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Compare Saudi Arabia (2001) - Bangladesh (2002)

Compare Saudi Arabia (2001) z Bangladesh (2002)

 Saudi Arabia (2001)Bangladesh (2002)
 Saudi ArabiaBangladesh
Administrative divisions 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk 5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note - there may be one additional division named Sylhet
Age structure 0-14 years:
42.52% (male 4,932,465; female 4,743,908)

15-64 years:
54.8% (male 7,290,840; female 5,179,393)

65 years and over:
2.68% (male 334,981; female 275,505) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 23,069,242; female 21,995,457)


15-64 years: 62.8% (male 42,924,778; female 40,873,077)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,444,314; female 2,069,816) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
Airports 206 (2000 est.) 18 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
70

over 3,047 m:
31

2,438 to 3,047 m:
11

1,524 to 2,437 m:
23

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 15


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
136

2,438 to 3,047 m:
5

1,524 to 2,437 m:
77

914 to 1,523 m:
39

under 914 m:
15 (2000 est.)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total:
1,960,582 sq km

land:
1,960,582 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 144,000 sq km


land: 133,910 sq km


water: 10,090 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US slightly smaller than Iowa
Background In 1902 Abdul al-Aziz Ibn SAUD captured Riyadh and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian peninsula. In the 1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns. Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.
Birth rate 37.34 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 25.12 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$66 billion

expenditures:
$66 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $4.9 billion


expenditures: $6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Riyadh Dhaka
Climate harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Coastline 2,640 km 580 km
Constitution governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Country name conventional long form:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

conventional short form:
Saudi Arabia

local long form:
Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

local short form:
Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh


conventional short form: Bangladesh


former: East Pakistan
Currency Saudi riyal (SAR) taka (BDT)
Death rate 5.94 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.47 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $26.3 billion (2000 est.) $17 billion (2000) (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr.

embassy:
Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh

mailing address:
American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693

telephone:
[966] (1) 488-3800

FAX:
[966] (1) 488-7360

consulate(s) general:
Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS


embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212


mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000


telephone: [880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722


FAX: [880] (2) 8823744
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud

chancery:
601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

telephone:
[1] (202) 342-3800

consulate(s) general:
Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMAD


chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183


FAX: [1] (202) 244-5366


consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Disputes - international a final border resolution was agreed to with Qatar in March of 2001; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de facto boundary reflects a 1974 agreement; a June 2000 treaty delimited the boundary with Yemen, but final demarcation requires adjustments based on tribal considerations only a small portion of the boundary with India remains undelimited; discussions to demarcate the boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves, and allocate divided villages remain stalled; skirmishes, illegal border trafficking, and violence along the border continue; Bangladesh has protested India's attempts to fence off high traffic sections of the porous boundary; Burmese attempts to construct a dam on the border stream in 2001 prompted an armed response halting construction; Burmese Muslim refugees migrate into Bangladesh straining meager resources
Economic aid - donor pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 1993, Saudi Arabia has committed $208 million for assistance to the Palestinians -
Economic aid - recipient - $1.575 billion
Economy - overview This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved reserves), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. Saudi Arabia was a key player in the successful efforts of OPEC and other oil producing countries to raise the price of oil in 1999-2000 to its highest level since the Gulf war by reducing production. Riyadh expects to have a moderate budget deficit in 2001, in part because of increased spending for education and other social programs. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products. Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single most important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms, but the party's level of political will to do so has been lacking.
Electricity - consumption 111.6 billion kWh (1999) 12.548 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 120 billion kWh (1999) 13.493 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 92%


hydro: 8%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Environment - current issues desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment - international agreements party to:
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)
Exchange rates Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.7450 (fixed rate since June 1986) taka per US dollar - 57.756 (January 2002), 55.807 (2001), 52.142 (2000), 49.085 (1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state:
King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary
chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 Sepember 2002); note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections


head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October 2001)


cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president


elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president


election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%
Exports $81.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $6.6 billion (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum and petroleum products 90% garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
Exports - partners Japan 18%, US 18%, France 4%, South Korea, Singapore, India (1999) US 31.8%, Germany 10.9%, UK 7.9%, France 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%, Italy 4.42% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam
GDP purchasing power parity - $232 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $230 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
6%

