New business density in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: New business density was 5.46 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
New business density in Saudi Arabia, 2006–2024
Source: Entrepreneurship Database, World Bank (WB). Measured in new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 5.46 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 for new business density in 2024. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of up 184.7% on the previous year and up 588.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, new business density in Saudi Arabia peaked at 5.46 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.3749 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64, in 2006.
Saudi Arabia ranks 47th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
New business density in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0.3749 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | — |
| 2007 | 0.4405 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +17.5% |
| 2008 | 0.5009 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +13.7% |
| 2009 | 0.473 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 0.539 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +14.0% |
| 2011 | 0.5897 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 0.69 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +17.0% |
| 2013 | 0.7398 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 0.7924 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 0.8519 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 0.7653 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | -10.2% |
| 2017 | 0.8196 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +7.1% |
| 2018 | 0.954 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +16.4% |
| 2019 | 1.16 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +21.1% |
| 2020 | 0.9971 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | -13.7% |
| 2021 | 1.35 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +35.5% |
| 2022 | 1.4 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 1.92 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +36.8% |
| 2024 | 5.46 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | +184.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.4473 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 0.3749 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 0.5009 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 4 |
| 2010s | 0.7897 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 0.539 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 1.16 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.22 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 0.9971 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 5.46 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 44 Bahrain 6.16 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 compare
- 45 Finland 5.97 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 compare
- 46 Slovakia 5.68 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 compare
- 48 Puerto Rico 5.33 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 compare
- 49 Belgium 5.31 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 compare
- 50 North Macedonia 5.18 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 compare
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 13.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 70.5% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.9% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 15.9% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2433 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is new business density in Saudi Arabia?
- New business density in Saudi Arabia was 5.46 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 in 2024, according to Entrepreneurship Database, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest new business density recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.46 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 in 2024.
- What is the lowest new business density recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3749 new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64 in 2006.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for new business density?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 47th out of 177 countries with data for 2024.
- Is new business density rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 588.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Entrepreneurship Database, World Bank (WB), published as part of New business density (new registrations per 1,000 people ages 15-64). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The number of newly registered firms with limited liability per 1,000 working-age people (ages 15-64) per calendar year.