MigrantoImmigrants in Saudi Arabia
13.4M foreigners live in Saudi Arabia — 38% of the country's population
Immigrants in Saudi Arabia by country
The 3 largest groups make up 47% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 2362680 |
| Yemen | 1999619 |
| India | 1953496 |
| Pakistan | 1937044 |
| Egypt | 1498313 |
| Sudan | 895646 |
| Philippines | 755432 |
| Syria | 496044 |
| Nepal | 297561 |
| Jordan | 209093 |
| Ethiopia | 180746 |
| Indonesia | 169846 |
| Myanmar | 163252 |
| Afghanistan | 153258 |
| Palestine | 131779 |
| Sri Lanka | 83297 |
| Lebanon | 52864 |
| Somalia | 48099 |
| Iraq | 6510 |
By region of origin
59% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Saudi Arabia in numbers
81% of all emigrants from Yemen live in Saudi Arabia
No other country has more people born in Yemen.
Immigration drives population growth
38% of the population growth of Saudi Arabia since 1990 came from immigrants.
1 in 3 residents of Saudi Arabia was born abroad
13.4M of 35.3M residents were born abroad — 37.9% of the population.
Immigrant population in Saudi Arabia over time
Foreigners living in Saudi Arabia, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4020956 |
| 1995 | 4562988 |
| 2000 | 4832408 |
| 2005 | 6194534 |
| 2010 | 8289904 |
| 2015 | 12570739 |
| 2020 | 12579763 |
| 2024 | 13394579 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Saudi Arabia, by year
| Year | Bangladeshis | Yemenis | Indians | Pakistanis | Egyptians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 244707 | 238364 | 834742 | 488673 | 842428 |
| 1995 | 335423 | 321876 | 922696 | 585250 | 901867 |
| 2000 | 351570 | 342915 | 969679 | 614620 | 957366 |
| 2005 | 481958 | 458347 | 1202498 | 790642 | 1153829 |
| 2010 | 993917 | 896775 | 1515540 | 1195820 | 1317642 |
| 2015 | 2080864 | 1779422 | 1920159 | 1824586 | 1509854 |
| 2020 | 2120004 | 1809639 | 1888090 | 1818172 | 1475593 |
| 2024 | 2362680 | 1999619 | 1953496 | 1937044 | 1498313 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Saudi Arabia
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Saudi Arabia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Saudi Arabia?
Around 13.4M immigrants live in Saudi Arabia — the world's #3 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Saudi Arabia are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 38% of the population of Saudi Arabia — that's 13.4M out of a total population of 35.3M.
Where do most immigrants in Saudi Arabia come from?
Most immigrants in Saudi Arabia come from Bangladesh, Yemen and India — these three countries account for about 47% of all immigrants.
How many Bangladeshis live in Saudi Arabia?
Around 2.4M Bangladeshis live in Saudi Arabia — about 18% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Saudi Arabia growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Saudi Arabia has grown from 12.6M to 13.4M, about 7%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Saudi Arabia come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Saudi Arabia. Their children born in Saudi Arabia are not included.
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Living in Saudi Arabia
See the full country overview