Saudi Arabia Society
The society of Saudi Arabia is largely based on Islamic values and traditions, with the country being an Islamic state. The conservative nature of the society has led to a number of restrictions on personal freedoms, such as the banning of alcohol, music, and other forms of entertainment. The government also places restrictions on women’s rights and freedom of expression.
Despite these restrictions, Saudi Arabian society is still quite diverse and open to different cultures. There are a number of different ethnicities and backgrounds that make up the population in Saudi Arabia, including Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, Africans, and others. This diversity is reflected in the cultural practices found in the country such as traditional music and dance performances. Additionally, there are many religious festivals celebrated throughout the year such as Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan.
The economy in Saudi Arabia is largely driven by oil exports which account for around 80% of GDP. This has led to increased economic opportunities for those living in Saudi Arabia with a number of foreign companies setting up operations within its borders. This has resulted in increased employment opportunities for both locals and expatriates alike with many jobs available across a range of industries from technology to finance to construction.
Despite these economic opportunities however there are still large inequalities between men and women in terms of access to education and employment opportunities due to gender discrimination laws that exist in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, there are large disparities between urban areas where most economic activity takes place compared to rural areas which have been largely neglected by government investment.
Demographics of Saudi Arabia
According to wholevehicles.com, Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern country located in the Arabian Peninsula with an estimated population of 34.8 million people as of 2020. The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic, and the majority of its population is composed of ethnic Arabs (90%). There are also significant minorities from other ethnicities such as South Asians (4%), Syrians (2%), and Africans (1%). The majority of the population in Saudi Arabia is Sunni Muslim (85-90%) with the remaining 10-15% being Shia Muslim.
The most populous city in Saudi Arabia is Riyadh, which has a population of over 7 million people. Other major cities include Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, Medina, and Taif. The capital city Riyadh has seen an influx of foreign workers from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen and Syria due to increasing job opportunities in recent years.
The median age in Saudi Arabia is 27 years old with 42% of the population aged below 15 years old and 5% aged over 65 years old. It has a relatively young population compared to other countries due to high birth rates and increasing life expectancy. Additionally, there are large disparities between urban areas where most economic activity takes place compared to rural areas which have been largely neglected by government investment.
The literacy rate in Saudi Arabia stands at 94%, with males having a higher rate than females at 97% versus 90%. This disparity can be attributed to gender discrimination laws which have restricted access to education for women for many years. In recent times however, there have been efforts by the government to increase female education rates by introducing initiatives such as free tuition fees for girls attending public schools and universities.
Poverty in Saudi Arabia
Poverty is a major issue in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated 16.5% of the population living in poverty as of 2020. This issue has been exacerbated by the economic crisis caused by low oil prices, high unemployment and rising cost of living. The poverty rate is highest among young people aged 15 to 24 with 22.2%. Additionally, the poverty rate is higher among women (17%) than men (15%).
The majority of people living in poverty are concentrated in rural areas, particularly those located in the south-west of the country near Yemen. These areas have been largely neglected by government investment and suffer from poor infrastructure and limited access to basic services such as healthcare and education.
Children are particularly vulnerable to poverty due to their lack of access to essential services such as healthcare and education. This has resulted in significant disparities between children living in urban areas where there is greater access to resources compared to those living in rural areas where resources are scarce.
The government has taken steps to address poverty by introducing initiatives such as increased public spending on social welfare programs, food subsidies, cash transfers for low-income families and job creation schemes for youth. However, these initiatives have not been entirely successful due to a lack of implementation at local level or insufficient funding allocated for these programs.
In conclusion, poverty remains a major issue facing Saudi Arabia today despite efforts made by the government to address it through various initiatives. Furthermore, this issue disproportionately affects rural populations who often lack access to essential services which can help them break out of poverty cycles.
Labor Market in Saudi Arabia
According to Countryvv, the labor market in Saudi Arabia is characterized by a large working-age population and a high rate of unemployment. According to World Bank estimates, the unemployment rate in 2020 stood at 12.2%, with the majority of unemployed people aged 15–24 years old. This is significantly higher than the global average of 5.6%.
The labor force in Saudi Arabia is predominantly male with women making up only 13% of the total workforce as of 2020. This is due to cultural norms which discourage women from entering the labor market and a lack of job opportunities for women. Additionally, there are legal restrictions which limit women’s access to certain professions such as driving or working in certain sectors such as finance.
The vast majority of jobs in Saudi Arabia are concentrated in the oil and gas sector, which accounts for around 45% of GDP and 75% of government revenues. Other sectors such as construction, manufacturing and retail are also major employers but their contribution to GDP is much lower than that of oil and gas.
Despite its reliance on oil and gas, Saudi Arabia has taken steps to diversify its economy through initiatives such as Vision 2030 which aims to increase private sector involvement in non-oil industries such as technology, healthcare and tourism. This has resulted in increased job opportunities for Saudis outside the oil industry although this process will take time before it has an impact on overall employment figures.
In conclusion, the labor market in Saudi Arabia faces several challenges including a high rate of unemployment, gender disparities and an over-reliance on oil and gas. However, with initiatives such as Vision 2030 set up by the government there are hopes that this situation can be improved over time allowing more Saudis to benefit from greater employment opportunities outside the oil industry.
