The Human Truth Foundation

Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

http://www.humantruth.info/saudi_arabia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#paganism #pakistan #saudi_arabia

Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index111st best
CapitalRiyadh
Land Area2 149 690km21
LocationAsia, The Middle East
Population33.7m2
Life Expectancy76.94yrs (2017)3
GNI$46 112 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesSA, SAU, 6825
Internet Domain.sa6
CurrencyRial (SAR)7
Telephone+9668

1. Overview

#bahrain #iraq #islam #kuwait #saudi_arabia #USA

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz ascended to the throne in 2005. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. The king instituted an interfaith dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The 2010-12 uprisings across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsula Shield Force. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. In response to the unrest, King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits to Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment entitlements. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide in September 2011 for half the members of 285 municipal councils. Also in September, the king announced that women will be allowed to run for and vote in future municipal elections - first held in 2005 - and serve as full members of the advisory Consultative Council. During 2012, Shia protests increased in violence, while peaceful Sunni protests expanded. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are ongoing governmental concerns.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverThe birthplace and spiritual home of Islam, Saudi Arabia is as rich in attractions as it is in stirring symbolism. If you are not a Muslim pilgrim performing the hajj, or an expat working in the oil industry, Saudi Arabia is one of the most difficult places on earth to visit. For those travellers who do get in, rock-hewn Madain Saleh is the Arabian peninsula´s greatest archaeological treasure. Other wonders abound, from the echoes of TE Lawrence along the Hejaz Railway to the mudbrick ruins of Dir´aiyah. Jeddah, gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, has an enchanting old city made of coral, while the Red Sea coast has world-class diving without the crowds. Elsewhere, this is a land of astonishing natural beauty, particularly the plunging landscapes of the Asir Mountains in the Kingdom´s southwest.Best of all, there are few places left that can be said to represent the last frontier of tourism. Whether you´re an expat or a pilgrim, Saudi Arabia is one of them.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

[In 2017] King Salman removed Mohammed bin Nayef as interior minister and crown prince, and appointed his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as the new crown prince. Mohammed bin Salman also serves as minister of defense. The succession move followed the removal of the country´s notorious prosecution service from the Interior Ministry and its transformation into an agency reporting directly to the royal court.

In addition, in July [2017], King Salman removed the domestic intelligence agency and counterterrorism powers from the Interior Ministry and merged them into the newly created Presidency of State Security, which reports directly to the royal court. In September, the king decreed that women will be allowed to drive from June 2018, ending a long-standing ban.

"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)11

2. Saudi Arabia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
Value12
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
34Poland0.876
35=Bahrain0.875
35=Lithuania0.875
35=Saudi Arabia0.875
38Portugal0.866
39Latvia0.863
40=Croatia0.858
40=Andorra0.858
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $12
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
22Finland$49 452
23Australia$49 238
24Canada$46 808
25Saudi Arabia$46 112
26France$45 937
27UK$45 225
28S. Korea$44 501
29New Zealand$44 057
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank13
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
108Ghana91.0
109Brunei91.1
110St Kitts & Nevis91.2
111Saudi Arabia91.2
112Guatemala91.4
113Belize91.8
114Nicaragua92.3
115Azerbaijan92.7
Asia Avg87.7
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Saudi Arabia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Saudi Arabia's population is predicted to rise to 38.48 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 2.67. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
38Afghanistan37.2m
39Canada37.1m
40Morocco36.0m
41Saudi Arabia33.7m
42Uzbekistan32.5m
43Peru32.0m
44Malaysia31.5m
45Angola30.8m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
12
Pos.2021
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
46USA77.2
47Estonia77.1
48Costa Rica77.0
49Saudi Arabia76.9
50Albania76.5
51Poland76.5
52Sri Lanka76.4
53Algeria76.4
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.201314
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
108Austria1.35
109Egypt2.65
110Singapore1.35
111Saudi Arabia2.67
112Portugal1.31
113Belize2.70
114Malta1.28
115Syria2.81
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
63Equatorial Guinea09.4
64=Kiribati09.5
64=Guatemala09.5
64=Saudi Arabia09.5
67Haiti09.6
68Vanuatu09.9
69Cape Verde10.0
70Philippines10.3
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
9Luxembourg45.3%
10Oman44.7%
11Hong Kong39.1%
12Saudi Arabia37.0%
13Jordan33.3%
14Nauru32.7%
15Lebanon31.9%
16Switzerland29.6%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
181Ethiopia0.7%
182Tanzania0.7%
183Brazil0.7%
184Saudi Arabia0.7%
185Qatar0.7%
186Nigeria0.6%
187Maldives0.6%
188China0.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #saudi_arabia #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
176Iran133.6
177Marshall Islands134.2
178Zimbabwe134.3
179Saudi Arabia134.5
180Samoa135.9
181Angola136.0
Asia Avg99.9
World Avg87.9
q=199.
Saudi Arabia is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Saudi Arabia does worse than average in terms of its nominal commitment to Human Rights19 and in speed of uptake of HR treaties20. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice21, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports22, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms23, supporting press freedom24, freethought25 (one of the worst in Asia) and in LGBT equality26 (amongst the worst in Asia). There is no freedom of religion or belief in Saudi Arabia27,28. Saudi Arabia's form of Wahhabi Islam makes the country fundamentally opposed to basic Human Rights and human rights campaigners are persecuted and imprisoned11. The legal and social system systematically objectifies and subjugates women, although from 2017 there have been signs that things may get a little better, in some areas due to actions of King Salman, such as decreeing that from 2018 women can drive cars.11; but years later, any meaningful change beyond that has not transpired29.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Saudi Arabia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #Saudi_Arabia #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
...
14Bangladesh66.8
15Kuwait67.1
16Uzbekistan68.4
17Saudi Arabia69.3
18Qatar70.6
19Iran75.5
20UAE75.8
21Bahrain77.3
22Armenia78.4
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
20Kuwait67.1
21Italy67.5
22Uzbekistan68.4
23Saudi Arabia69.3
24Spain69.6
25Qatar70.6
26Portugal72.3
27Luxembourg72.9
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau31.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean31, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa31.

