Methodology and Quality Report for Road Transport Statistics 2025

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Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

2/11/2026

Statistical Presentation

Data description

Road Transport Statistics provide annual statistical data and indicators describing the key aspects of road transport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by providing information on passenger and freight movements, traffic, road network and infrastructure, vehicles and licenses, road safety, and other aspects related to the road transport system.

The product relies primarily on administrative records data received from relevant government entities, along with supporting statistical and geospatial data and statistical models used to derive certain indicators, depending on the nature and source of each indicator.

Road Transport Statistics cover the following main areas:

  • Passenger traffic on roads: It includes statistics on passenger traffic through land ports, the number of passengers and trips in public bus transport services, as well as statistics on passenger transport activity through vehicle-hailing applications.
  • Freight traffic on roads: It includes statistics on freight quantities transported through land ports, including inbound and outbound freight traffic and their distributions according to the available dimensions and classifications.
  • Traffic on roads: It includes statistics on vehicle and truck traffic through land ports, intercity vehicle traffic, as well as traffic census results and traffic volume indicators based on the available data.
  • Registered vehicles: It includes statistics on registered and roadworthy vehicles, vehicle registration, and the issuance and renewal of registration licenses, as well as their distribution by registration type, region, and available characteristics.
  • Traffic safety: It includes statistics on serious traffic accidents, the resulting fatalities and injuries, fatality and injury rates, and the distribution of accidents and their resulting outcomes according to geographic and demographic characteristics and available variables.
  • Licenses: It includes statistics on driving licenses and their issuance and renewal, according to the available types and characteristics, as well as statistics on road transport establishments covered by the product.
  • Road transport infrastructure: It includes statistics on road lengths and classifications, intracity and intercity roads, paved and unpaved roads, bridges, tunnels, and road projects, as well as some maintenance and operation indicators, in addition to derived indicators such as road network density relative to population and area.
  • Periodic vehicle technical inspection: It includes statistics on periodic vehicle technical inspections and their results, including the main reasons why vehicles fail to pass the inspection on their first attempt.

The indicators are presented according to detailed levels and dimensions that vary depending on the data source and the nature of the indicator, such as the temporal and geographic dimensions, type of activity or operation, vehicle type, and certain demographic and ownership characteristics, where available.

Classifications

A range of national and international classifications is applied in Road Transport Statistics according to the nature of each data source and indicator, supporting the organization and consistency of data and the production of outputs by relevant dimensions and levels of detail.

National Classification of Economic Activities (SSIC - 2018):

The National Classification of Economic Activities adopted by GASTAT, based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC Rev. 4), is used to classify economic activities related to road transport, according to the level of detail available in the data sources.

The classification is applied when it is necessary to classify establishments or economic activities related to road transport. Regulatory or operational activities are not assigned economic classification codes until the approved correspondence has been verified.

National Code of Countries and Nationalities (NCCN - 2017) :

Country codes based on the international standard (ISO 3166 – Country Codes) issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are used to classify country and nationality data, according to the information available in the data sources.

In some statistical outputs, analytical aggregations are derived from nationality data, such as Saudi and non-Saudi, in accordance with the classification and processing rules adopted for the product.

Harmonized System (HS 2022): 

The export and import data on goods used in road transport indicators are based on the Harmonized System (HS 2022), issued by the World Customs Organization (WCO), which provides a standardized structure for classifying goods through sections, chapters, subheadings, and their corresponding codes.

This classification is used for indicators related to the movement of goods and trade through land ports, based on data provided by the relevant sources.

Classification of countries into groups:

When data need to be presented by geographic or economic groups, countries are classified according to the groupings adopted in the product, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Arab countries, Islamic countries, and other geographic groups, taking into account the rules for exclusion and avoiding overlap between groups in accordance with the classification used.

Data are collected from register-based and administrative sources at the highest level of detail available, supporting the production of outputs according to the relevant classifications, while maintaining consistency in definitions and classifications throughout the processing and publication stages.

The approved statistical classifications are available on GASTAT's website.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terminologies and Concepts for Road Transport Statistics:

  • Road:

A line of communication open to public traffic for the use of road motor vehicles, excluding railways and aircraft runways. It includes paved roads and other roads with a stabilized base, such as gravel roads. Roads also cover streets, bridges, tunnels, and supporting structures. Dedicated cycle lanes are excluded.

  • Road network:

It includes all roads in a given area, which can be classified by surface type into paved and unpaved roads.

  • Paved road:

A road covered with crushed stone and hydrocarbon binders, or with bituminous materials reinforced with concrete or gravel.

  • Unpaved road:

A road with a stabilized base that is not surfaced with crushed stone, hydrocarbon binders, bituminous agents, concrete, or gravel.

  • Intercity roads by engineering classification:

It refers to the classification of roads based on their geometric representation on the ground and the types derived from it, as follows:

  • Expressway: A road divided into multiple lanes and designed to accommodate high traffic volumes at high speeds. Such roads have absolute priority in traffic and feature grade-separated intersections separated from the main carriageway.
  • Dual carriageway: A two-way road separated by a median strip or a concrete barrier, with at-grade intersections.
  • Single carriageway: A two-way road with no median strip.

     
  • Intercity roads by functional classification:

The concept of this classification is based on each road having a starting point and an endpoint, with the main road directions running from south to north and from west to east. Accordingly, a road starts in the south or west and ends in the north or east. The types include: 

  • Primary roads: These are roads that connect major cities and regions of Saudi Arabia and are designated by one or two digits, such as Route 40, which connects Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. International roads are also classified as primary roads and are designated by a letter and a number, such as  Routes M50 and  M45.
  • Secondary roads: These are roads that connect cities and governorates to the primary road network. They are designated by three digits, such as Route 535, which connects several roads along the route to Route 65.
  • Tertiary roads: These are roads that connect villages, hamlets, farms, and other areas. They are designated by four digits and may connect to secondary and primary roads. Examples include Routes 5981, 4272, and 5615, which connect several villages and farms to one another and link them to Routes 40 and 50.
  • Intracity roads are classified as follows:
  • Regional roads:

These are roads located outside urban areas.

  • Expressways:

An expressway is a road divided into multiple lanes and designed to accommodate high traffic volumes at high speeds. Such roads have absolute priority for traffic, with intersections separated from the main carriageway.

  • Primary road:

Also known as an arterial road, it is a road that carries the main traffic flow and may have at-grade or grade-separated intersections.

  • Major street: 

A major urban road located within cities or residential areas, characterized by commercial and service activities along both sides. Such streets are usually multi-lane to facilitate traffic flow and often serve local traffic and intracity travel.

  • Collector street:

A collector street carries traffic from local and adjacent roads to higher-level roads, in addition to through traffic.

  • Local roads:

These are roads that serve internal residential areas.

  • Vehicle:

Any means of transport designed to travel on wheels or tracks and propelled or drawn by mechanical or animal power, excluding trains.

  • Private vehicle:

A car designed for personal use to transport passengers and their belongings without charge.

  • Taxi:

A car designed to transport passengers and their belongings for a fee, with a capacity of no more than eight people.

  • Bus

A vehicle designed to transport more than eight passengers and their belongings, classified into two types:

  • Public bus: A bus used to transport passengers and their belongings for a fee.
  • Private bus: A bus used to transport passengers and their belongings without charge.

     
  • Transport vehicle:

A vehicle designed to transport animals and goods, classified into two types:

  • Public transport vehicle: A vehicle used to transport animals, items, and goods for a fee.
  • Private transport vehicle: A vehicle used to transport animals, items, and goods without charge.

     
  • Motorcycle:

A vehicle with two or more wheels, equipped with a motor, and designed to transport people or goods. It may be fitted with a sidecar and is not designed in the form of a car.

  • Machinery:

Self-propelled equipment and machines, including agricultural equipment.

  • Road accident:

Any unintentional incident involving at least one moving vehicle or its load, resulting in personal injury or death, property damage, or both.

  • Minor road accident:

An accident resulting in damage to private or public property, with no injuries requiring emergency medical treatment.

  • Serious road accident:

An accident resulting in fatalities, injuries requiring emergency medical treatment, or both, or causing severe property damage.

  • Fatal accident:

Any road accident resulting in a person's death at the scene or within 30 days of the accident.

  • Injury accident:

Any road accident resulting in at least one injury, classified into three categories:

  • Minor injury accident:  A road accident in which an injured person receives treatment at the scene, without requiring ambulance transport to a hospital.
  • Moderate injury accident:  A road accident in which an injured person is transported to a hospital and stays for no more than 24 hours as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
  • Serious injury accident:  A road accident in which an injured person is transported to a hospital and stays for more than 24 hours as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

     
  • Driving license: 

An official document issued by the competent authority, or by a foreign authority whose equivalent documents are recognized, certifying that the holder is qualified to drive one or more types of vehicles.

  • Passenger:

Any person who is in, boarding, or alighting from a means of transport, other than the driver.

  • Road transport:

It includes the transport of passengers and goods within cities and suburbs, between cities, or internationally.

  • Arriving passengers:

Passengers arriving through land ports.

  • Departing passengers:

Passengers departing through land ports.

  • Ride-Hailing:

The activity of transporting passengers by dispatching taxis or private cars to transport passengers for a fee through smart device applications.

  • Intracity bus passenger transport activity:

Operating public bus transport within cities.

  • Specialized bus transport activity:

Transporting passengers by bus under a transport contract and at agreed-upon times, without being restricted to specific routes, for a fee. This includes, but is not limited to, transporting individuals or groups for Hajj, Umrah, visits, tourism, entertainment, or work.

  • Bus rental activity:

Renting out buses, with or without a driver, under a rental contract for a fee.

  • Bus dispatching activity:

Electronic intermediation for dispatching buses through smart device applications to transport passengers for a fee.

  • International bus transport activity:

Transportation of passengers by bus to and from destinations outside Saudi Arabia.

  • Educational bus transport activity:

Transportation of male and female students enrolled in public and private educational institutions, as well as teaching and administrative staff and other equivalent personnel, using vehicles equipped for this purpose. This includes nurseries, kindergartens, schools at all educational levels, colleges, institutes, Quran memorization centers, universities, and other equivalent educational institutions.

  • Activities of the taxi sector and taxi intermediaries licensed by the Transport General Authority include:

Public taxi services, airport taxi services, private taxi services, family taxi services, and taxi brokerage services.

  • Car rental sector activities and rental intermediaries:

Activities licensed by the Transport General Authority include the following categories: Category (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E).

  • Cargo transportation on land routes:

Transporting cargo by trucks on roads for a fee.

  • Freight forwarders (logistics):

Arranging the transportation of goods from the sender to the recipient and managing and planning the supporting operations for cargo transportation.

  • Truck rental activity:

Renting a cargo truck without a driver under a rental contract for a fee.

  • Vehicle transport and towing activity:

Transportation of vehicles and towing of vehicles on roads using transportation and/or towing vehicles for a fee.

  • Domestic parcel transport activity:

Transportation of postal parcels within Saudi Arabia.

  • Domestic and international parcel transport activity:

Transportation of postal parcels within Saudi Arabia and internationally.

  • Freight vehicle dispatching activity:

Arranging the transport of specific goods by vehicle on behalf of a beneficiary through an electronic system or call center acting as an intermediary.

  • Truck parking facility operation activity:

Operation of truck parking facilities at city entrances and along highways to ensure the provision of high-quality services and reduce unauthorized truck parking, thereby enhancing security and safety, protecting the environment, and reducing traffic congestion.

  • Light freight transportation activity:

Transportation of goods on roads by light transport vehicles for a fee.

  • Tonne:

A unit of measurement equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, primarily used to measure mass. 

  • Kilometer:

   An international unit of measurement for length in the metric system, equal to 1,000 meters or 0.62 miles, and it is the unit used to measure distances between geographical locations on the earth in most countries.

  • Exports and imports:

Commercial transactions and movements of goods between countries for the purpose of trade. 

  • Periodic vehicle inspection:

 A mandatory and regulated procedure aimed at verifying the safety of vehicles and their roadworthiness.

  • Passenger transport application trips:

The number of trips recorded under the passenger transport activity using smart device applications during the reference period.

  • Daily commuting time:

The time an individual spends traveling from their place of residence to their workplace and back, including individuals who live and work in the same city.

  • Traffic accident response time:

The time elapsed from when a traffic accident report is registered with the relevant authority until the first field response arrives at the accident scene.

Data sources

Road Transport Statistics relies on a range of administrative and statistical data sources, in addition to spatial processing and modeling techniques used to derive certain statistical indicators and outputs.

First: Administrative records and operational data

Road Transport Statistics primarily relies on administrative records and operational data obtained from the following entities:

  • Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services.
  • Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.
  • Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
  • Transport General Authority.
  • Roads General Authority.
  • General Department of Traffic.
  • Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).
  • General Directorate of Passports.
  • Ministerial Committee for Traffic Safety.
  • NEOM Company.
  • Development Authorities Support Center.

Data obtained from administrative records and operational data covers the following key areas, depending on each entity’s responsibilities and data availability:

  • Passenger traffic on roads and through land ports.
  • Freight, goods, and truck movements on roads and through land ports.
  • Road traffic.
  • Public transport and vehicle dispatching activities.
  • Registered vehicles, vehicle registration licenses, and driving licenses.
  • Road safety, including traffic accidents, fatalities, and injuries.
  • Road infrastructure and road networks.
  • Licenses and activities related to road transport.
  • Periodic technical inspection of vehicles, based on data available from the data-owning entity.

Second: Supporting statistical data from GASTAT

Road Transport Statistics uses statistical data available at GASTAT to complete the calculation of certain indicators and produce statistical outputs. Key data include:

  • Population estimates used to calculate population-based indicators.
  • International Trade in Goods data related to the movement of exports and imports through land ports.
  • Geographical and administrative data and boundaries adopted by GASTAT and used to produce spatial indicators and breakdowns.

Third: Spatial processing and modeling techniques

Spatial processing and modeling techniques are used to integrate geospatial data and link it to approved administrative boundaries, enabling the derivation of certain spatial indicators and breakdowns. Key outputs that may rely on this processing include:

  • Road network length by administrative region, where spatial processing of road network data is required.
  • Road network density relative to area by administrative region.
  • Road network density relative to population by administrative region.

Data sources, processing methods, and levels of disaggregation vary across indicators depending on the nature of each indicator, data coverage, and the level of detail available from the data-owning entity.

Designing the data collection tool

Administrative record data were collected using standardized data request tables submitted to the data-owning entity to obtain periodic, consistent, and documented data derived from administrative records relevant to Road Transport Statistics indicators, thereby ensuring improved data quality and integration across different data sources.

The data request templates include the key elements required to organize the data collection process, most notably: The name of the data-owning entity, required indicators, data coverage period, data provision frequency, expected date of receipt, required variables and their definitions and types, and relevant classifications and disaggregation dimensions.

Questionnaire test (cognitive test)

Not applicable, as Road Transport Statistics is a statistical product based on administrative records provided by the data-owning entity.

Statistical population

The target statistical population for Road Transport Statistics in Saudi Arabia consists of units, events, and activities within the scope of road transport during the reference period. The target population varies by statistical domain and primarily includes:

  • Users of road passenger transport services, road passenger transport services, and passenger movements through land ports.
  • Freight and truck movements on roads and through land ports.
  • Vehicles and traffic movements on the road network.
  • Registered and roadworthy vehicles.
  • Establishments licensed to engage in road transport activities.
  • Driving licenses and related licensing procedures.
  • Serious traffic accidents and resulting fatalities and injuries.
  • The road network and associated infrastructure assets.
  • Vehicles subject to periodic technical inspection and the results of these inspections.

The detailed coverage of each statistical population is determined based on the scope of the indicator and the administrative data source used.

Sample design

Not applicable, as Road Transport Statistics does not involve designing or selecting a statistical sample. Instead, it primarily relies on data derived from administrative records maintained by the data-owning entities, in addition to supporting statistical data available at GASTAT.

Data coverage is determined based on the scope of each administrative data source and the population it covers, without applying statistical sampling procedures in the production of Road Transport Statistics.

Statistical unit

The statistical unit in Road Transport Statistics varies depending on the statistical domain, indicator, and data source, as the publication relies on multiple administrative records and operational data sources covering various statistical units and events.

The main statistical units, depending on the indicator, include the following:

  • Passengers or border-crossing movements in indicators of passenger movements through land ports and public transport.
  • Trips or transport operations in certain passenger and freight transport indicators.
  • Vehicles in statistics on registered vehicles, vehicle movements, and certain public transport and periodic technical inspection statistics.
  • Trucks or truck-crossing movements in statistics on truck movements through land ports and on roads.
  • Shipments or quantities of goods in freight and cargo movement indicators.
  • Licensed establishments in statistics related to road transport establishments and activities.
  • Driving license or licensing operation in licensing statistics.
  • A traffic accident in traffic accident statistics, and a deceased or injured person in fatality and injury indicators.
  • Road segments, roads, or infrastructure assets in road network and infrastructure statistics.
  • Inspection operations or inspected vehicles in periodic technical inspection statistics.

Data collection

Road Transport Statistics primarily relies on obtaining data from administrative records and operational data maintained by the data-owning entities, in coordination with the relevant departments at GASTAT and the Data Collection Department, based on approved data request templates and the requirements of the statistical product.

Data is obtained from the entities identified in the Data Sources section, according to the scope, reference period, level of disaggregation, and variables required for each data source. Supporting statistical data required to produce certain indicators is also obtained from the relevant departments within GASTAT.

Upon receipt of the data, an initial review is conducted to verify the following:

  • Completeness of the data and required variables.
  • Consistency of the reference period and coverage scope with the requirements.
  • Consistency of definitions, classifications, and levels of disaggregation with the statistical product requirements.
  • Integrity of the data structure and reported values.
  • Identification of any missing data, discrepancies, or implausible values requiring verification. 

If any issues or discrepancies requiring verification are identified, the data-owning entity is contacted to clarify them, provide missing data, or submit a corrected version of the data to GASTAT, as necessary. Once the data receipt requirements and initial verification procedures have been completed, the data is stored in GASTAT's approved databases in preparation for subsequent data processing, analysis, and statistical validation.

Data collection frequency 

Data required to produce Road Transport Statistics is obtained annually, with the timing of data receipt varying across sources depending on data availability from the data-owning entities.

Reference area

Road Transport Statistics covers all thirteen (13) administrative regions of Saudi Arabia, depending on the level of geographical coverage available for each indicator and data source.

