International tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: International tourism, number of departures was 27.20 million in 2019. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2019
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia is 27.20 million, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 320.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia peaked at 28.75 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.34 million, in 2006.
That places Saudi Arabia 7th out of 117 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4.23 million | — |
| 2005 | 5.01 million | +18.3% |
| 2006 | 2.34 million | -53.4% |
| 2007 | 4.82 million | +106.2% |
| 2008 | 4.71 million | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 6.47 million | +37.4% |
| 2010 | 18.62 million | +188.0% |
| 2011 | 15.87 million | -14.8% |
| 2012 | 20.08 million | +26.6% |
| 2013 | 22.54 million | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 22.32 million | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 25.05 million | +12.2% |
| 2016 | 27.62 million | +10.2% |
| 2017 | 28.75 million | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 27.43 million | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 27.20 million | -0.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 27.20 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.67 million, 10.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 27.20 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.15 million, 12.6× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where International tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +188.0% | 6.47 million | 18.62 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.59 million | 2.34 million | 6.47 million | 6 |
| 2010s | 23.55 million | 15.87 million | 28.75 million | 10 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 12.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 72.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 122.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.2% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 16.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 66.92 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia?
- International tourism, number of departures in Saudi Arabia was 27.20 million in 2019, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, number of departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.75 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest international tourism, number of departures recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.34 million in 2006.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for international tourism, number of departures?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 7th out of 117 countries with data for 2019.
- Is international tourism, number of departures rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 320.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, number of departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
International outbound tourists are the number of departures that people make from their country of usual residence to any other country for any purpose other than a remunerated activity in the country visited. The data on outbound tourists refer to the number of departures, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips from a country during a given period is counted each time as a new departure.