International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: International tourist departures was 23.96 million departures in 2024. ◆ Volatile
International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia, 2002–2024
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in departures.
Analysis
In 2024, international tourist departures in Saudi Arabia stood at 23.96 million departures. 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 departures in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million departures, 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
| Year | departures | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 7.90 million departures | — |
| 2003 | 4.10 million departures | -48.0% |
| 2004 | 3.81 million departures | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 4.40 million departures | +15.5% |
| 2006 | 2.00 million departures | -54.6% |
| 2007 | 4.13 million departures | +106.3% |
| 2008 | 4.09 million departures | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 6.03 million departures | +47.6% |
| 2010 | 17.83 million departures | +195.5% |
| 2011 | 15.28 million departures | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 18.67 million departures | +22.2% |
| 2013 | 19.15 million departures | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 19.82 million departures | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 20.82 million departures | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 21.21 million departures | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 21.15 million departures | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 19.75 million departures | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 19.01 million departures | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 4.84 million departures | -74.5% |
| 2021 | 8.42 million departures | +73.9% |
| 2022 | 16.88 million departures | +100.6% |
| 2023 | 20.54 million departures | +21.6% |
| 2024 | 23.96 million departures | +16.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 23.96 million departures is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.86 million departures, 4.9× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 23.96 million departures is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.09 million departures, 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +195.5% | 6.03 million departures | 17.83 million departures |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.56 million departures | 2.00 million departures | 7.90 million departures | 8 |
| 2010s | 19.27 million departures | 15.28 million departures | 21.21 million departures | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.93 million departures | 4.84 million departures | 23.96 million departures | 5 |
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 international tourist departures in Saudi Arabia?
- International tourist departures in Saudi Arabia was 23.96 million departures in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest international tourist departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.96 million departures in 2024.
- What is the lowest international tourist departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million departures 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 UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of International tourist departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of trips by country's residents who travel abroad and stay overnight.