For more, see:

Health:

Public health in Saudi Arabia is very good. Saudi Arabia comes in the best 20 for its alcohol consumption rate32, its immunizations take-up33 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance34 (amongst the lowest in Asia). It does better than average in its adolescent birth rate35 and in its average life expectancy12. Saudi Arabia still has work to do. Saudi Arabia does worse than average when it comes to its fertility rate14 and in its smoking rate36. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Saudi Arabia improved by +8.4yrs in the 30 years from 1990, just over the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
12
Pos.2021
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
46USA77.2
47Estonia77.1
48Costa Rica77.0
49Saudi Arabia76.9
50Albania76.5
51Poland76.5
52Sri Lanka76.4
53Algeria76.4
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
32
Pos.2016
Per Capita32
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
6Yemen0.1
7=Afghanistan0.2
7=Saudi Arabia0.2
9Syria0.3
10=Pakistan0.3
11Kiribati0.4
12=Iraq0.4
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.201314
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
108Austria1.35
109Egypt2.65
110Singapore1.35
111Saudi Arabia2.67
112Portugal1.31
113Belize2.70
114Malta1.28
115Syria2.81
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
36
Pos.201436
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
143Denmark1 378
144Georgia1 378
145Cuba1 392
146Saudi Arabia1 395
147Netherlands1 396
148Poland1 396
149Italy1 443
150Germany1 480
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
12Finland12
13Australia13
14UAE14
15Saudi Arabia15
16Belgium16
17New Zealand17
18Jordan18
19S. Korea19
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better37
Pos.2016
%37
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
176=Lebanon67.9
176=USA67.9
178Jordan69.6
179Saudi Arabia69.7
180Qatar71.7
181Kuwait73.4
182Micronesia75.9
183Samoa77.6
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
35
Pos.2015
Per 100035
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
25Belgium8.2
26Spain8.4
27Bosnia & Herzegovina8.6
28Saudi Arabia8.8
29France8.9
30Croatia9.5
31Israel9.7
32Canada9.8
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
33
Pos.2015
Avg %33
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
11Bahrain98.2
12Iran98.1
13Finland98.1
14Saudi Arabia98.0
15=Luxembourg98.0
15=Oman98.0
17Antigua & Barbuda98.0
18Cuba97.9
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Saudi Arabia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)38
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank38
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
35Russia99.4
36Kyrgyzstan103.8
37Qatar104.0
38Saudi Arabia104.4
39Laos104.5
40Oman104.7
41Turkmenistan110.8
42Timor-Leste (E. Timor)114.3
43UAE114.4
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)38
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank38
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
144=Solomon Islands103.0
145Kyrgyzstan103.8
146Qatar104.0
147Saudi Arabia104.4
148Laos104.5
149Oman104.7
150Moldova104.8
151Botswana106.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Saudi Arabia ranks 147th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. Saudi Arabia does better than average in terms of its forested percent change 1990-201539 and in its environmental performance40. But that's it. Saudi Arabia has problems. It does worse than average in terms of its score on the Green Future Index41, energy to GDP efficiency42, annual meat consumption per person43 and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population44. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
39
Pos.2015
%39
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
91=Kiribati00.0
91=Andorra00.0
91=Malta00.0
91=Saudi Arabia00.0
91=Grenada00.0
91=Oman00.0
91=Bahamas00.0
91=Barbados00.0
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
40
Pos.201840
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
83Mongolia57.5
84=Serbia57.5
84=Chile57.5
86Saudi Arabia57.5
87Ecuador57.4
88Algeria57.2
89Cape Verde56.9
90Mauritius56.6
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better42
Pos.201442
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
82Nigeria07.30
83Georgia07.25
84Vietnam07.14
85Saudi Arabia07.04
86Honduras06.80
87Bulgaria06.54
88Qatar06.49
89Finland06.33
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
179Liberia2001 Feb 06
180Malta2001 Mar 29
181Libya2001 Oct 10
182Saudi Arabia2002 Jan 01
183Serbia2002 May 30
184Kuwait2002 Oct 31
185Bosnia & Herzegovina2002 Nov 24
186Afghanistan2002 Dec 18
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better44
Pos.2011
%44
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
99Ireland27.9%
100Israel27.6%
101Palestine27.5%
102Saudi Arabia27.2%
103Belgium26.9%
104Syria26.6%
105Qatar26.5%
106Bahrain26.3%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
43
Pos.2021
kg43
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
94Dominican Rep.53.5
95Peru54.0
96Mauritius54.2
97Saudi Arabia55.1
98Zimbabwe56.0
99Belize56.6
100Japan57.2
101Turkmenistan57.4
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.
Green Future Index
Higher is better41
Pos.2023
Score41
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
53=Kazakhstan4.1
53=Vietnam4.1
55Thailand4.1
56Saudi Arabia4.1
57Kuwait4.1
58Ethiopia4.0
59Angola4.0
60Egypt4.0
Asia Avg4.3
World Avg4.8
q=76.

