International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: International tourist departures was 23.96 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
23.96 million
Change on year
up 16.7%
World rank
8th
of 112 countries
All-time high
23.96 million
in 2024
All-time low
2.00 million
in 2006
Years of data
23
2002–2024

International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia, 2002–2024

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M25.0M2002201320242002: 7.9M2003: 4.1M2004: 3.8M2005: 4.4M2006: 2.0M2007: 4.1M2008: 4.1M2009: 6.0M2010: 17.8M2011: 15.3M2012: 18.7M2013: 19.2M2014: 19.8M2015: 20.8M2016: 21.2M2017: 21.1M2018: 19.8M2019: 19.0M2020: 4.8M2021: 8.4M2022: 16.9M2023: 20.5M2024: 24.0M

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2024, international tourist departures in Saudi Arabia stood at 23.96 million. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is up 16.7% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, international tourist departures in Saudi Arabia peaked at 23.96 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million, in 2006.

Saudi Arabia ranks 8th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia, 2002 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2002 7.90 million —
2003 4.10 million -48.0%
2004 3.81 million -7.1%
2005 4.40 million +15.5%
2006 2.00 million -54.6%
2007 4.13 million +106.3%
2008 4.09 million -0.9%
2009 6.03 million +47.6%
2010 17.83 million +195.5%
2011 15.28 million -14.3%
2012 18.67 million +22.2%
2013 19.15 million +2.6%
2014 19.82 million +3.5%
2015 20.82 million +5.0%
2016 21.21 million +1.9%
2017 21.15 million -0.3%
2018 19.75 million -6.6%
2019 19.01 million -3.8%
2020 4.84 million -74.5%
2021 8.42 million +73.9%
2022 16.88 million +100.6%
2023 20.54 million +21.6%
2024 23.96 million +16.7%

Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries

  • Saudi Arabia's 23.96 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.86 million, 4.9× the median. (51 countries reporting)
  • Saudi Arabia's 23.96 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.09 million, 7.8× the median. (14 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where International tourist departures 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.

YearChange FromTo
2010 +195.5% 6.03 million 17.83 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 4.56 million 2.00 million 7.90 million 8
2010s 19.27 million 15.28 million 21.21 million 10
2020s 14.93 million 4.84 million 23.96 million 5

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 5 United States 33.50 million compare
  2. 6 Canada 33.09 million compare
  3. 7 India 30.45 million compare
  4. 9 Netherlands 23.15 million compare
  5. 10 Spain 21.29 million compare
  6. 11 China 20.33 million compare

See the full ranking of 112 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is international tourist departures in Saudi Arabia?
International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia was 23.96 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest international tourist departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 23.96 million in 2024.
What is the lowest international tourist departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million in 2006.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for international tourist departures?
Saudi Arabia ranks 8th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
Is international tourist departures rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of International tourist departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/international-tourist-departures/saudi-arabia/

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About this data

Indicator
International tourist departures
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
112 places, 2,384 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed