Which Saudi Province Has the Most People? | 1974–2026

Explore more than 50 years of population change across Saudi Arabia's 13 administrative regions in this animated bar chart race covering the period from 1974 to 2026. Watch how Riyadh, Makkah, Eastern Province, Madinah, Asir and other regions have changed in population size and rankings over time. Saudi Arabia has experienced remarkable demographic transformation over the past five decades, driven by economic development, urbanization, international migration, infrastructure expansion and natural population growth. From the rapid expansion of Riyadh and the growing population of Makkah to the development of the Eastern Province and other regions, this visualization reveals how the Kingdom's population has evolved. The animation includes all 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Makkah Eastern Province Madinah Asir Jazan Qassim Tabuk Hail Al-Jouf Najran Northern Borders Al-Baha According to the Saudi Census 2022, the Kingdom's population reached approximately 32.2 million people, with Riyadh, Makkah and Eastern Province accounting for the largest shares. Which Saudi Arabian region experienced the greatest population growth? How have regional population rankings changed since 1974? Watch the full animation to discover the answers! Data and Methodology: Historical figures are based on available population census records, regional statistics and demographic estimates. Missing annual values have been estimated using interpolation. Historical regional boundaries have been harmonized where necessary for comparison. The 2010–2022 period uses population estimates aligned with the 2022 census where available. Figures for 2023–2026 are estimates and projections, not final official census results. Historical data sources may differ in coverage and methodology, particularly for the 1974 census. Sources: General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) – Saudi Arabia: https://www.stats.gov.sa/en Saudi Census 2022: https://www.stats.gov.sa/en Saudi Ministry of Health – Statistical Yearbook 2023 (Population by Administrative Region): https://www.moh.gov.sa/Ministry/Statistics/book/Documents/Statistical-Yearbook-2023.pdf United Nations – Saudi Cities Report: https://saudiarabia.un.org/en/download/8837/40089 DataSaudi – Population Statistics: https://datasaudi.sa/en/data-explorer/datasets Hashtags: #SaudiArabia #SaudiArabiaPopulation #SaudiArabiaProvinces #Riyadh #Makkah #PopulationGrowth #PopulationRanking #BarChartRace #DataVisualization #Demographics #SaudiHistory #SaudiRegions #PopulationStatistics #MiddleEast #1974to2026