7. Saudi Arabia's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #politics #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)45
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank45
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
...
10Macau50.8
11Cyprus54.0
12UAE56.0
13Saudi Arabia60.4
14Uzbekistan61.7
15China61.9
16Kazakhstan63.3
17Georgia65.1
18Vietnam67.1
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)45
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank45
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
61Bosnia & Herzegovina58.1
62Palau59.3
63Mexico59.8
64Saudi Arabia60.4
65Uzbekistan61.7
66China61.9
67Kazakhstan63.3
68Monaco64.5
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2946
2Israel4.1146
3Japan3.5846
...
111Paraguay0.0947
112=Congo, DR0.0848
112=Indonesia0.0849
114Saudi Arabia0.0750
115=Algeria0.0751
115=Cape Verde0.0752
117Trinidad & Tobago0.0547
118=Macau0.0549
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
53
Pos.201853
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
70Samoa74.5%
71Trinidad & Tobago73.4%
72Philippines73.2%
73Saudi Arabia72.8%
74Andorra72.3%
75Panama72.2%
76UAE70.7%
77Brunei70.1%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
54
Pos.2021
Years54
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
32Italy16.2
33Czechia16.2
34Latvia16.2
35Saudi Arabia16.1
36Israel16.1
37Tonga16.0
38Poland16.0
39Austria16.0
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
78Colombia78
79Liberia79
80Kyrgyzstan80
81Saudi Arabia81
82Uganda82
83Mauritius83
84UAE84
85Tonga85
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
IQ
Higher is better55
Pos.200655
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
83=Panama84
83=Paraguay84
83=Morocco84
83=Saudi Arabia84
87Algeria83
88=Libya83
88=Tunisia83
88=Oman83
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Saudi Arabia is as infamous as Pakistan for its deadly serious approach to blasphemy, against a backdrop of general religious intolerance and barbarism. For example in 2002 it was reported that Saudi Arabia's government began denying access to websites containing general religious content on Christianity, Islam, Paganism, Judaism and Hinduism56. This, like other moves in the region, is designed to keep Muslim populations' access to information limited, so that they will remain steadfast in the "correct" form of Islam as judged by the authorities.