Reference period (time reference)

The reference period varies depending on the nature of the statistical variable or indicator and the data source, as follows:

Annual flow and event data: Indicators measuring movements, activities, or events, such as passenger numbers, freight quantities, vehicle and truck movements, vehicle registrations, the issuance and renewal of driving licenses, and traffic accidents, cover the entire reference calendar year, from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Stock or status data: Indicators measuring an existing stock or status at a specific point in time, such as the number of registered and roadworthy vehicles, licensed and active establishments, and infrastructure, reflect the status as of December 31, 2025, in accordance with the definition of each indicator and its data source.

Base period

Not applicable, as Road Transport Statistics primarily relies on measuring and publishing actual indicator values, such as passenger numbers, freight quantities, vehicle numbers, and road lengths. It does not rely on indices or indicators calculated using a fixed base year. Comparisons over time and rates of change between periods can be calculated without constituting the use of a base period.

Measurement unit

The unit of measurement varies depending on the nature of the statistical indicator and the data source. The main units of measurement used in Road Transport Statistics include:

  • Number: Used to measure count-based indicators, such as the number of passengers, trips, vehicles, trucks, traffic accidents, fatalities, injuries, driving licenses, establishments, inspections, and infrastructure components, including bridges, tunnels, projects, and sites.
  • Passenger or traveler: Used to measure the number of users of passenger transport services and travelers crossing land ports. Results may be presented in thousands or millions, depending on the volume of data.
  • Tonne: Used to measure the quantities of goods and freight transported through land ports.
  • Kilometer (km): Used to measure road network lengths, distances between cities and governorates, and certain length-based road maintenance activities.
  • Cubic meter (m³): Used to measure quantities associated with certain road maintenance activities, such as sand dune removal or the use of materials, depending on the nature of the indicator and the source data.
  • Percentage (%): Used to present percentage distributions of certain indicators, such as the distribution of traffic accidents and fatalities by various characteristics, as well as rates of change between periods, when calculated.
  • Per 100,000 population: Used to measure certain road traffic safety rates, such as fatalities, injuries, and serious traffic accidents relative to the population.
  • Kilometers per capita (km/person): Used to measure road network density relative to the population.
  • Kilometers per square kilometer (km/km²): Used to measure road network density relative to area.

Time coverage

Data for certain Road Transport Statistics indicators is available as time series covering the period from 2015 to 2025. However, the starting year, continuity, and coverage of these time series vary depending on the indicator, data source, and availability of historical data.

Publication frequency

The results of Road Transport Statistics are published on an annual basis in accordance with the approved statistical plan.

Statistical processing

Error detection

Administrative record data received from the data-owning entities is reviewed before preparing statistical outputs through a set of validation procedures aimed at detecting potential errors and verifying data completeness, consistency, and plausibility.

These validation procedures include:

  • Data is examined to identify missing, duplicate, and implausible values and to review data types, units of measurement, and the formats of the variables used.
  • Verifying arithmetic consistency between totals and detailed breakdowns, such as reconciling annual totals with the sum of monthly values and reconciling totals with the sum of their components by administrative region, border crossing, vehicle type, activity, or relevant classification, where applicable.
  • Reviewing internal consistency among related variables and indicators to verify the validity of the logical and arithmetic relationships between them.
  • Comparing data for the reference period with available historical data to identify significant or unusual changes and determine cases that require further investigation into their causes before the data is validated.
  • Reviewing consistency across different tables and outputs presenting the same indicator or related indicators, including consistency in totals, classifications, reference periods, and units of measurement.
  • When errors, discrepancies, or cases requiring further verification are identified, the data-owning entity is contacted to determine the cause and obtain missing data, corrections, or clarifications, as appropriate, before the final results are approved.

Data integration and matching from multiple sources

Road Transport Statistics relies on integrating data received from multiple sources to calculate certain indicators in order to support complete and consistent coverage across administrative regions. This is achieved by integrating data on road lengths outside urban boundaries provided by the Roads General Authority and NEOM Company with data on road lengths within urban boundaries provided by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, alongside supporting secondary data sources from GASTAT, such as population estimates and administrative region boundaries.

These data are processed using spatial and statistical modeling techniques, including linking road data to administrative boundaries, removing duplicates among overlapping road segments or records, and standardizing spatial classifications, thereby enabling the calculation of road lengths by administrative region and governorate. These data are also used to derive composite indicators, such as road network density by administrative region and road network density relative to the population, supporting the production of more consistent and geographically comparable indicators.

Imputation and calibration

Imputation of missing values:

Statistical imputation methods for missing values are not applied in Road Transport Statistics. When missing or unavailable data are identified, the data-providing entity is consulted to verify and complete the data whenever feasible. Missing values are not statistically estimated unless a specific methodology has been formally adopted for that purpose.

