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Index / Peoples
   Saudi Arabia /
Peoples
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Ethnic groups
Figures in 1000. |
Arabs
|
21,700 |
87.0% |
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Najdis
|
10,200 |
41.0% |
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Hijazis
|
7,800 |
31.0% |
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Bedouins
|
1,000 |
4.0% |
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Other Saudis
|
1,000 |
4.0% |
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Egyptian
|
400 |
1.6% |
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Palestinians
|
310 |
1.2% |
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Lebanese
|
250 |
1.0% |
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Yemenis
|
250 |
1.0% |
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Syrians
|
120 |
0.5% |
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Sudanese
|
110 |
0.5% |
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Omanis
|
90 |
0.4% |
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Other
|
150 |
0.6% |
Iranians
|
170 |
0.7% |
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Persians
|
160 |
0.6% |
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Balochis
|
10 |
<0.1% |
Shahara
|
45 |
0.2% |
Mahra
|
30 |
0.1% |
Circassians
|
25 |
0.1% |
Turks
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20 |
0.1% |
Asians
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2,400 |
9.6% |
Africans
|
400 |
1.6% |
Europeans
|
80 |
0.3% |
Americans
|
50 |
0.2% |
Population
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24,900
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Updated 2009, but based on 2005 population estimates.
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Today 80% of Saudi Arabians live in urban zones. The population is divided into Arabs and Bedouins.
The division lines between the peoples of Saudi Arabia are more cultural than ethnical. There are division between "native" Arabs (56%), other Arabs and Bedouins (27%), while these groups in other Arab countries are counted as one people. "Native" Arabs are the people of central and western Arabia (Najd and Hijaz), while other Arabs are people originating from the fringes of today's Saudi Arabia, as well as immigrants from other Arab countries.
Bedouins are both the people keeping up nomadic lifestyles, and those with close origin to ancestors living as nomads. Foreign workers are making up 18%, and consists of "other" Arabs, Africans and Asians, as well as a minor group of Europeans and Americans.
While there are some Shi'is living in the east of the country (about 15%) Saudi Arabia is principally Sunni Muslim, keeping up the Hanbali school of Sharia, as this was understood by the Wahhabis, the religiously dominant group of central Arabia from the 18th century, but which today is no longer a force. A clear majority of the foreign workers are also Muslims, coming from Asia and other Arab countries.
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