"Blasphemy and Censorship: In Christianity and Islam: 4.1. Islam: Blasphemy and Censorship"
Vexen Crabtree
(2012)

Internet Users
Higher is better
57
Pos.201657
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
68=Uruguay65%
68=Antigua & Barbuda65%
70Greece65%
71Saudi Arabia65%
72French Polynesia64%
73Albania63%
74Palestine63%
75Montenegro62%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet
Lower is better
58
Pos.201258
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
...
36Pakistan63
37Belarus69
38=Bahrain71
38=Saudi Arabia71
40Vietnam73
41=Ethiopia75
41=Myanmar (Burma)75
43Uzbekistan77
Asia Avg56.6
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security
Lower is better
59
Pos.201359
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
38Laos0.86
39Spain0.88
40Kuwait0.93
41Saudi Arabia0.93
42Malaysia0.96
43Canada0.96
44Tajikistan1.01
45Brazil1.02
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
60
Pos.2017
Ratio60
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
27Austria7.5
28Hungary7.4
29Guatemala6.9
30Saudi Arabia6.8
31Vietnam5.9
32Slovenia5.4
33Bolivia5.0
34Macau4.2
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
61
Pos.2022
%61
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
85=Lithuania37.0
86Panama36.0
87=El Salvador36.0
87=Saudi Arabia36.0
89S. Africa35.0
90=Ivory Coast35.0
90=Congo, (Brazzaville)35.0
90=Namibia35.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
62
Pos.2022
Points62
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
53Greece52.0
54Rwanda51.0
55=Malta51.0
55=Saudi Arabia51.0
57Croatia50.0
58=Mauritius50.0
59Namibia49.0
60Vanuatu48.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.

Thoughout the 2010s, Saudi Arabia made serious improvements to its Corruption Perception Index score (+10), sitting amongst the top 10 best-improvers that decade.

Happiness
Higher is better
63
Pos.2018
Score63
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
30Guatemala6.4
31Uruguay6.4
32Qatar6.4
33Saudi Arabia6.4
34Singapore6.3
35Malaysia6.3
36Spain6.3
37Colombia6.3
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)133
134Mali134
135Chad135
136Saudi Arabia136
137Congo, (Brazzaville)137
138Algeria138
139Azerbaijan139
140Paraguay140
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
82Costa Rica82
83Kuwait83
84Belarus84
85Saudi Arabia85
86Azerbaijan86
87Uganda87
88Vietnam88
89Central African Rep.89
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
64
Pos.2023
Score64
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
116Belarus2.25
117Kenya2.25
118Mozambique2.26
119Saudi Arabia2.26
120Honduras2.27
121Egypt2.27
122El Salvador2.28
123Nicaragua2.29
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
138Cape Verde138
139St Lucia139
140Kuwait140
141Saudi Arabia141
142St Vincent & Grenadines142
143Belize143
144Haiti144
145Libya145
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
114Morocco114
115Iraq115
116Dominica116
117Saudi Arabia117
118Lesotho118
119Oman119
120Egypt120
121Colombia121
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
65
Pos.2019
Score65
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
118Burundi5.10
119Palestine5.18
120Bangladesh5.21
121Saudi Arabia5.24
122Ethiopia5.35
123UK5.41
124Burkina Faso5.42
125Myanmar (Burma)5.51
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better66
Pos.201966
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
50Chile6.30
51=USA6.30
51=Romania6.30
53Saudi Arabia6.40
54Oman6.70
55Bahamas6.80
56Sri Lanka7.00
57=Costa Rica7.10
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#atheism #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #humanism #islam #judaism #religion #saudi_arabia

Disbelief In God (2007)67
Pos.Higher is better
%67
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
120=Ivory Coast0
120=Pakistan0
120=Niger0
120=Saudi Arabia0
120=Rwanda0
120=Cameroon0
120=Philippines0
120=Kuwait0
120=Madagascar0
120=Nigeria0
120=Malawi0
120=Chad0
120=Nepal0
120=Morocco0
120=Mauritania0
120=Mali0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below68:

Christian4.4%
Muslim93%
Hindu1.1%
Buddhist0.3%
Folk Religion0.3%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.7%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim (official) 100%69.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Saudi Arabia's form of Wahhabi Islam (a kind of Sunni Islam) makes the country fundamentally opposed to Human Rights. Sociologists Grim & Finke place Saudi Arabia into the worst categories of religious freedom and persecution, along with just 13 other countries. In 1948 Saudi Arabia was one of just 8 countries that refused to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, disagreeing that people had the right to choose their religion70. Non-religious folk such as Humanists are in an impossible situation, and prosecutions can be made for 'promoting atheism' if they don't conceal themselves29; other religions and Muslim minorities such as Twelver Shia and Ismailis are also persecuted11.

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