RIYADH, 7 March 2005 — The capital Riyadh is well on its way to becoming the first mega city of the region with its current population exceeding 4.26 million.

The figure represents a 4.2 percent increase over the past eight years, according to the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (HCDA). It corresponds to the end of 1425 Hijrah year, which ended in February. The new figures cover adjoining suburban areas of Al-Dirayya, Al-Haer and Arqa districts.

Expatriates, according to the HCDA figures, numbered 1.46 million in the capital city, representing 34 percent of the population compared to 2.8 million Saudis.

HCDA said 63 percent of expatriates living in the capital are male, whereas Saudi male population account for 53 percent of the capital’s indigenous population at 1.48 million.

The latest census showed that the Kingdom’s population last September was 22.7 million of which 6.1 million were expatriates, representing 27.1 percent of the total population. Saudi males represent 50.1 percent of the total indigenous population.

“The population growth rate of Riyadh city is one of the highest in the world and the Kingdom’s overall population is growing at a rate of 3.6 percent annually, according to a book entitled “Investment Atmosphere in Riyadh City.”

Asian expatriates, the book said, represent 50 percent of the expatriate population. The average age of the population is 22 years with 50 percent reported to be under 20. According to the book, only two percent of the population is over 60 with the average age of Saudi males and females estimated at 18 and 17 years respectively.

The average age of non-Saudis was put at 32 for males and 29 for females. Another study conducted by Arriyadh Development Authority revealed that the growth of Riyadh’s population is triggered not only by natural reasons but also by a continuing wave of migration of Saudis from other parts of the Kingdom. The study observed that Riyadh’s population has increased by 120 percent during the last few years. Government and private sector efforts are under way to develop Riyadh’s infrastructure to cope with the growing demand.

The population of Riyadh is projected to exceed 11.1 million by 2020.