Number of people using the Internet in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Number of people using the Internet was 35.30 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people using the internet in Saudi Arabia is 35.30 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 92.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in Saudi Arabia peaked at 35.30 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1990.
Saudi Arabia ranks 30th of 208 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people using the Internet in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 people | — |
| 1995 | 1,462 people | — |
| 1996 | 3,693 people | +152.6% |
| 1997 | 7,489 people | +102.8% |
| 1998 | 15,071 people | +101.2% |
| 1999 | 76,432 people | +407.1% |
| 2000 | 357,640 people | +367.9% |
| 2001 | 797,717 people | +123.1% |
| 2002 | 1.14 million people | +43.4% |
| 2003 | 1.50 million people | +31.5% |
| 2004 | 2.01 million people | +33.9% |
| 2005 | 2.61 million people | +29.8% |
| 2006 | 4.18 million people | +59.9% |
| 2007 | 6.71 million people | +60.7% |
| 2008 | 8.38 million people | +24.9% |
| 2009 | 9.20 million people | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 9.83 million people | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 11.92 million people | +21.2% |
| 2012 | 14.13 million people | +18.6% |
| 2013 | 16.71 million people | +18.3% |
| 2014 | 18.32 million people | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 20.76 million people | +13.3% |
| 2016 | 23.18 million people | +11.7% |
| 2017 | 29.17 million people | +25.9% |
| 2018 | 28.18 million people | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 28.78 million people | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 30.88 million people | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 30.78 million people | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 32.18 million people | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 33.70 million people | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 35.30 million people | +4.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 35.30 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.26 million people, 10.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 35.30 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.86 million people, 5.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +407.1% | 15,071 people | 76,432 people |
| 2000 | +367.9% | 76,432 people | 357,640 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17,358 people | 0 people | 76,432 people | 6 |
| 2000s | 3.69 million people | 357,640 people | 9.20 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.10 million people | 9.83 million people | 29.17 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.57 million people | 30.78 million people | 35.30 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More science & technology data for Saudi Arabia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 159.54 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.53 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 54.18 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 24.41 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 4,921 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 4,921 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in Saudi Arabia?
- Number of people using the internet in Saudi Arabia was 35.30 million people in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi.
- What is the highest number of people using the internet recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.30 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for number of people using the internet?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 30th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi, published as part of Number of people using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people who used the Internet in the last three months.