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.
 

The United Nations has announced the election of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Statistics, as a member of the High-Level Group for Partnership, Coordination, and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLG-PCCB).
This announcement affirms the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to develop an advanced statistical system based on innovation, quality, and openness, and reflects its commitment to continuing its role in promoting transparency and providing accurate statistics to support development policies in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The group is one of the high-level committees operating under the umbrella of the United Nations and plays a pivotal role in leading and coordinating global efforts related to the follow-up and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It does so through strengthening national statistical capacities, enhancing international partnerships, overseeing preparations for the United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF), developing global statistical data strategies, and making recommendations to boost financial investments in statistical infrastructure, stimulate innovation, and ensure the sustainability of statistical systems to consistently produce accurate data in the long term.
Saudi Arabia’s membership will contribute to supporting international cooperation, enhancing the exchange of expertise with member countries, and activating new partnerships with international organizations and national statistical offices around the world. It will also further the Kingdom’s efforts to build an advanced statistical ecosystem rooted in innovation, quality, and openness, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and to providing accurate statistics that support development policies aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
It is worth noting that the 39th meeting of the group was held earlier today, with the participation of Dr. Fahad Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics. During the meeting, he welcomed the Kingdom’s upcoming hosting of the High-Level Group’s meeting, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia this November. He also presented the Kingdom’s preparations for hosting the United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) in Riyadh, November 2026 and discussed several other topics related to international conferences on sustainable development.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued the Hajj Statistics Publication for the year 1446 H / 2025. According to the publication’s results, the number of workers serving pilgrims during the 1446H/2025 Hajj season from both the public and private sectors, including security sectors, reached 420,070 workers, serving a total of 1,673,230 male and female pilgrims. Of these workers, 92% were male, while 8% were female.
Meanwhile, the number of male and female volunteers within the holy sites reached 34,540, who contributed a total of 2,134,398 volunteer hours during the 1446 H / 2025 Hajj season.
The publication also revealed that 314,337 male and female pilgrims benefited from the "Makkah Route Initiative" this year, representing 20.9% of all external pilgrims. These pilgrims arrived from eight countries. The initiative, which began during the 2017 Hajj season, aims to facilitate travel procedures for pilgrims arriving to perform the Hajj rituals.
It is worth noting that on 9 Dhul-Hijjah 1446 H (June 5, 2025), the General Authority for Statistics announced that the total number of pilgrims reached 1,673,230, including 1,506,576 external pilgrims who arrived through various entry points, and 166,654 internal pilgrims comprising both citizens and residents.
GASTAT’s statistical results for this year's Hajj also indicated that the number of male pilgrims was 877,841, while the number of female pilgrims was 795,389 out of the total number of internal and external pilgrims
It should be noted that the General Authority for Statistics relied in issuing the Hajj Statistics Publication on administrative records provided by the Ministry of Interior, which included the number of pilgrims, their detailed characteristics, and the services provided within the temporal and spatial boundaries of the pilgrimage. These data were collected, analyzed, and classified according to the statistical procedures followed over the past five years.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report for the first quarter of 2025. According to the publication’s results, real GDP achieved a growth rate of 3.4% compared to the same quarter of 2024, driven by a 4.9% growth in non-oil activities, in addition to a 3.2% growth in government activities, while oil activities recorded a decline of 0.5%. Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted real GDP rose by 1.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.

The results also showed that non-oil activities are the main driver to the annual real GDP growth, contributing 2.8 percentage points. Additionally, government activities and net taxes on products contributed positively by 0.5 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively.

It is worth noting that most economic activities achieved positive annual growth rates. Wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels recorded the highest growth rates during the first quarter of 2025, reaching 8.4% year-on-year and 0.7% quarter-on-quarter.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced the official statistics for Hajj 1446H, reporting a total of (1,673.230) pilgrims. Of these, (1,506,576) pilgrims arrived from outside the Kingdom through various entry points, while (166,654) were citizens and residents pilgrims, including both Saudi citizens and residents. According to GASTAT’s statistical release, the number of male pilgrims, both internal and external, reached (877,841), while the number of female pilgrims totaled (795,389). GASTAT also revealed that a total of (1,435,017) pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom through airports, while (66,465) pilgrims entered via land border crossings, and (5,094) pilgrims arrived through seaports. 
It is worth noting that the General Authority for Statistics has relied on administrative records from the Ministry of Interior as the primary source for data and statistical indicators related to the Hajj season of 1446H / 2025. This approach aims to provide high-accuracy and reliable register-based data for Hajj statistics, using a standardized model that includes several key components. This methodology is a continuation of the statistical approach adopted over the past five years. 
As the Kingdom’s official statistical authority, GASTAT is the exclusive provider of official statistics in Saudi Arabia that is entrusted with overseeing all national statistical activities. Its responsibilities include providing technical supervision, conducting field surveys and research, performing data analysis, and managing the documentation, preservation, and tabulation of statistical information across all sectors of life in the Kingdom. 
On this occasion, His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of GASTAT, extended his sincere appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, for their unwavering support and comprehensive care provided to the pilgrims. He also prayed to Allah Almighty to accept the pilgrims’ Hajj and to grant continued success to all government entities in delivering outstanding services.

To view the executive summary of Hajj statistics 1446 AH, please visit the following link:

https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/hajj-report-1446h-en-1-