Outbound tourism — Departures in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Outbound tourism — Departures was 34.24 million Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Outbound tourism — Departures in Saudi Arabia, 2008–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, outbound tourism — departures in Saudi Arabia stood at 34.24 million Persons. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.1% on the previous year and up 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, outbound tourism — departures in Saudi Arabia peaked at 34.24 million Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.70 million Persons, in 2008.
Saudi Arabia ranks 10th of 42 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Outbound tourism — Departures in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4.70 million Persons | — |
| 2009 | 6.47 million Persons | +37.5% |
| 2010 | 18.62 million Persons | +188.0% |
| 2011 | 15.86 million Persons | -14.8% |
| 2012 | 20.08 million Persons | +26.6% |
| 2013 | 22.54 million Persons | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 22.32 million Persons | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 25.05 million Persons | +12.2% |
| 2016 | 27.62 million Persons | +10.2% |
| 2017 | 28.75 million Persons | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 27.42 million Persons | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 27.20 million Persons | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 6.66 million Persons | -75.5% |
| 2021 | 10.68 million Persons | +60.4% |
| 2022 | 24.26 million Persons | +127.2% |
| 2023 | 28.12 million Persons | +15.9% |
| 2024 | 31.97 million Persons | +13.7% |
| 2025 | 34.24 million Persons | +7.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 34.24 million Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.79 million Persons, 2.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Outbound tourism — 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 | +188.0% | 6.47 million Persons | 18.62 million Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.59 million Persons | 4.70 million Persons | 6.47 million Persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.55 million Persons | 15.86 million Persons | 28.75 million Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.66 million Persons | 6.66 million Persons | 34.24 million Persons | 6 |
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 outbound tourism — departures in Saudi Arabia?
- Outbound tourism — departures in Saudi Arabia was 34.24 million Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest outbound tourism — departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 34.24 million Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest outbound tourism — departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.70 million Persons in 2008.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for outbound tourism — departures?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 10th out of 42 countries with data for 2025.
- Is outbound tourism — departures rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Outbound tourism — Departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Outbound tourism comprises the activities of residents of a given country travelling to and staying in places outside their country of residence.