplied to the USA, Japan and Western Europe. Due to the growth of industrial production, Saudi Arabia began to export petrochemicals, consumer goods and food products. In 1997, the country's foreign exchange reserves amounted to $7.57 billion.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Religion. Religion has always played a dominant role in Saudi society and still determines the lifestyle of the majority of the population. The majority of residents of Saudi Arabia belong to the followers of Wahhabism, one of the movements in Islam, which received its name from the name of a man who lived in the 18th century. reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. They call themselves muwahhids, “monotheists,” or simply Muslims. Wahhabism is an ascetic, puritanical movement within the framework of the most strict Hanbali religious-legal school (madhab) in Sunni Islam, in which special attention is paid to the strict implementation of the precepts of Islam. There are also followers of other sects of Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia - in Asir, Hijaz and Eastern Arabia. Al-Hasa, in the east of the country, has a significant Shiite population (15%). The entire social and cultural life of the country is regulated by the Muslim Lunar calendar, such events as the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), the month-long fast (Ramadan), the holiday of breaking the fast (Eid al-Fitr), and the holiday of sacrifice (Eid al-Adha). At the head of the religious community is the Council of Ulema, which interprets Muslim laws. Every city has public morality committees that monitor compliance with the rules of conduct. At the beginning of the 20th century. The Ulema Council opposed the introduction of the telephone, radio and automobile into Saudi Arabia on the grounds that such innovations were contrary to Sharia. However, changing conditions, particularly rising prosperity and the arrival of Western technology in Saudi Arabia, led to a compromise between the demands of modern life and the restrictions of Sharia law. Over time, the problem was resolved, formalized by a decree of the Ulema Council (fatwa), declaring that Western innovations, from airplanes and television to commercial legislation, did not contradict Islam. However, most of the strict Wahhabi rules continue to apply, for example, all women, Arab or European, are prohibited from mixing with men in public places and driving a car.
Lifestyle. Arab nomads inhabiting desert areas roam between pastures and oases in search of food and water. Their traditional home is tents woven from black sheep and goat wool. Sedentary Arabs are characterized by dwellings made of sun-dried bricks, whitewashed or painted with ocher. Slums, once quite common, have now become rare thanks to government housing policies. The staple foods of the Arabs are mutton, lamb, chicken and game, seasoned with rice and raisins. Common dishes include soups and stews cooked with onions and lentils. A lot of fruits are eaten, especially dates and figs, as well as nuts and vegetables. A popular drink is coffee. Camel, sheep and goat milk is consumed. Sheep's milk ghee (dahn) is commonly used for cooking.
The status of women. Men play a dominant role in Saudi society. A woman cannot appear in a public place without a veil over her face and a cape that covers her body from head to toe. Even in her home, she may only leave her face uncovered in front of the men in her family. The women's ("forbidden") half of the house, the harim (hence the word "harem"), is separated from the part where guests are received. Among the Bedouins, women are usually freer; they may appear in society without a veil over their faces and talk with strangers, but they nevertheless occupy a separate tent or part of the family tent. Marriage is considered a civil contract and is accompanied by a financial agreement between the spouses, which must be registered in a religious court. Although romantic love is a perennial theme in Arabic, especially Bedouin, poetry, marriages are typically arranged without the participation or consent of the bride and groom. The main responsibility of the wife is to care for her husband and meet his needs, as well as raise children. Marriages are generally monogamous, although a man is allowed to have up to four wives. Only the wealthiest citizens can afford to enjoy this privilege, but even so, preference is given to one rather than several wives. The husband can apply to the judge (qadi) for a divorce at any time, the only restrictions being the marriage contract and the relationship between the families concerned. A woman can approach a qadi for a divorce only in cases where there are grounds for doing so, such as mistreatment and meager maintenance by her husband, or sexual neglect.
