Saudi Arabia’s population remains overwhelmingly young, with new official data showing that more than seven in ten citizens are under the age of 35. The figures come from the Saudi Family Statistics Report 2024, published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), and offer a detailed look at the Kingdom’s demographic profile, household structure, and housing trends.The report, released on GASTAT’s website, states that 71 percent of Saudi citizens are below the age of 35. The average age in the Kingdom is 26.6 years, while the median age stands at 23.5 years. The data highlights the youthful nature of the population, a factor seen as significant for future economic growth and development planning.GASTAT’s analysis found that Saudi households account for around 51 percent of all households in the Kingdom. Of these, 86 percent have two or more members. Within this group, nuclear families form the majority at 70 percent, while composite and extended families combined represent 16 percent. Single-person households make up 14 percent of the total. The average Saudi household has five members, with households of six members representing 13.5 percent and those with four or five members accounting for 12.8 percent.The report also examined the profile of household heads. Men make up 83.1 percent of all heads of Saudi households, with the largest share in the 35–39 age range, at 17.6 percent. Women lead 16.9 percent of households, with the highest proportion in the 30–34 age group, at 14.3 percent. These figures reflect both cultural patterns and gradual social changes in the Kingdom.Housing data revealed that 44.9 percent of Saudi households live in apartments, while 31 percent reside in villas. The preference for apartments is more pronounced among single-person households, 55.8 percent of whom live in such units, compared to 16.2 percent in villas. Among multi-member households, 43.4 percent live in apartments and 33.3 percent in villas, showing a relatively balanced distribution between the two types.About GASTATEstablished in 1960, serves as Saudi Arabia’s only official statistical authority, responsible for implementing, supervising, and regulating statistical work nationwide. Operating with an independent legal personality, it provides statistical data in social, economic, and environmental fields to assist policymakers and decision-makers in advancing the Kingdom’s development plans. The authority’s board of directors is chaired by the Minister of Economy and Planning and includes the Ministers of Energy, Finance, Human Resources and Social Development, Education, and Industry and Mineral Resources. Other members include the Director of the National Information Center, the President of GASTAT, and two experts in statistics.By presenting this comprehensive dataset, GASTAT aims to provide a clearer picture of Saudi society, informing future planning and policy decisions in line with national development objectives.