In cases where data cannot be supplied, their unavailability is explicitly indicated in publication tables according to the approved data presentation rules.

Calibration:

Calibration or weight adjustment methods are not applicable, as the product relies on administrative record data rather than sample survey data or sampling weights.

Road Transport Statistics relies on administrative record data received from data-owning entities. Statistical outputs are produced through direct aggregation of records or by deriving certain indicators using specific calculations, according to the definition, unit of measurement, and level of aggregation of each indicator.

The main calculation methods used include the following:

First: Statistical totals

Totals are calculated by summing detailed values according to the approved dimensions and classifications, such as administrative region, month, vehicle type, operation type, border crossing, or activity.

Total = Sum of detailed values within the scope of the indicator

When monthly data is available:

Annual total = Sum of monthly values during the reference year

Second: Distributions and percentages

Percentages are used to present the distribution of a statistical phenomenon across different categories, such as the percentage distribution of traffic accidents or fatalities by sex, nationality, age group, or accident type.These types of indicators are presented in the published road traffic safety tables.

Percentage for a category = (Category value ÷ Total value) × 100

Third: Road traffic safety rates

Certain road traffic safety indicators are calculated relative to the population to facilitate comparisons between administrative regions with different population sizes. These include fatality, injury, and serious traffic accident rates per 100,000 population.

Fatality rate per 100,000 population = (Number of fatalities ÷ Population) × 100,000

Injury rate per 100,000 population = (Number of injuries ÷ Population) × 100,000

Serious traffic accident rate per 100,000 population = (Number of serious traffic accidents ÷ Population) × 100,000

Fourth: Road network density indicators

Certain spatial indicators rely on integrating road network length data with population, area, and administrative boundary data after performing the necessary matching and spatial processing procedures.

Road network density relative to population = Total road network length in the region ÷ Population of the region

Road network density relative to area = Total road network length in the region ÷ Area of the region in square kilometers

Fifth: Rates of change over time

When presenting changes between two consecutive periods, the rate of change is calculated using the following formula:

Rate of change (%) = ((Current period value − Previous period value) ÷ Previous period value) × 100

Seasonal adjustments

Not applicable; seasonally adjusted time series are neither produced nor published within Road Transport Statistics. Data are presented according to their original reference periods without seasonal adjustment.

Adjustment of preliminary results 

Not applicable, as Road Transport Statistics results are published as final results, and no preliminary results are published before the final results.

Quality dimensions

Suitability

A criterion indicating the extent to which the statistical product meets users’ needs.

User needs 

User needs are taken into account when developing Road Transport Statistics and determining statistical outputs and indicators through communication with key users, reviewing feedback and inquiries received, and discussing current and future needs related to the statistical product.

Internal users within GASTAT:

  • Tourism, Hajj, and Umrah Statistics.
  • International indicators department.

External users:

  • Government entities.
  • Regional and international organizations.
  • Research institutions.
  • Media.
  • Individuals.

The Ministry of Economy and Planning is among the government entities benefiting from these statistics. Data and indicators relevant to its needs include Road network density, road lengths, the number of public transport passengers, and freight quantities transported through land ports.

The main data and indicators that meet user needs include:

  • Transport indicators related to the Sustainable Development Goals and international indicators.
  • Passenger numbers and passenger movements on roads and through land ports.
  • Number of public transport passengers.
  • Freight quantities transported through land ports.
  • Road network lengths.
  • Road network density relative to population and area.
  • Other indicators related to traffic, vehicles, and road traffic safety, depending on user needs and data availability.

User needs are reviewed periodically through feedback received from beneficiary entities, meetings and workshops, and post-publication inquiries and comments. This supports assessing the relevance of current indicators and identifying opportunities to improve future statistical outputs.

Completeness 

Road Transport Statistics relies on a range of administrative records and operational data received from data-owning entities, in addition to supporting statistical and geographic data available at GASTAT, to support coverage of the statistical domains and indicators targeted by the product.

Data completeness is assessed before preparing statistical outputs by verifying:

  • Availability of the required variables for each indicator.
  • Completeness of the reference period.
  • Completeness of geographic coverage and the required categories and classifications.
  • Presence of missing values in the received data.
  • Whether the data provides the level of detail required to produce the indicators.

When incomplete data is identified, the data-owning entity is contacted to obtain the missing data or clarify the reasons for its unavailability. Any remaining data gaps or limitations are documented, where necessary, before the final statistical outputs are approved.

The degree of data completeness varies across indicators and data sources depending on the scope of coverage and data availability at the data-owning entities.

Accuracy and reliability 

A criterion indicating the extent to which calculations or estimates are close to the exact or true values that reflect reality.

