Disputes: no defined boundaries with PDRY, UAE, and YAR; shares Neutral Zone with Iraq—in July 1975, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to divide the zone between them, but the agreement must be ratified, however, before it becomes effective; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use: 1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 39% meadows and pastures; 1% forest and woodland; 59% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: no perennial rivers or permanent water bodies; developing extensive coastal seawater desalination facilities; desertification
Note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
- People Population: 17,115,728 (July 1990), growth rate 4.4% (1990); note—the population figure is based on growth since the last official Saudi census of 1974 reported a total of 7 million persons and includes foreign workers, while estimates from other sources may be 15-30% lower
Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)