Saudi Arabia
POPULATION 23,513,330
SUNNI MUSLIM 95.5 to 96.5 percent
SHIA MUSLIM 1 to 2 percent
CHRISTIAN 2.5 percent
Country Overview
Introduction
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is located in the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia. It borders Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north; the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and the Arabian Gulf to the east; Yemen and Oman to the south; and the Red Sea to the west. One of the leading oil-producing Gulf States, Saudi Arabia is a desert country with mountainous areas, particularly in the southeast, and no permanent rivers or lakes. Except in the Asir Province, which gets significant precipitation, human settlements are confined to oases and areas with natural water sources.
The indigenous population, comprised of many Bedouin clans, traditionally herded camels, sheep, and goats, though some were farmers or urban merchants. After the advent of Islam in 622 C.E., pilgrims came from throughout the Islamic world and stayed, forming a diverse ethnic population in the western provinces, such as the Hejaz, now a cosmopolitan region. The central region of Nejd, historically less open to outside influences, is more religiously conservative and strict.
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and the home of Islam's two holy cities, Mecca and Medina, where every year millions of devout pilgrims come to pray and take part in the hajj (pilgrimage).
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