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... really influenced the Sunnis of Saudi Arabia. Population Characteristics According to the 1992 census, Saudi Arabia had a population of 16, 929, 294. The 2002 estimate is 23, 513, 330, yielding an average population density of 10 persons per sq km (27 per sq mi). Principle Cities The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. Other important cities include Jiddah, a port city on the Red Sea; Mecca, one of the great Muslim pilgrimage centers; Medina, a holy city and cultural center of Islam; and Ad Dammm, an oil center on the Persian Gulf.
In the 1980 s two large new industrial centers, Al Jubayl, on the Persian Gulf, and Yanbu' al Ba&# 7721; r, on the Red Sea, were built at an estimated cost of more than $ 45 billion. Education Education in Saudi Arabia is free but not compulsory. In the 1998 - 1999 school year the country had 11, 506 primary schools with a total enrollment of 2. 3 million pupils; secondary schools enrolled 1. 8 million students. Some 94 percent of Saudi adults were literate in 2001, a dramatic increase from the less than 3 percent literacy rate in the early 1960 s. In recent decades, teacher-training institutes have been established with the aim of reducing the country's great dependence on other Arab countries for teachers.
King Saud University was founded as the University of Riyadh in 1957; the Islamic University, in Medina, in 1961; King Abdulaziz University, in Jiddah, in 1967; King Faisal University, in Ad Dammm, in 1975; and Umm al-Query University, in Mecca, in 1979. Founded in Riyadh in 1953, the Islamic University of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud attained university status in 1974. Three other institutions for advanced learning are the Technical Institute (1964), at Riyadh, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (1963), at Dhahran, and a college of Islamic studies, founded in 1933, at Mecca. Additional institutes for religious training are located in Riyadh and other cities and towns. Instruction at the higher levels is frequently in English, which, after Arabic, is Saudi Arabia's major language.
Altogether, some 349, 600 Saudis were enrolled in institutions of higher education in 1998 - 1999. Every year a number of qualified young Saudis enroll for advanced study in Europe and the United States. Economy Agriculture and livestock raising have historically been the basic economic activities of Saudi Arabia, but since the development of the oil industry, the government has sought to diversify its industrial base and improve its basic economic structure, developing roads, airports, seaports, and the power industry. Through a sharp increase in oil prices beginning in 1973, Saudi Arabia began to amass a tremendous cash reserve.
The government used its newfound wealth to transform its economy at a rate almost without precedent in modern history. A lack of trained and skilled labor was partially offset by millions of guest workers. By the mid- 1980 s, however, oil prices were in decline as a system of production quotas created by oil-exporting nations began to break down, and high prices encouraged exploration and development of oil reserves elsewhere. Saudi Arabia began to spend more than it took in, drawing down its cash reserves. By the mid- 1990 s continued declines in oil sales forced the Saudi government to reduce expenditures. Residents anticipated a reduction in government subsidies on telephone calls and public services, and consideration was given to privatization of some government assets.
The estimated annual budget in the mid- 1990 s included revenues of about $ 39 billion and expenditures of about $ 50 billion. Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2000 was $ 173. 3 billion. The government was the largest employer in Saudi Arabia in the mid- 1990 s, engaging about 34 percent of the workforce. Industry employed 28 percent, including 5 percent in the oil industry, while 22 percent were in trade and other services, and 16 percent in agriculture or fishing. Communications Saudi Arabia has 1 daily newspapers, some of which are published in English. The government operates radio and television broadcasting services, and in 1997 there were 321 radio receivers and 262 television sets for every 1, 000 residents.
In 2000 Saudi Arabia had 137 telephone mainlines per 1, 000 people. Government print section Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. The government is based on the Sharia, the sacred law of Islam, which is interpreted according to the strict Hanbali rite by the learned religious elders, or ultra. Saudi Arabia has no formal constitution; however, in March 1992 a series of royal decrees established a bill of rights, increased the powers of provincial governments, and provided for a Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura), to be appointed by the king. Executive and Legislature The chief government and religious official of Saudi Arabia is a king. Succession to the office is not hereditary, and the crown prince, who succeeds the king, is chosen from among the Saud royal family by the family in consultation with religious and government leaders.
The king usually also serves as Saudi Arabia's prime minister. The royal family and a few other prominent families provide most higher government officials. The king's power is effectively determined by his personality and his interaction with the leading families and religious officials of the country. Saudi Arabia has no separate legislature or political parties. Laws are issued by the king and his ministers. In 1992 King Fahd established the Consultative Council, a body of 60 members selected by the king as advisers.
The council has no legislative powers. In 1997 its membership was increased to 90. Judiciary The judicial system of Saudi Arabia is based on the Sharia, which is derived from the Q " an (Koran) (the holy book of Islam) and the Sunna (traditions) of the prophet Muhammad. The principal tribunals of the country are the Supreme Council of Justice, the Court of Cassation, general courts, and summary courts. Local Government Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 administrative districts. Large cities elect their own municipal governments.
Towns and villages are governed by councils of elders. Defense Since the mid- 1960 s Saudi Arabia's defense expenditures have increased dramatically. The country maintains two separate armies. The first is the national guard, or the white guard, which is a conglomeration of tribal levies organized along traditional lines and has about 77, 000 active members. In 2001 the regular armed forces included an army of 75, 000 soldiers, an air force of 20, 000, a navy of 15, 500, and an air defense force.
These forces, trained in part with U. S. assistance, are equipped with modern weapons and advanced aircraft.
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Research essay sample on Saudi Arabia Persian Gulf