Education. An estimated 35% of the population (28% men and 49% women) of Saudi Arabia is illiterate. Since the 1950s, significant efforts have been made to develop the education system. In 1954, the Ministry of Education was created and began implementing educational programs that focused on primary education and vocational training, as well as religious education. In the late 1950s, these programs covered secondary and higher education.
In 1995, government spending on education was $12 billion, or 12% of all spending. In 1994, Saudi Arabia had 7 universities, 83 institutes and 18 thousand primary, intermediate and secondary schools combined. In 1996, the number of schools at all levels exceeded 21,000. In the early 1990s, girls made up 44% of the 3 million primary and secondary school students and 46% of the total university student population. Education for girls is managed by a special supervisory board, which also oversees educational programs for adult women. Education is free and open to all citizens, although not compulsory. Students are provided with textbooks and medical care.
Universities are under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education. These include the Islamic University of Medina, the University of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. King Fahd in Dhahran, University. King Abd al-Aziz in Jeddah, University. King Faisal University (with branches in Dammam and Hofuf), University. Imam Mohammed ibn Saud in Riyadh, Umm al-Qura University in Mecca and the University. King Saud in Riyadh. In 1996, the number of university students was 143,787 people, teaching staff - 9,490 people. There is a special department dealing with schools for sick children. In accordance with the Fifth Five-Year Development Plan, $1.6 billion was allocated for the development of technical education and vocational training in areas such as medicine, agriculture, education, etc.
Culture. Religion permeates the entire society: it shapes and determines the cultural and artistic life of the country. Historically, Saudi Arabia has not been subject to the foreign cultural influences that other Arab states have experienced. The country lacks literary traditions comparable to those of the Arab Mediterranean countries. Perhaps the only well-known Saudi writers are historians of the late 19th century, of whom Osman ibn Bishr can be considered the most famous. The lack of literary tradition in Saudi Arabia is partly compensated by deep-rooted traditions in the field of oral prose and poetry, dating back to pre-Islamic times. Music is not a traditional art form in Saudi Arabia. Its development in recent decades as a means of artistic expression has been curtailed by the ban imposed by the Ulema Council on its performance for entertainment purposes. There are few performers of folk music and songs, and they are all men. The same strict ban has been introduced on the depiction of human faces and figures in painting and sculpture, although this does not apply to photography. Artistic pursuits are limited to the creation of architectural ornaments, such as friezes and mosaics, incorporating traditional forms of Islamic art.
Wahhabism does not approve of the construction of elaborately decorated mosques, so modern religious architecture is inexpressive, in contrast to ancient, aesthetically more interesting ones (for example, the Kaaba sanctuary in Mecca). The most significant religious architectural work of recent years appears to have been the restoration and decoration of the mosque on the burial site of the Prophet in Medina, and the significant expansion and renovation of the Great Mosque in Mecca. The severity of religious architecture is offset by the flourishing of civil architecture. In cities, palaces, public buildings and private houses are being built on a large scale; Most of them harmoniously combine modern ideas and traditional design. There are several newspapers and periodicals published in the country, all of which are controlled by the government. There are no theaters or public cinemas in Saudi Arabia, and shows and performances are prohibited. However, there are government radio stations that broadcast news reports, speakers, sermons, educational and religious programs. Saudi Arabia also has television, but the content of its programs is carefully selected, and it itself is under strict government control.
See below
SAUDI ARABIA. STORY
LITERATURE

