Air passengers in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Air passengers was 47.98 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Saudi Arabia is 47.98 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 65.4% on the previous year and up 69.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Saudi Arabia peaked at 47.98 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 513,600, in 1971.
That places Saudi Arabia 22nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 558,000 | — |
| 1971 | 513,600 | -8.0% |
| 1972 | 762,000 | +48.4% |
| 1973 | 968,300 | +27.1% |
| 1974 | 1.28 million | +32.4% |
| 1975 | 1.84 million | +43.1% |
| 1976 | 3.27 million | +78.0% |
| 1977 | 4.71 million | +44.0% |
| 1978 | 6.27 million | +33.2% |
| 1979 | 7.69 million | +22.7% |
| 1980 | 9.24 million | +20.2% |
| 1981 | 9.15 million | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 10.15 million | +11.0% |
| 1983 | 10.67 million | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 11.37 million | +6.5% |
| 1985 | 10.80 million | -5.0% |
| 1986 | 9.93 million | -8.0% |
| 1987 | 10.26 million | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 9.88 million | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 9.99 million | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 10.31 million | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 9.41 million | -8.8% |
| 1992 | 11.15 million | +18.6% |
| 1993 | 11.86 million | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 12.14 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 11.52 million | -5.1% |
| 1996 | 11.71 million | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 11.74 million | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 11.82 million | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 12.33 million | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 12.57 million | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 12.84 million | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 13.56 million | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 13.82 million | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 14.94 million | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 15.93 million | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 16.83 million | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 17.14 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 16.71 million | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 17.51 million | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 20.32 million | +16.1% |
| 2011 | 23.14 million | +13.8% |
| 2012 | 26.54 million | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 28.25 million | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 32.27 million | +14.2% |
| 2015 | 33.43 million | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 35.09 million | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 37.50 million | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 39.77 million | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 46.18 million | +16.1% |
| 2020 | 20.97 million | -54.6% |
| 2021 | 29.40 million | +40.2% |
| 2022 | 29.01 million | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 47.98 million | +65.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 47.98 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 5.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 47.98 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.44 million, 7.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +78.0% | 1.84 million | 3.27 million |
| 2020 | -54.6% | 46.18 million | 20.97 million |
| 2023 | +65.4% | 29.01 million | 47.98 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.79 million | 513,600 | 7.69 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.14 million | 9.15 million | 11.37 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.40 million | 9.41 million | 12.33 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.19 million | 12.57 million | 17.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.25 million | 20.32 million | 46.18 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.84 million | 20.97 million | 47.98 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Saudi Arabia?
- Air passengers in Saudi Arabia was 47.98 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 47.98 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 513,600 in 1971.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for air passengers?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 22nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.