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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
Saudi Arabia
    n 1: an absolute monarchy occupying most of the Arabian
         Peninsula in southwest Asia; vast oil reserves dominate the
         economy [syn: Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]

2. CIA World Factbook 2002
Saudi Arabia

   Introduction Saudi Arabia
   -------------------------
                            Background: In 1902 Abd al-Aziz Ibn SAUD
                                        captured Riyadh and set out on a 30-
                                        year campaign to unify the Arabian
                                        Peninsula. In the 1930s, the
                                        discovery of oil transformed the
                                        country. Following Iraq's invasion
                                        of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia
                                        accepted the Kuwaiti royal family
                                        and 400,000 refugees while allowing
                                        Western and Arab troops to deploy on
                                        its soil for the liberation of
                                        Kuwait the following year. A
                                        burgeoning population, aquifer
                                        depletion, and an economy largely
                                        dependent on petroleum output and
                                        prices are all major governmental
                                        concerns.
  
   Geography Saudi Arabia
   ----------------------
                              Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian
                                        Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
                Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
                        Map references: Middle East
                                  Area: total: 1,960,582 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 1,960,582 sq km
                    Area - comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the
                                        size of the US
                       Land boundaries: total: 4,431 km
                                        border countries: Iraq 814 km,
                                        Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
                                        676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km,
                                        Yemen 1,458 km
                             Coastline: 2,640 km
                       Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 NM
                                        continental shelf: not specified
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: harsh, dry desert with great
                                        temperature extremes
                               Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
                                        highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
                     Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore,
                                        gold, copper
                              Land use: arable land: 1.72%
                                        permanent crops: 0.06%
                                        other: 98.22% (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: 16,200 sq km (1998 est.)
                       Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
          Environment - current issues: desertification; depletion of
                                        underground water resources; the
                                        lack of perennial rivers or
                                        permanent water bodies has prompted
                                        the development of extensive
                                        seawater desalination facilities;
                                        coastal pollution from oil spills
            Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
                            agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
                                        Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
                                        the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
                                        signed, but not ratified: none of
                                        the selected agreements
                      Geography - note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf
                                        and Red Sea provide great leverage
                                        on shipping (especially crude oil)
                                        through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
  
   People Saudi Arabia
   -------------------
                            Population: 23,513,330
                                        note: includes 5,360,526 non-
                                        nationals (July 2002 est.)
                         Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.4% (male 5,086,541;
                                        female 4,883,942)
                                        15-64 years: 54.8% (male 7,493,304;
                                        female 5,396,985)
                                        65 years and over: 2.8% (male
                                        362,780; female 289,778) (2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: 3.27% (2002 est.)
                            Birth rate: 37.25 births/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                            Death rate: 5.86 deaths/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                    Net migration rate: 1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population
                                        (2002 est.)
                             Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
                                        under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
                                        15-64 years: 1.39 male(s)/female
                                        65 years and over: 1.25 male(s)/
                                        female
                                        total population: 1.22 male(s)/
                                        female (2002 est.)
                 Infant mortality rate: 49.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
                                        est.)
              Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.4 years
                                        female: 70.2 years (2002 est.)
                                        male: 66.7 years
                  Total fertility rate: 6.21 children born/woman (2002 est.)
      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (1999 est.)
     HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
                                  AIDS:
                     HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
                           Nationality: noun: Saudi(s)
                                        adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
                         Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
                             Religions: Muslim 100%
                             Languages: Arabic
                              Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
                                        and write
                                        total population: 78%
                                        male: 84.2%
                                        female: 69.5% (2002 est.)
  