industry:
47%

services:
47% (1998 est.)
agriculture: 30%


industry: 18%


services: 52% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $10,500 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,750 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 5.6% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 25 00 N, 45 00 E 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Geography - note extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal
Heliports 5 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
146,524 km

paved:
44,104 km

unpaved:
102,420 km (1997 est.)
total: 201,182 km


paved: 19,112 km


unpaved: 182,070 km (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 4%


highest 10%: 29%
Illicit drugs death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and cocaine transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
Imports $30.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $8.7 billion (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, raw cotton, food, crude oil and petroleum products, cement
Imports - partners US 25%, Japan 10%, Germany 7%, Italy 5%, France, UK (1999) India 10.5%, EU 9.5%, Japan 9.5%, Singapore 8.5%, China 7.4% (2000)
Independence 23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom) 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Industrial production growth rate 1% (1997 est.) 6.2% (2001 est.)
Industries crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar
Infant mortality rate 51.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 68.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.5% (2000) 5.8% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 42 (2001) 10 (2000)
Irrigated land 4,350 sq km (1993 est.) 38,440 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Council of Justice Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president)
Labor force 7 million

note:
35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
64.1 million (1998)


note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.) agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY95/96)
Land boundaries total:
4,415 km

border countries:
Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
total: 4,246 km


border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Land use arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
56%

forests and woodland:
1%

other:
41% (1993 est.)
arable land: 60.7%


permanent crops: 2.61%


other: 36.69% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Legal system based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on English common law
Legislative branch a consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms) unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve five-year terms


elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 46%, AL 42%; seats by party - BNP 201, AL 62, JI 18, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Naziur) 1, other 4; note - the election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, and Jatiya Party (Naziur)
Life expectancy at birth total population:
68.09 years

male:
66.4 years

female:
69.85 years (2001 est.)
total population: 60.92 years


male: 61.08 years


female: 60.74 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
62.8%

male:
71.5%

female:
50.2% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 56%


male: 63%


female: 49% (2000 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Map references Middle East Asia
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
18 NM

continental shelf:
not specified

territorial sea:
12 NM
contiguous zone: 18 NM


continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,154,619 GRT/1,533,732 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 11, chemical tanker 8, container 5, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 8 (2000 est.)
total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 269,932 GRT/379,271 DWT


ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 26, container 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, includes s foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Singapore 5 (2002 est.)
Military branches Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary) Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, Armed Police Battalions, National Cadet Corps)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $18.3 billion (FY00) $559 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 13% (FY00) 1.8% (FY96/97)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
5,894,691 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 37,303,372 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
3,291,185 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 22,139,736 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 17 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
233,402 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932) Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Nationality noun:
Saudi(s)

adjective:
Saudi or Saudi Arabian
noun: Bangladeshi(s)


adjective: Bangladeshi
Natural hazards frequent sand and dust storms droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Net migration rate 1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km) natural gas 1,250 km
Political parties and leaders none allowed Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [[Naziur Rahman MANZUR]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 22,757,092

note:
includes 5,360,526 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
133,376,684 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 36%
Population growth rate 3.27% (2001 est.) 1.59% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj (2001)
Radio broadcast stations AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios 6.25 million (1997) 6.15 million (1997)
Railways total:
1,390 km

standard gauge:
1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
total: 2,745 km


broad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gauge


narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2000 est.)
Religions Muslim 100% Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.41 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.22 male(s)/female

total population:
1.23 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage none 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
modern system

domestic:
extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems

international:
microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country


domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 3.1 million (1998) 500,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1 million

note:
in 1998, the government contracted for the installation of 575,000 additional Group Speciale Mobile (GSM) cellular telephone lines over 15 months to raise the total number of subscribers to more than one million; Riyadh planned to further expand the GSM system in 1999 by adding an additional one million lines (1998)
283,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 117 (1997) 15 (1999)
Terrain mostly uninhabited, sandy desert mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Total fertility rate 6.25 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.72 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 35% (2001 est.)
Waterways none up to 8,046 km depending on season


note: includes 3,058 km main cargo routes
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