Social Development and Mortality Decline in Saudi Arabia

Demography of Saudi Arabia is little known and little explored. Aspects covered by researchers within the nation and elsewhere include size, growth, distribution and age structure. Detailed analyses on components of population growth namely fertility, mortality and migration are limited. While Saudi Arabian demography is characterized by higher levels of fertility and immigration, mortality has registered at lower level since long.
The current effort is concentrated on (i) tracking changes in death rates in the Kingdom (ii) linking death rates decline with social, economic, cultural and political transformation and (iii) tracing changes in causes of death along the transition. National level data from Government ministries will be utilized to carry out this analysis.
Mortality declined in the Kingdom at a faster pace since its formation in 1935, which has its base on changes in national per capita, GDP and natural wealth. National economic scenario influenced societal, family and individual life leading to modernized life style and health seeking behavior. Governmental efforts at building social and educational, health and public utilities paved way for improved health. The resultant increase in life expectancy replaced premature deaths with deaths caused due to senility related non-communicable disorders.