   Government Saudi Arabia
   -----------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of
                                        Saudi Arabia
                                        conventional short form: Saudi
                                        Arabia
                                        local long form: Al Mamlakah al
                                        Arabiyah as Suudiyah
                                        local short form: Al Arabiyah as
                                        Suudiyah
                       Government type: monarchy
                               Capital: Riyadh
              Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular -
                                        mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash
                                        Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al
                                        Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah
                                        (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il,
                                        Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
                          Independence: 23 September 1932 (Unification of
                                        the Kingdom)
                      National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23
                                        September (1932)
                          Constitution: governed according to Shari'a
                                        (Islamic law); the Basic Law that
                                        articulates the government's rights
                                        and responsibilities was introduced
                                        in 1993
                          Legal system: based on Islamic law, several
                                        secular codes have been introduced;
                                        commercial disputes handled by
                                        special committees; has not accepted
                                        compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
                              Suffrage: none
                      Executive branch: chief of state: King and Prime
                                        Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
                                        Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown
                                        Prince and First Deputy Prime
                                        Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al
                                        Saud (half-brother to the monarch,
                                        heir to the throne since 13 June
                                        1982, regent from 1 January to 22
                                        February 1996); note - the monarch
                                        is both the chief of state and head
                                        of government
                                        elections: none; the monarch is
                                        hereditary
                                        head of government: King and Prime
                                        Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
                                        Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown
                                        Prince and First Deputy Prime
                                        Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al
                                        Saud (half-brother to the monarch,
                                        heir to the throne since 13 June
                                        1982, regent from 1 January to 22
                                        February 1996); note - the monarch
                                        is both the chief of state and head
                                        of government
                                        cabinet: Council of Ministers is
                                        appointed by the monarch and
                                        includes many royal family members
                    Legislative branch: a consultative council (90 members
                                        and a chairman appointed by the
                                        monarch for four-year terms)
                       Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
         Political parties and leaders: none allowed
          Political pressure groups and none
                               leaders:
             International organization ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS,
                         participation: CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC,
                                        IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
                                        IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
                                        IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM,
                                        OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
                                        OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
                                        UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
                                        WTrO (observer)
   Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR
                                        bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
                                        chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue
                                        NW, Washington, DC 20037
                                        consulate(s) general: Houston, Los
                                        Angeles, and New York
                                        telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
     Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Robert
                                    US: W. JORDAN (since 3 October 2001)
                                        embassy: Collector Road M,
                                        Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
                                        mailing address: American Embassy
                                        Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-
                                        1307; International Mail: P. O. Box
                                        94309, Riyadh 11693
                                        telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
                                        FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
                                        consulate(s) general: Dhahran,
                                        Jiddah (Jeddah)
                      Flag description: green with large white Arabic script
                                        (that may be translated as There is
                                        no God but God; Muhammad is the
                                        Messenger of God) above a white
                                        horizontal saber (the tip points to
                                        the hoist side); green is the
                                        traditional color of Islam
  
   Economy Saudi Arabia
   --------------------
                    Economy - overview: This is an oil-based economy with
                                        strong government controls over
                                        major economic activities. Saudi
                                        Arabia has the largest reserves of
                                        petroleum in the world (26% of the
                                        proved reserves), ranks as the
                                        largest exporter of petroleum, and
                                        plays a leading role in OPEC. The
                                        petroleum sector accounts for
                                        roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45%
                                        of GDP, and 90% of export earnings.
                                        About 25% of GDP comes from the
                                        private sector. Roughly 4 million
                                        foreign workers play an important
                                        role in the Saudi economy, for
                                        example, in the oil and service
                                        sectors. Riyadh expects to have a
                                        budget deficit in 2002, in part
                                        because of increased spending for
                                        education and other social programs.
                                        The government in 1999 announced
                                        plans to begin privatizing the
                                        electricity companies, which follows
                                        the ongoing privatization of the
                                        telecommunications company. The
                                        government is expected to continue
                                        calling for private sector growth to
                                        lessen the kingdom's dependence on
                                        oil and increase employment
                                        opportunities for the swelling Saudi
                                        population. Shortages of water and
                                        rapid population growth will
                                        constrain government efforts to
                                        increase self-sufficiency in
                                        agricultural products.
                                   GDP: purchasing power parity - $241
                                        billion (2001 est.)
                GDP - real growth rate: 1.6% (2001 est.)
                      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,600
                                        (2001 est.)
           GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7%
                                        industry: 48%
                                        services: 45% (2000 est.)
         Population below poverty line: NA%
     Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
                      percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (2001)
                           Labor force: 7 million
                                        note: 35% of the population in the
                                        15-64 age group is non-national
                                        (July 1998 est.)
           Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 25%,
                                        services 63% (1999 est.)
                     Unemployment rate: NA%
                                Budget: revenues: $42 billion
                                        expenditures: $54 billion, including
                                        capital expenditures of $NA (2002
                                        est.)
                            Industries: crude oil production, petroleum
                                        refining, basic petrochemicals,
                                        cement, construction, fertilizer,
                                        plastics
     Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
              Electricity - production: 123.5 billion kWh (2000)
    Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
                                        hydro: 0%
                                        other: 0% (2000)
                                        nuclear: 0%
             Electricity - consumption: 114.855 billion kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
                Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons,
                                        dates, citrus; mutton, chickens,
                                        eggs, milk
                               Exports: $66.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
                 Exports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
                    Exports - partners: US 17.4%, Japan 17.3%, South Korea
                                        11.7%, Singapore 5.3%, India (2000)
                               Imports: $29.7 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
                 Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
                                        chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
                    Imports - partners: US 21.1%, Japan 9.4%, Germany 7.4%,
                                        UK 7.3% (2000)
                       Debt - external: $23.8 billion (2001 est.)
                  Economic aid - donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund
                                        reconstruction of Lebanon; since
                                        1993, Saudi Arabia has committed
                                        $208 million for assistance to the
                                        Palestinians; pledged $240 million
                                        to development in Afghanistan
                              Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR)
                         Currency code: SAR
                        Exchange rates: Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.7450
                                        (fixed rate since June 1986)
                           Fiscal year: calendar year
  
