Who moves to Saudi Arabia
13.4M people have chosen Saudi Arabia for relocation — #3 most popular destination worldwide
Considering a move to Saudi Arabia? — See where people come from, regional patterns, and how it's changed since 1990.
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 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
Asia is the leading region of origin at 59%
7.9M
2.9M
2.6M
Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is a primary destination for emigrants from Yemen
Saudi Arabia attracts 81% of all emigrants from Yemen, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
38% of the population growth of Saudi Arabia since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 3 residents of Saudi Arabia is foreign-born — 13.4M out of 35.3M, representing 37.9% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4020956 |
| 1995 | 4562988 |
| 2000 | 4832408 |
| 2005 | 6194534 |
| 2010 | 8289904 |
| 2015 | 12570739 |
| 2020 | 12579763 |
| 2024 | 13394579 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Bangladesh | Yemen | India | Pakistan | Egypt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Saudi Arabia as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Saudi Arabia