e(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.27 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69 years
male: 67.25 years
female: 70.84 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.45 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Religions: Muslim 100%

Languages: Arabic

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 62.8%
male: 71.5%
female: 50.2%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Data code: SA

Type of government: monarchy

Capital: Riyadh

Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular -
mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah,
Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail,
Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)

National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Constitution: none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)

Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have
been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD
bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982) is an absolute monarch;
Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since
13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is dominated by royal family members
appointed by the king

Legislative branch: a consultative council composed of 60 members
and a chairman who are appointed by the king for a term of four years

Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders: none allowed

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,