World Finance Atlas
187 economies · 2025–26
Atlas · Middle East · SAU

Saudi Arabia

Capital RiyadhCurrency SARRegion Middle East
Output · rank 19/187
$1.1T
People · rank 47/187
34.6M
Land · rank 12/187
2,150K km²
GDP per person
$32,861
Density
16.1 /km²

Government debt

32.4%gross debt, share of GDP
$368Boutstanding, rank 27 of 178
Perimeter
General government
Basis
Gross, not net
Valuation
Nominal
Debt per person
$10,647
Net of assets
-5.2%
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
Gross debt is 32.4%; net of the government’s financial assets it is -5.2% — negative, meaning the state holds more financial assets than it owes.
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.

Private-sector debt

Households
13.2% of GDP
Non-financial corporations
58.9% of GDP
Total private
72.1% of GDP
Government debt is only one layer. Household and corporate borrowing is where financial fragility often actually sits — and here it totals 72.1% of GDP, larger than the public debt above.

Currency & monetary policy

Currency
SAR
Regime
Conventional peg (USD)
Central bank
Saudi Central Bank
Repo rate
4.50%
A pegged or fixed regime — monetary policy is anchored to the currency it tracks, limiting independent rate-setting.

Payment rails

SystemTypeLive since
SARIELarge-value RTGS1997
sarie / IPSInstant retail2021

Against its region and the world

Where Saudi Arabia sits relative to the Middle East average and the world average.

GDP per person (USD)
This country32,861
Region average12,106
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country16
Region average55
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country32
Region average42
World average95

Major banks

Largest institutions headquartered in Saudi Arabia, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.

All banks →
InstitutionHeadquartersTotal assetsvs. national GDP
1Saudi National BankRiyadh$280B25%

All figures

Nominal GDP
$1.1T
Share of world output
0.99%
Population
34.6M
Share of world population
0.42%
Land area
2,149,690 km²
Share of world land
1.66%
GDP per person
$32,861
GDP per km²
$528,913
Population density
16.1 /km²
Government debt
32.4%
Debt outstanding
$368B

Closest by output in Middle East

United Arab Emirates$569B29.4%
Israel$551B70.1%
Iran$436B33.6%
Iraq$274B49.2%
Qatar$223B42.5%

Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.

Where these figures come from

Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate
PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate
Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
UN Statistics Division
2024
General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking
Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
IMF AREAER
2025
Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live
Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter