The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) is set to commemorate, the 65th
anniversary of establishment of official statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This milestone traces back to the issuance of Royal Decree No. (23) on 07/12/1379 AH (01/06/1960),
which laid the foundation for the national statistical system. The decree played a pivotal role in advancing the Kingdom’s development strategies and economic and social policymaking. It also marked the introduction of the General Statistics Law, which established the General Department of Statistics.
Over the decades, the statistical sector has witnessed key milestones, starting with the issuance of the Imports and Exports Statistics Regulation in 1349 H (1930), followed by the establishment of the General Department of Statistics as the official statistical body in 1379 H (1960). In 1437 H (2015), a Royal Decree was issued transforming the department into the General Authority for Statistics. This marked a major turning point in the Kingdom’s statistical journey, as GASTAT became an independent entity with legal personality and full financial and administrative autonomy. GASTAT now leads, organizes, and manages the statistical sector through a Board of Directors comprising ministers, officials, and independent experts, strengthening its role as a prominent national statistical reference.
This historic occasion provides an important opportunity to highlight the significance of statistical work in implementing development plans and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. It also
emphasizes the role of GASTAT as a trusted official source for data and statistical indicators, a key partner in decision-making alongside public and private sector entities, and a vital component in policy-making, performance measurement, and support for economic and social growth.
Furthermore, GASTAT plays a crucial role in strengthening the Kingdom’s position in statistical work both regionally and internationally.
It is worth noting that statistical work in Saudi Arabia began as early as 1349 H (1930) and later became an organized practice based on legal, administrative, and technical foundations under the
General Statistics Law issued by Royal Decree No. (23) dated 07/12/1379 H (01/06/1960). This law regulated the statistical sector by defining the relationship between the Department of Statistics and
Information (as a central statistical body) and other entities, with the aim of activating, expanding,and deepening the impact of statistical work in planning and promoting statistical awareness.
Throughout this period, several major developments occurred, including Council of Ministers Resolution No. (284) dated 24/11/1426 H, which approved the recommendations of the Ministerial
Committee for Administrative Organization on the study of the information, research, and studies sector. Under this decision, the department was made responsible for statistics and information in the Kingdom, and its name was changed to the Department of Statistics and Information. Later, Council of Ministers Resolution No. (11) dated 13/01/1437 H approved the establishment of the General Authority for Statistics. This decision assigned GASTAT technical oversight and regulation of
the statistical sector and tasked it with building a comprehensive system of national statistical databases across various fields. It also called for the development of a centralized national information system at GASTAT, linked electronically to all public entities, and participation in the
advancement of information systems and statistical work to establish a comprehensive, accurate, and unified statistical system. 

Industrial Production Index (IPI) recorded a 1.5% increase in May 2025 compared to May 2024. This rise was driven by increased activity in mining and quarrying activity , manufacturing activity and water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities, according to IPI publication issued by GASTAT.

The publication's results showed a 2.1% annual increase in the sub-index for mining and quarrying, and a 0.9% rise in the sub-index for manufacturing. However, the sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply decreased by 7.7%. Conversely, the sub-index for water supply, sewerage, and waste management, and remediation activities significantly increased by 15.5% year-on-year.
Furthermore, the publication indicated an annual increase in both the oil activities index (0.5%) and the non-oil activities index (3.8%).
GASTAT publishes the Industrial Production Index monthly. It measures relative changes in industrial production quantities based on data from the industrial production survey. This survey is conducted on a selected sample of establishments operating in targeted industrial sectors, including mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply, and water supply, sewerage, and waste management, and remediation activities.
 

In the presence of His Excellency Dr. Fahad Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), and Eng. Olayan bin Mohammed Alwetaid, CEO of STC Group, GASTAT signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with STC Group. This agreement aims to enhance their collaboration, coordinate efforts to strengthen and diversify sources of statistical information and data, integrate to achieve shared objectives, and facilitate the exchange of expertise in their respective fields.
MoC was signed by Mr. Rami bin Ahmed Ghurab, General Supervisor of Data Management and Partnerships, on behalf of GASTAT, and Mr. Amir Al-gabrini, CEO of Regulatory and Compliance Affairs represented STC Group.
Dr. Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT, stated that the statistical work undertaken by GASTAT is a crucial contributor to achieving national targets. He emphasized that cooperation with STC Group will help diversify data sources, which are essential inputs for statistical products and play a vital role in improving their quality.
This initiative is part of GASTAT's efforts to foster collaboration with various public and private sector institutions and entities. The goal is to provide statistical data and indicators and enhance service levels using the latest modern technological means, all within the framework of activating digital transformation, supporting the national economy, and promoting sustainable development to contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The General Authority for Statistics has released the Tourism Establishments Statistics Publication for Q1 of 2025. According to the publication’s findings, the hotel room occupancy rate reached approximately 63% during the quarter, marking an increase of 2.1 percentage points compared to Q1 of 2024. The occupancy rate in serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities stood at 50.7% in Q1 of 2025, representing a decrease of 3.8 percentage points compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024.

The publication further indicated that the average daily room rate in hotels was about 477 SA during Q1  of 2025, reflecting a decrease of 3.4% compared to the same quarter in 2024. Meanwhile, the average daily room rate in serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities was approximately 209 SA during the same quarter, representing an increase of 7.2% compared to Q1 of 2024.

The results also showed that the average length of stay for hotel guests was about 4.1 nights during Q4 of 2024, which is the same as in the corresponding quarter of 2024. The average length of stay in serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities was around 2.1 nights during the same quarter, showing a decrease of 4.5% compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024.

The total number of employees in tourism activities reached 983,253 during Q1 of 2025, an increase of 4.1% compared to the same quarter of 2024. The number of Saudi employees was 243,369, representing a participation rate of 24.8%, while the number of non-Saudi employees was 739,884, accounting for 75.2% of the total workforce in tourism activities.

The publication’s findings also revealed that the number of male employees in tourism activities was 853,852, representing 86.8%, while the number of female employees was 129,401, accounting for 13.2% of all employees in tourism activities during Q1 of 2025.

Furthermore, the publication indicated that employees in tourism activities represented 5.4% of the total workforce in the economy during Q1 of 2025, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024. The percentage of employees in tourism activities within the private sector was 8.1%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points compared to Q1 of 2024.

It is worth noting that the data for the Tourism Establishments Statistics for Q1 2025 is based on several sources to provide comprehensive information about tourism activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These sources include administrative records, statistical surveys, and secondary data.

In the presence of Her Excellency Dr. Inas bint Suleiman Al-Issa, Deputy Minister of Education; Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics; the Ministry’s Undersecretary for Planning, Eng. Saad bin Abdulgh  
 ani Alghamdi; the Secretary-General of Education Departments, Mr. Hamad bin Nasser Alwahaibi; along with several directors of education departments and leaders and staff , the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) held a ceremony to honor the winning education departments in the Statistical Knowledge Competition. The first edition of the competition was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education in 2024 and witnessed significant engagement, with the participation of 243,245 male and female students from 16 education departments across various regions and governorates of the Kingdom.
The competition results revealed that the General Administration of Education in Riyadh Region had the highest level of participation, with 46,635 students taking part, accounting for 21.0% of the total participants. They were followed by students from the General Administration of Education in Taif Governorate, with 38,953 participants (17.5%), and then by the Eastern Region’s General Administration of Education in third place, with 38,030 students representing 17.1% of the total. Meanwhile, 20,183 students from the General Administration of Education in Makkah Region participated, placing fourth with a percentage of 9.1%. Students from Qassim Region’s General Administration of Education came in fifth, with 17,692 participants, accounting for 8.0% of the total.
For his part, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, GASTAT President, praised the fruitful partnership between the Authority and the Ministry of Education in his remarks. He commended the efforts of the education departments that secured top ranks based on student participation levels in the Statistical Knowledge Competition, noting that these efforts led to outstanding results for this distinguished initiative.

Aldossari added that “The Statistical Knowledge Competition was launched to enhance statistical awareness among students and to develop their skills in critical thinking and informed engagement with data and statistical indicators from reliable sources.” He also expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Yousef Al-Benyan, Minister of Education, for the strong support the program received under his leadership, as this support played a vital role in the success of the first edition. He also expressed his hope that the second edition of the competition, set to launch in the upcoming academic year, will be even more successful and impactful. He noted that it will serve as a renewed opportunity to strengthen awareness of statistical work and highlight its important role in individual lives and the success of various development programs.
It is worth noting that the second edition of the Statistical Knowledge Competition will be launched during the upcoming academic year 1447H. This launch will coincide with the global celebration of World Statistics Day, which is held every five years. The Statistical Knowledge Program includes a variety of activities, such as leveraging school broadcasts to raise students’ awareness of the importance of statistical work and its role in development. It also features field visits by GASTAT staff to schools, where they deliver hands-on and enrichment programs. Additionally, the program provides specialized knowledge guides covering statistical terms, occupational classifications, and number-writing policies. It also explains key concepts such as statistical indicators and trains students on how to use statistical data sources, ultimately supporting sustainable development and advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
 

The General Authority for Statistics has released the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Publication for Q1 of 2025. According to the results, net FDI inflows reached SAR 22.2 billion, marking a 44% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year, while recording a 7% decrease compared to Q4 of 2024.
The publication also showed that outward FDI flows from the Kingdom’s economy amounted to approximately SAR 1.8 billion during Q1 of 2025, a 54% decrease compared to the same quarter last year, despite a 7% increase compared to Q4 of 2024. Meanwhile, inward FDI flows into the Kingdom's economy reached around SAR 24.0 billion in Q1 of 2025, representing a 24% increase compared to the same quarter last year, when the inflows were approximately SAR 19.4 billion. However, this also represents a 6% decrease compared to the previous quarter of the same year.
It is worth noting that foreign direct investment reflects a long-term relationship and sustained interest by entities resident in an economy other than Saudi Arabia. This typically involves the foreign investor, either individually or jointly with other foreign investors, owning 10% or more of the voting power in the shares of an enterprise.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released today the Labor Market Statistics Publication for Q1 of 2025. According to the results, the overall unemployment rate (including Saudis and non-Saudis) stood at 2.8%, while the overall labor force participation rate reached 68.2%. The labor force participation rate for Saudis increased to 51.3%, compared to Q4 of 2024.

The publication showed a rise in labor force participation among Saudi males, reaching 66.4%, accompanied by a decline in their unemployment rate to 4%. It also highlighted the success of women’s empowerment initiatives, which contributed to increased female economic participation and enhanced their role in driving growth and sustainable development. The labor force participation rate for Saudi females rose to 36.3%, while their unemployment rate dropped to 10.5%, compared to the previous quarter.

Among young Saudi women (15–24 years), the employment-to-population ratio increased to 14.6%, and their labor force participation rose to 18.4%. Meanwhile, the employment-to-population ratio for young Saudi males declined to 29.2%, with their labor force participation falling to 33.0%. Their unemployment rate dropped to 11.6% compared to Q4 of 2024. These changes are attributed to improvements in labor market policies, driven by the robust performance and growing attractiveness of the Saudi labor market.
Regarding core working-age Saudis (25–54 years), the employment-to-population ratio rose to 65.9%, and the labor force participation rate increased to 69.6%, while the unemployment rate declined to 5.4%. For Saudis (55 years and older), both the unemployment rate and labor force participation rate decreased compared to the previous quarter of 2024.
 
According to the publication, the unemployment rate among Saudis reached a historic low of 6.3% in Q1 of 2025. Likewise, unemployment among Saudi women has declined by more than 11 percentage points since 2021, reaching 10.5%, reflecting the Saudi labor market’s growing capacity to provide economic opportunities for its citizens amid supportive policies focused on development and employment.
The most common job search method was directly approaching employers, used by 75.8% of job seekers, followed by using the national unified employment platform (Jadarat) at 74.6%, while 64.5% of job seekers reported posting or updating their resumes on professional social media platforms. 
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released today International Merchandise Trade Statistics publication for April 2025. According to the publication’s findings, the total merchandise exports amounted to SAR 90.3 billion, marking a decline of 10.9% compared to April 2024. Meanwhile, non-oil exports (including re-exports) increased by 24.6%, reaching SAR 28.4 billion compared to April 2024.
Imports also rose in April 2025, reaching SAR 76.1 billion, an increase of 18.3%. As a result, the trade balance surplus decreased to SAR 14.2 billion, reflecting a drop of 61.7% compared to April 2024.
The publication’s results showed an increase in the ratio of non-oil exports (including re-exports) to imports, which stood at 37.2% in April 2025 compared to 35.4% in April 2024. On the other hand, the share of oil exports in total exports declined from 77.5% in April 2024 to 68.6% in April 2025.
According to the publication, chemical industry products were among the top non-oil export commodities, amounting to SAR 6.0 billion and accounting for 26.4% of total non-oil exports. As for imports, the leading commodity group was machinery, electrical equipment, and parts thereof, which recorded SAR 21.1 billion and made up 26.0% of total imports.
The publication also indicated that the People’s Republic of China remained the Kingdom’s top trading partner. Exports to China totaled SAR 11.4 billion, representing 12.6% of total exports in April 2025, while imports from China reached SAR19.0 billion, accounting for 25.0% of total imports.
It is worth noting that international trade statistics rely on administrative records from Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (for non-oil trade) and the Ministry of Energy (for oil trade). The Kingdom’s imports and exports are classified according to the 2022 Harmonized System (HS) for the Description and Coding of Goods.