Urban area over the long-term in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Urban area over the long-term was 6,551 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6,551 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
24th
of 202 countries
All-time high
6,551 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0117 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Saudi Arabia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 6,551 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Saudi Arabia peaked at 6,551 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0117 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Saudi Arabia ranks 24th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0117 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0365 km² per grid cell | +211.0% |
| 1200 | 0.1134 km² per grid cell | +210.6% |
| 1300 | 0.3519 km² per grid cell | +210.2% |
| 1400 | 0.9274 km² per grid cell | +163.5% |
| 1500 | 2.85 km² per grid cell | +207.7% |
| 1600 | 9.63 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1700 | 25.68 km² per grid cell | +166.7% |
| 1710 | 29.04 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1720 | 31.93 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1730 | 35.1 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1740 | 38.59 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1750 | 42.42 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1760 | 46.64 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1770 | 51.27 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1780 | 56.36 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1790 | 61.95 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1800 | 68.1 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1810 | 74.86 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1820 | 82.29 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1830 | 92.94 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1840 | 103.87 km² per grid cell | +11.8% |
| 1850 | 116.09 km² per grid cell | +11.8% |
| 1860 | 129.74 km² per grid cell | +11.8% |
| 1870 | 145 km² per grid cell | +11.8% |
| 1880 | 163.82 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1890 | 185.61 km² per grid cell | +13.3% |
| 1900 | 210.29 km² per grid cell | +13.3% |
| 1910 | 238.26 km² per grid cell | +13.3% |
| 1920 | 261.52 km² per grid cell | +9.8% |
| 1930 | 300.9 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1940 | 340.59 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1950 | 354.94 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1951 | 370.42 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1952 | 386.13 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1953 | 401.58 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1954 | 416.55 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1955 | 430.81 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1956 | 444.33 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1957 | 457.09 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 469.41 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 481.53 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 493.78 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 506.31 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 519.2 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 537.3 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 560.5 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1965 | 583.57 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1966 | 606.68 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 630.22 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 654.72 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 680.78 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1970 | 709.13 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 740.1 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 774.04 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 811.42 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 852.98 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 894.29 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 939.26 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 989.36 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 1,045 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 1,108 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 1,179 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1981 | 1,258 km² per grid cell | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 1,344 km² per grid cell | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 1,438 km² per grid cell | +7.0% |
| 1984 | 1,541 km² per grid cell | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 1,651 km² per grid cell | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 1,770 km² per grid cell | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 1,883 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1988 | 1,996 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 2,105 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 2,206 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 2,297 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 2,378 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 2,447 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 2,516 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 2,592 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 2,678 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 2,773 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 2,875 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 2,982 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 3,094 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 3,241 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 3,391 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 3,545 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 3,702 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 3,861 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 3,968 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 4,076 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 4,188 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 4,300 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 4,416 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 4,547 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 4,682 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 4,819 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 4,958 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 5,100 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 5,244 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 5,386 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 5,537 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 5,671 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 5,856 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 6,040 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 6,147 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 6,255 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 6,442 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 6,551 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 6,551 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 6.5× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 6,551 km² per grid cell is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,501 km² per grid cell, 4.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | +237.5% | 2.85 km² per grid cell | 9.63 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +211.0% | 0.0117 km² per grid cell | 0.0365 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +210.6% | 0.0365 km² per grid cell | 0.1134 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +210.2% | 0.1134 km² per grid cell | 0.3519 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +207.7% | 0.9274 km² per grid cell | 2.85 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +166.7% | 9.63 km² per grid cell | 25.68 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0117 km² per grid cell | 0.0117 km² per grid cell | 0.0117 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0365 km² per grid cell | 0.0365 km² per grid cell | 0.0365 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.1134 km² per grid cell | 0.1134 km² per grid cell | 0.1134 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.3519 km² per grid cell | 0.3519 km² per grid cell | 0.3519 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.9274 km² per grid cell | 0.9274 km² per grid cell | 0.9274 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.85 km² per grid cell | 2.85 km² per grid cell | 2.85 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 9.63 km² per grid cell | 9.63 km² per grid cell | 9.63 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 25.68 km² per grid cell | 25.68 km² per grid cell | 25.68 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 29.04 km² per grid cell | 29.04 km² per grid cell | 29.04 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 31.93 km² per grid cell | 31.93 km² per grid cell | 31.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 35.1 km² per grid cell | 35.1 km² per grid cell | 35.1 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 38.59 km² per grid cell | 38.59 km² per grid cell | 38.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 42.42 km² per grid cell | 42.42 km² per grid cell | 42.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 46.64 km² per grid cell | 46.64 km² per grid cell | 46.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 51.27 km² per grid cell | 51.27 km² per grid cell | 51.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 56.36 km² per grid cell | 56.36 km² per grid cell | 56.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 61.95 km² per grid cell | 61.95 km² per grid cell | 61.95 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 68.1 km² per grid cell | 68.1 km² per grid cell | 68.1 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 74.86 km² per grid cell | 74.86 km² per grid cell | 74.86 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 82.29 km² per grid cell | 82.29 km² per grid cell | 82.29 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 92.94 km² per grid cell | 92.94 km² per grid cell | 92.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 103.87 km² per grid cell | 103.87 km² per grid cell | 103.87 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 116.09 km² per grid cell | 116.09 km² per grid cell | 116.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 129.74 km² per grid cell | 129.74 km² per grid cell | 129.74 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 145 km² per grid cell | 145 km² per grid cell | 145 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 163.82 km² per grid cell | 163.82 km² per grid cell | 163.82 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 185.61 km² per grid cell | 185.61 km² per grid cell | 185.61 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 210.29 km² per grid cell | 210.29 km² per grid cell | 210.29 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 238.26 km² per grid cell | 238.26 km² per grid cell | 238.26 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 261.52 km² per grid cell | 261.52 km² per grid cell | 261.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 300.9 km² per grid cell | 300.9 km² per grid cell | 300.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 340.59 km² per grid cell | 340.59 km² per grid cell | 340.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 421.28 km² per grid cell | 354.94 km² per grid cell | 481.53 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 577.31 km² per grid cell | 493.78 km² per grid cell | 680.78 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 886.45 km² per grid cell | 709.13 km² per grid cell | 1,108 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,617 km² per grid cell | 1,179 km² per grid cell | 2,105 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,574 km² per grid cell | 2,206 km² per grid cell | 2,982 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,737 km² per grid cell | 3,094 km² per grid cell | 4,300 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,036 km² per grid cell | 4,416 km² per grid cell | 5,671 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,215 km² per grid cell | 5,856 km² per grid cell | 6,551 km² per grid cell | 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 urban area over the long-term in Saudi Arabia?
- Urban area over the long-term in Saudi Arabia was 6,551 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 6,551 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0117 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 24th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.