Quick facts
Riyadh overview
Riyadh (orange) and the other large cities of Saudi Arabia
Riyadh lies in Riyadh Region in Saudi Arabia at 24.69°N, 46.72°E, about 612 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Riyadh (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is smaller than Jeddah (4,697,000) and larger than Makkah (1,578,722). The largest city in Saudi Arabia is Jeddah with 4,697,000 people.
The nearest large city is Al Kharj, about 86 km away.
Saudi Arabia as a whole has a live population of 35,340,881 (+1.7% a year) and ranks #47 of 238 countries — see the Saudi Arabia population page for the full statistics and the Saudi Arabia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Riyadh
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Al Kharj Riyadh Region | 86 km | 425,300 |
Largest cities in Saudi Arabia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeddah | Mecca Region | 4,697,000 |
| 2 | RiyadhCapital | Riyadh Region | 4,205,961 |
| 3 | Makkah | Mecca Region | 1,578,722 |
| 4 | Madinah | Medina Region | 1,300,000 |
| 5 | Dammam | Eastern Province | 1,252,523 |
| 6 | Sulţānah | Medina Region | 946,697 |
| 7 | Buraydah | Al-Qassim Region | 745,353 |
| 8 | Ta’if | Mecca Region | 688,693 |
| 9 | Tabuk | Tabuk Region | 667,000 |
| 10 | Ha'il | Ha'il Region | 605,930 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Riyadh?
Riyadh has about 4,205,961 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Riyadh the capital of Saudi Arabia?
Yes — Riyadh is the national capital of Saudi Arabia.
How big is Riyadh compared with the rest of Saudi Arabia?
Its 4,205,961 residents are 11.9% of the 35,340,881 people living in Saudi Arabia today. Jeddah is larger with 4,697,000 people.
Where is Riyadh?
In Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia, at latitude 24.69 and longitude 46.72, 612 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Al Kharj (86 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Riyadh Population 2026 — Saudi Arabia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/saudi-arabia/riyadh/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/saudi-arabia/riyadh/">Riyadh Population 2026 — Saudi Arabia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.