Accuracy overview 

A set of validation and review procedures is applied to support the accuracy and reliability of Road Transport Statistics before the final results are approved. These procedures include the following:

  • Comparing data for the reference period with available historical data to identify significant or unusual changes and determine cases requiring further verification.
  • Verifying the internal consistency of data, including reconciling totals with their components, and verifying the arithmetic and logical relationships between related variables and indicators.
  • Reviewing consistency across data sources and statistical outputs covering the same indicator or related indicators.
  • Verifying the quality of data integration, matching, and derivation processes for indicators that rely on multiple data sources or spatial and statistical processing.
  • Contacting the data-owning entity when implausible values, discrepancies, or issues requiring further verification are identified, and making no changes to the source data unless based on documented processing rules or clarification from the data source, as appropriate.
  • Reviewing the consistency of time series, taking into account any changes in definitions, coverage, classifications, or data sources and their potential impact on comparability over time.

Timeliness and punctuality 

Timeliness A criterion that indicates the length of time between the availability of information and the occurrence of the event.

Punctuality It reflects the time lag between the data publication date and the target date when publication actually occurs.

Timeliness 

GASTAT is committed to announcing statistical publication dates in advance through the statistical calendar published on its official website and monitoring adherence to the announced publication dates. In the event of any changes to the publication schedule, the calendar is updated in accordance with the approved procedures.

International reference practice for timeliness:

For the purpose of assessing the time lag between the end of the reference year and the publication date of Road Transport Statistics, GASTAT uses the metadata of the Common Questionnaire for Inland Transport Statistics published by Eurostat, which covers road transport statistics, solely as a reference for benchmarking purposes. This practice indicates a target of publishing annual data in December of the year following the reference year or in January of the subsequent year, approximately 12–13 months after the end of the reference year.

This time frame is used solely for benchmarking purposes and does not constitute a mandatory requirement or binding publication deadline in Saudi Arabia. The official publication date for the statistical product remains the date specified in GASTAT’s statistical calendar.

Punctuality 

Road Transport Statistics is published according to the approved publication dates announced in advance in the statistical calendar on GASTAT’s official website.

GASTAT monitors adherence to the announced publication date. In the event of any change or delay, the publication date is updated, and the reasons for the change are disclosed in accordance with the approved procedures.

Coherence and comparability

A criterion that refers to the necessity of internal and temporal consistency of statistics, their logical coherence, and their comparability and integration across different regions and sources.

Comparability – geographically

Road Transport Statistics data follow standardized definitions, classifications, and methodologies when producing indicators at the national and administrative region levels, ensuring internal geographic comparability. The data are also based on internationally recognized concepts and standards, supporting comparability with similar indicators at the international level.

Comparability - over time 

Time series are available for several Road Transport Statistics indicators, and data remain comparable over time when definitions, concepts, coverage, data sources, and calculation and processing methods remain consistent across periods.

Time series are reviewed to verify their consistency, and when changes occur in data sources, coverage, classifications, or processing rules, their impact on comparability is taken into account. Where possible, data from previous years are harmonized using standardized processing rules to maintain time series consistency. If harmonization is not feasible, the change and its impact are documented.

The consistent application of definitions, classifications, and processing rules supports the comparability of published indicators over time, enabling the development of road transport activities to be monitored and changes over time to be measured systematically.

Coherence- cross domain

Relevant statistical concepts and classifications related to transport statistics are taken into account when producing Road Transport Statistics, supporting conceptual consistency with other transport statistics products.

Certain indicators and measures are common across different modes of transport, such as passenger numbers and freight quantities. However, detailed definitions, scope of coverage, observation units, and calculation methods may vary depending on the mode of transport and data source.

When comparing Road Transport Statistics with statistics for other modes of transport, the consistency of indicator definitions, units of measurement, reference periods, scope of coverage, and calculation methods is verified to ensure that comparisons are made between equivalent or methodologically comparable indicators.

Definitions and concepts provided in international references on transport statistics are used to support consistency and comparability, while taking into account the methodological characteristics specific to each mode of transport.

Coherence- annual and sub-annual statistics 

Road Transport Statistics is published annually, with certain indicators available at a monthly or quarterly level of detail within the reference year. Where applicable, the consistency of subannual data with annual results is verified, including reconciling annual totals with the sum of monthly or quarterly values for indicators representing flows during the reference period and verifying the consistency of definitions, classifications, and scope of coverage across different levels of temporal detail.

For indicators representing a stock or status at a specific point in time, the annual value is not calculated by summing monthly or quarterly values. Instead, it is determined according to the indicator's definition and its designated reference point in time.

Coherence- national accounts 

Direct alignment or reconciliation with national accounts data is not performed as part of Road Transport Statistics, as the product's scope, purposes, concepts, and units of measurement differ from those used in compiling national accounts. Therefore, an assessment of direct coherence with national accounts does not apply to this statistical product.