   Communications Saudi Arabia
   ---------------------------
        Telephones - main lines in use: 3.1 million (1998)
          Telephones - mobile cellular: 1 million
                                        note: in 1998, the government
                                        contracted for the installation of
                                        575,000 additional Group Speciale
                                        Mobile (GSM) cellular telephone
                                        lines over 15 months to raise the
                                        total number of subscribers to more
                                        than one million; Riyadh planned to
                                        further expand the GSM system in
                                        1999 by adding an additional one
                                        million lines (1998)
                      Telephone system: general assessment: modern system
                                        domestic: extensive microwave radio
                                        relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-
                                        optic cable systems
                                        international: microwave radio relay
                                        to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar,
                                        UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable
                                        to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine
                                        cable to Djibouti, Egypt and
                                        Bahrain; satellite earth stations -
                                        5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2
                                        Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1
                                        Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
              Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
                                Radios: 6.25 million (1997)
         Television broadcast stations: 117 (1997)
                           Televisions: 5.1 million (1997)
                 Internet country code: .sa
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 42 (2001)
                        Internet users: 570,000 (2001)
  
   Transportation Saudi Arabia
   ---------------------------
                              Railways: total: 1,392 km
                                        standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-
                                        m gauge (724 km are double-tracked)
                                        (2001)
                              Highways: total: 146,524 km
                                        paved: 44,104 km
                                        unpaved: 102,420 km (1997 est.)
                             Waterways: none
                             Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum
                                        products 150 km; natural gas 2,200
                                        km (includes natural gas liquids
                                        1,600 km)
                     Ports and harbors: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah,
                                        Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji,
                                        Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr,
                                        Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
                       Merchant marine: total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
                                        totaling 1,071,315 GRT/1,412,125 DWT
  
                                        ships by type: cargo 11, chemical
                                        tanker 10, container 4, livestock
                                        carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum
                                        tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3,
                                        roll on/roll off 11, short-sea
                                        passenger 8
                                        note: includes some foreign-owned
                                        ships registered here as a flag of
                                        convenience: Egypt 3, Finland 1,
                                        Greece 3, Kuwait 1, Sudan 1, United
                                        Arab Emirates 1, United Kingdom 3
                                        (2002 est.)
                              Airports: 209 (2001)
         Airports - with paved runways: total: 71 70
                                        over 3,047 m: 31 31
                                        2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 11
                                        914 to 1,523 m: 3 3
                                        under 914 m: 2 2 (2001)
                                        1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 23
       Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 138
                                        2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
                                        1,524 to 2,437 m: 79
                                        under 914 m: 15 (2001)
                                        914 to 1,523 m: 39
                             Heliports: 5 (2001)
  
   Military Saudi Arabia
   ---------------------
                      Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force,
                                         Air Defense Force, National Guard,
                                         Ministry of Interior Forces
                                         (paramilitary)
       Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age (2002 est.)
       Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,007,635 (2002
                                         est.)
    Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 3,359,849 (2002
                                service: est.)
   Military manpower - reaching military males: 233,402 (2002 est.)
                           age annually:
          Military expenditures - dollar $18.3 billion (FY00)
                                 figure:
      Military expenditures - percent of 13% (FY00)
                                    GDP:
  
   Transnational Issues Saudi Arabia
   ---------------------------------
              Disputes - international: demarcation of delimited boundary
                                        with Yemen involves nomadic tribal
                                        affiliations; because details of
                                        1974 and 1977 treaties have not been
                                        made public, the exact location of
                                        the Saudi Arabia-UAE boundary is
                                        unknown and status is considered de
                                        facto
                         Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers;
                                        increasing consumption of heroin and
                                        cocaine
  
                                       



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