Saudi Arabia, a map of which is shown below, is a country in south-western Asia, occupying about 80% of the Arabian Peninsula.The origin of its name is associated with the Saud royal family, which founded the state and continues to be in it in power until today.
General description
area of Saudi Arabia was 2.15 million square kilometers.The state is bordered by Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Yemen and Oman.In addition, it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.It is the capital of Riyadh, which is home to more than five million people.Other major cities of Saudi Arabia - a Jeddah, Mecca and Medina.Their population exceeds the mark of one million people.
To the north of the country is characterized by a subtropical climate, and to the south - dry, continental.Thus, the winter is warm and summer - hot.It should be noted that permanent rivers and water sources in the country there, and temporary streams are formed only as a result of intense rainfall.The problem of providing fresh water is achieved only through the development of companies engaged in desalination of water bodies, as well as due to the drilling of artesian wells.
Political structure
In March 1992, the first documents were adopted governing the political structure of the state and the basic principles of its management.Based on these, the country is theocratic Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy.At the heart of its constitution is the Koran.The Saudi dynasty is in power since 1932.King has full legislative, executive and judicial power.The powers of his only theoretically limited to local traditions and Sharia.The government in its current form has been operating since 1953.It is headed by the king, which defines the main directions of its activity.There are in the country and the Council of Ministers, with responsibilities not only performing, but also legislative functions.All decisions taken by this authority, shall be approved by decree of the King of Saudi Arabia.The population of the state is obliged to comply with them.Administratively, the country is divided into thirteen provinces.
Economy
At the heart of the local economy is private free enterprise.At the same time, it should be noted that control of key areas of activity carried out by the government.The state boasts the world's largest oil reserves.It accounts for about 75% of its revenues.In addition, Saudi Arabia is the world's leading exporter of black gold and played a leading role in OPEC.The country also has reserves of zinc, chromium, lead, copper and iron ore.
population
first census of local residents was held in 1974.Since that time and until today the population of Saudi Arabia has increased almost threefold.Now the country is home to nearly 30 million people.The vast majority of local residents is the Arabs, a large part of which is preserved tribal organization.Now there are more than 100 tribes and tribal organizations.It is impossible not to note the fact that about one-fifth of the population accounts for foreign workers.Based on the official statistics of the United Nations, as of 1970, the infant mortality rate in the country was 204 infant per thousand births.Now this indicator there was a significant positive shift.In particular, by improving the living standards and medical care in the State of thousands of newborns die of all 19 children.
Language
Arabic is the official language in a country such as Saudi Arabia.Population in the home used mainly Arabian dialect that comes from al-fuskhi.Inside it stands several dialects that are close to each other.At the same time, urban residents and descendants of nomads speak differently.The literary and colloquial languages are minor differences between them.In a religious context it is used mainly classical Arabic dialect.Major languages among immigrants from other countries are English, Indonesian, Urdu, Tagalog, Farsi and others.
Religion
Centre of the Islamic world is considered to be Saudi Arabia.The population is almost at full strength it professes the religion.According to various estimates, up to 93% of local residents are Sunnis.The rest of the representatives of Islam falls mainly on the Shia.As for the other religions, is about 3% of the population - are Christians, and 0.4% - other religions.
Education Higher education in the country, though free, but not mandatory.Good job and a comfortable life in Saudi Arabia are possible without it.Whatever it was, there is a variety of programs, the main aim of which was the reduction of the illiteracy rate of local residents.At present, there are 7 universities and 16 higher education institutions.All of them are administered by the Ministry of Higher Education.About 30 thousand students per year studying abroad.In the past few decades, the government has significantly increased spending on education.However, the state requires a general reform in this field, which should form a new balance between modern and traditional teaching methods.
Medicine
One of the world's most advanced countries in terms of medicine is Saudi Arabia.The population of the state has the right to free services associated with it.This applies both to the inhabitants of cities, and representatives of the Bedouin tribes that roam the desert.Every year on health care by the government allocated about 8% of the local budget, which is just a gigantic amount.Mandatory immunization of newborns is fixed at the legislative level.Epidemiological Surveillance System, which was established in 1986, will completely conquer and eliminate such terrible diseases as plague, yellow fever and cholera.
Demographic problems
According to research scientists, if the current rate of increase in the number of inhabitants in the country will continue (for the past 30 years, they represent about 4% of the population per year) by 2050, the population of Saudi Arabia will reach 45 million.In other words, very soon, the country's leaders have to solve the problem of not only providing jobs for citizens, but also to ensure a decent old age now running the Saudis.This task is not so simple, even for the government, which has so impressive oil reserves.The emergence of this kind of problems due primarily to the positive changes in the areas of food and medical care, as well as with the improvement of living conditions in the country.