Coherence- internal 

A set of internal consistency checks is applied to Road Transport Statistics data to verify the validity of the logical and arithmetic relationships among variables, indicators, and statistical outputs.

Where applicable, these checks include verifying that totals equal the sum of their components, reconciling values across different levels of classification and detail, and verifying the consistency of related indicators within individual tables and across related tables. For example, checks are performed to verify that total road lengths are consistent with their components according to the approved classifications and that the sum of values across administrative regions matches the national total for additive indicators.

The validity of arithmetic relationships for derived indicators, such as percentages, rates, and densities, is also verified based on their components and approved calculation methods.

Accessibility and clarity

Users’ ability to access data, the availability of micro or aggregated data, and the availability of the Methodology and Quality Report.

News

 The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar, as mentioned in 9.1. Access to the statistical calendar and press releases can also be viewed on GASTAT’s website. 

News

Publications

GASTAT regularly releases Road Transport Statistics publications and reports in accordance with a predetermined publication schedule. These publications and reports are made available on GASTAT’s official website. GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, and the Methodology and Quality Report) in both English and Arabic.

The results of Road Transport Statistics are available at:

Road Transport Statistics

Online database

The data is published on the statistical database:

GASTAT (stats.gov.sa)

Microdata accessibility

Not available.

References and standards

GASTAT produces Road Transport Statistics in accordance with its approved statistical business process methodology, in alignment with the relevant phases of the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), while applying methodological procedures appropriate to the nature of administrative and register-based data and the data sources used in the statistical product.

Regarding the concepts, definitions, indicators, and methodologies related to Road Transport Statistics, GASTAT primarily relies on approved national methodologies and definitions and, where necessary, draws on relevant international references and practices, including the following:

National and regulatory references:

  • The Traffic Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/85) dated 26/10/1428 AH, and its subsequent amendments, serves as a regulatory reference for concepts and provisions related to vehicles, vehicle registration licenses, driving licenses, traffic accidents, and other topics relevant to Road Transport Statistics.

International and methodological references:

  • Glossary for Transport Statistics – Sixth Edition (2026), jointly published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Eurostat, and the International Transport Forum (ITF), serves as a reference for statistical concepts and definitions related to transport, with road transport-specific definitions applied according to the scope of each indicator.
  • Eurostat/ITF/UNECE Common Questionnaire on Inland Transport Statistics serves as an international reference for indicators related to road transport, road traffic, buses, infrastructure, transport equipment, transport volumes, and traffic performance.
  • Handbook on Statistics on Road Traffic, published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), serves as a supporting methodological reference for measuring road traffic performance and methods of collecting traffic data, including traffic counts and vehicle odometer readings.
  • Regional Guideline on Statistics on the Volume of Road Traffic, published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), serves as a reference for concepts and methodologies related to measuring road traffic in the regional context.
  • Glossary of Statistical Terms, published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), serves as a reference for general statistical concepts, where needed.

International references are used as guidance to support conceptual and methodological consistency and comparability, while giving priority to approved national methodologies and definitions and verifying their suitability for the scope of each indicator and the data source used.

Quality assurance

GASTAT is committed to the following principles: Impartiality, user orientation of statistical products, quality of processes and outputs, effectiveness of statistical processes, and minimizing burden on respondents. 

Data validity is verified through quality assurance procedures and controls implemented at various stages of the statistical process, such as data entry, data collection, and other final controls.

Quality assessment

GASTAT carries out all statistical activities in accordance with the National Model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). During the comprehensive evaluation phase, which is the final phase of the GSBPM, information collected during each phase or sub-process is used to prepare an evaluation report that summarizes all challenges related to the quality of each statistical process. This report serves as input for improvement and development procedures.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality – Policy

In accordance with Article Eleven of the Statistics Law promulgated pursuant to Royal Decree No. (M/29), dated 10/02/1447 AH, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) shall maintain the strict confidentiality of all data collected and shall ensure that such data is used exclusively for statistical purposes.

Data processing confidentiality

Data were displayed in appropriate tables to facilitate their summarization, comprehension, and results extraction. Also, to compare data with other data and extract statistical meanings for the study community. It is also easier to check tables without the need to see any sensitive or confidential data, which violates the confidentiality of statistical data.

Publishing policy

Statistical calendar

Road Transport Statistics has been included in the statistical calendar.

Statistical Calendar

User accessibility

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients’ needs. Therefore, it provides them with the publication results immediately upon the release of the Road Transport Statistics publication.

GASTAT also receives users’ questions and inquiries regarding the publication and its results through various communication channels, such as:

  • GASTAT’s official website:  www.stats.gov.sa
  • GASTAT's official email address:  info@stats.gov.sa
  • Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
  • Official letters.
  • Unified number: (199009).