Saudi Arabia: Directory. M., 1980
Vasiliev A.M. History of Saudi Arabia (1745-1982). M., 1982
Vasiliev A.M., Voblikov D.R. Saudi Arabia. - In the book: Recent history of the Arab countries of Asia. M., 1985

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

Synonyms:

Saudi Arabia, the map of which is presented below, is a country in the southwestern part of Asia, occupying about 80% of the area. The origin of its name is associated with the royal Saud family, which founded the state and continues to be in power to this day.

general description

The area of ​​Saudi Arabia is 2.15 million square kilometers. The state borders Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Yemen and Oman. In addition, it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Its capital is Riyadh, which is home to more than five million people. Other major cities in Saudi Arabia are Jeddah, Mecca and Medina. Their population exceeds the one million mark.

Political structure

In March 1992, the first documents regulating the state and the basic principles of its governance were adopted. Based on them, the country of Saudi Arabia is a theocratic absolute monarchy. Its constitution is based on the Koran. The Saudi dynasty has been in power since 1932. The King has full legislative, executive and judicial powers. Its powers are only theoretically limited by local traditions and Sharia norms. The government has been functioning in its current form since 1953. It is headed by the king, who determines the main directions of its activities. There is also a Council of Ministers in the country, which is entrusted with not only executive but also legislative functions. All decisions taken by this authority are approved by decree of the King of the country of Saudi Arabia. The population of the state is obliged to comply with them. Administratively, the country is divided into thirteen provinces.

Economy

The local economy is based on private, free enterprise. At the same time, one cannot help but note the fact that control over the key ones is exercised by the government. The state boasts the largest oil reserves on the planet. It accounts for about 75% of his income. In addition, Saudi Arabia is the world leader in the export of black gold and plays a leading role in OPEC. The country also has reserves of zinc, chromium, lead, copper and

Population

The first census of local residents was carried out in 1974. From that time to the present day, the population of Saudi Arabia has almost tripled. The country is now home to almost 30 million people. The vast majority of local residents are Arabs, a significant part of whom have retained a tribal organization. Now there are more than 100 tribal associations and tribes in the country. It should also be noted that approximately one fifth of the population is made up of foreign workers. Based on official UN statistics, as of 1970, the country's infant mortality rate was 204 infants for every thousand births. Now there has been a significant positive shift in this indicator. In particular, thanks to the improvement in the standard of living and medical care in the country, out of a thousand newborns, only 19 children die.

Language

Arabic is the official language in a country like Saudi Arabia. The population uses mainly the Arabian dialect in everyday life, which comes from el-fuskhi. Within it there are several dialects that are close to each other. At the same time, city dwellers and descendants of nomads speak differently. Literary and spoken languages ​​have minor differences between themselves. In religious contexts, the classical Arabic dialect is mainly used. Common languages ​​among people from other countries are English, Indonesian, Urdu, Tagalog, Farsi and others.

Religion

Saudi Arabia is considered the center of the Islamic world. Almost the entire population of the country professes this particular religion. According to various estimates, up to 93% of local residents are Sunnis. The rest of the representatives of Islam are predominantly Shiites. As for other religions, approximately 3% of the country's inhabitants are Christians, and 0.4% are other faiths.

Education

Higher education in the country, although free, is not compulsory. A good job and a comfortable life in Saudi Arabia are possible without it. Be that as it may, there are a number of programs operating here, the main goal of which is to reduce the level of illiteracy among local residents. Currently, there are 7 universities and 16 higher educational institutions in the country. All of them are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Higher Education. Approximately 30 thousand students study abroad annually. Over the past few decades, the government has significantly increased spending on education. At the same time, the state requires a comprehensive reform in this area, which should create a new balance between modern and traditional teaching methods.

Medicine

Saudi Arabia is one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of medicine. The population of the state has the right to receive related services free of charge. This applies to both residents of megacities and representatives of Bedouin tribes who roam in the desert. Every year the government allocates about 8% of the local budget for healthcare, which is simply a gigantic amount. Mandatory immunization of newborns is enshrined in law. The epidemiological control system, which was created in 1986, made it possible to completely defeat and eliminate such terrible diseases as plague and cholera.

Demographic problems

According to scientific research, if the current numbers of residents in the country continue (over the past 30 years they have been about 4% of the population per year), then by 2050 the population of Saudi Arabia will reach 45 million. In other words, very soon the country’s leadership will have to solve a problem related not only to providing citizens with jobs, but also to ensuring a decent old age for currently working Saudis. This task is not so simple even for a state with such impressive oil reserves. The emergence of such problems is associated, first of all, with positive changes in the areas of nutrition and medical care, as well as with the improvement of living conditions in the country.