World Enivironmental Issues Brief

  • LARGE AREAS SUBJECT TO OVERPOPULATION
  • INDUSTRIAL DISASTERS
  • POLLUTION (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances)
  • LOSS OF VEGETATION (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification)
  • LOSS OF WILDLIFE
  • SOIL DEGRADATION
  • SOIL DEPLETION
  • EROSION
  • GLOBAL WARMING

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Global Issues Snapshots

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Saudi Arabia

— Current Environmental Issues —
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

— Health Indicators —
HIV / AIDS prevalancy rate: 0.0
Fertility Rate: 3.9
Infant Mortality Rate: 12.4
Life Expectancy at Birth: Male: 73.9
Life Expectancy at Birth: Female: 78.0
Life Expectancy at Birth: Total Population: 75.9

— Population —
Population Total: 27,601,038
Population Growth Rate: 2.1

— Economic Indicators —
GDP Real Growth Rate: 5.9
Military Expendatures Percent of GDP: 10.0
Unemployment Rate: 13.0
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9
GDP Per Capita PPP: 13,800
Population Below Poverty Line: N/R
    (Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations.)

— Education and Communications —
Global Issues Snapshots
Global Issues Snapshots
Bordering country: Iraq
Bordering country: Jordan
Bordering country: Kuwait
Bordering country: Oman
Bordering country: Qatar
Bordering country: Yemen

— Background —
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islams two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The kings official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the countrys 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraqs invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds approximately 25% of the worlds proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabias accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.