Data Sources

A description of the empirical data used and the methods applied in revising past estimates of population and components of demographic change (fertility, child, adult and overall mortality, international migration) is available here for each country or area for the period 1950 to 2021. For the countries with less than 1,000 inhabitants in 2021, only the data sources for total population are made available.

Select below a country or area to see the respective information, or download the whole set of metadata in PDF format for all countries or areas or a tabular version for each demographic component under Documentation.

Saudi Arabia

Population: Total population and distribution by age and sex estimated to be consistent with the population by age and sex of the (a) 1974, 1992, 2004, 2010 censuses; (b) adjusted for under/over count; (c) adjusted for age heaping; (d) adjusted for under enumeration of children under age 15; (e) official estimates through 2020; and with estimates of the subsequent trends in fertility, mortality and international migration.

Fertility: Total fertility rate and age pattern of fertility based on: (a) official estimates of age-specific fertility rates through 2017; (b) registered births classified by age of mother and the underlying female population by age through 2009; (c) birth-histories data from the 1987 CHS and 1996-1997 FHS; (d) births in the household in the preceding 12 (or 24) months classified by age of mother from the 1999, 2000, 2007 DS and 2004, 2010 censuses; (e) indirect estimates obtained from the application of the reverse survival method to the 1974, 1992, 2004, 2010 censuses and 2016 DS; (f) cohort-completed fertility backdated by the mean age of childbearing from the 1996-1997 FHS and 1999, 2007 DS.  In addition, the indirect estimates obtained from the application of the reverse survival method to the 1964-2011 Education Stats have been considered.

Child Mortality: Under-five mortality based on: (a) official estimates of infant and child mortality through 2017; (b) direct estimates from births and deaths under-five calculated from full birth histories data from the 2018 HHS; (c) indirect estimates from data on children ever born and surviving from the 1987 CHS and 1996-1997 FHS; (d) recent household deaths from the 1999, 2000, 2007, 2016, 2017 DS and 2004 Census; (e) International estimates used up to 2021.  In addition, the (a) registered infant and child deaths through 2013; (b) direct estimates from births and deaths under-five calculated from full birth histories data from the 1996-1997 FHS and 2004 Census have been considered.

Overall Mortality: Life expectancy at birth and age pattern of mortality based on: (a) official estimates through 2007; (b) registered deaths by age and sex available through 2018; (c) adjusted for underregistration; (d) adjusted for underreporting of infant and child deaths; (e) mortality rates for older ages were adjusted; (f) estimates using LogQuad model life tables and estimates of infant and under-five mortality (5q0), and adult mortality (45q15).

Adult and Old Age Mortality: Estimates derived from: (a) recent household deaths data by age and sex from the 2004, 2010 censuses and 2007, 2016 DS; (b) recent household deaths adjusted at adult ages for underregistration using death distribution methods; (c) estimates of under-five, adult and old age mortality.

Migration: International migration based on: (a) information on foreign-born populations from censuses and registers from major countries of destination; (b) estimates derived as the differences between overall population growth and natural increase; (c) UNHCR statistics on the number of refugees in the main countries of asylum.

Disclaimer: This web site contains data tables, figures, maps, analyses and technical notes from the current revision of the World Population Prospects. These documents do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.