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General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the Physical Activity Statistics publication in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2025, which showed that 59.1% of the Kingdom’s population (18 years and above) engage in physical activity for (150 minutes or more) per week. The prevalence among males was 66.5%, while among females it was 43.1%. According to the publication, the age group (18–29) years had the highest participation in physical activity at 71.2%, whereas individuals (80 years and above) had the lowest participation, not exceeding 3.5%
In the same context, transport-related physical activity, including walking or cycling, ranked first among adults engaging in physical activity at 57.1%, followed by work-related physical activity at 43.9%, while non-work-related physical activity ranked last at 37.8%. The report also covered the daily time spent by adults (18 years and above) sitting or lying down, excluding sleep.
The results also showed that 19.0% of children and adolescents (5–17 years) engage in physical activity for (60 minutes or more) daily, with 23.3% of males and 14.4% of females meeting this threshold. Regarding the time spent by children and adolescents in sedentary or non-physical activities, the results indicated that 34.6% spend one to two hours daily sitting or engaging in sedentary non-physical activities, such as watching television or using electronic devices, excluding school time.
It is worth noting that the estimates in the Physical Activity Statistics publication are based on self-reported data from individuals or their caregivers. The publication presents physical activity indicators through self-reporting by the Kingdom’s adult population (18 years and above) and children and adolescents (5–17 years). The accuracy of the data relies on the results of the National Health Survey, the Women and Child Health Survey for 2025, along with population estimates from GASTAT for 2025.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has announced the release of the Construction Cost Index (CCI) publication in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of its continuous efforts to develop statistical products for key sectors and to provide a reliable and effective reference supported by accurate estimates.
This release is based on a comprehensive analysis of the costs of key construction components, including materials, labor, equipment and machinery rentals, and energy, for both the residential and non-residential sectors.
The publication aims to support decision-making processes for contractors, real estate developers, and relevant stakeholders and to contribute to outlining a clear roadmap for residential and non-residential construction projects within the building and construction sector.
In the same context, the results of CCI Survey for September 2025 showed an annual increase of 0.7% compared to the same month of the previous year.
This increase was mainly driven by higher construction costs in the residential sector, which rose by 0.8%, and in the non-residential sector, which increased by 0.6%.
The results of CCI Publication for September 2025 indicated that the index remained stable monthly compared to August 2025.
Construction costs for both the residential and non-residential sectors recorded relative stability during September 2025.

The Second Statistical Forum for Universities and Statistical Associations, held at the Conference Center of the University of Jeddah, continued its activities with two panel sessions. The first session was titled “The Role of Statistics in Community Development,” while the second session was titled “Innovative Methodologies for Improving the Quality of Statistical Data.”  The first session highlighted the importance of statistical indicators in analyzing the living conditions of society and their role in shaping public policies, improving the quality of essential services, serving as a key tool for measuring welfare indicators, promoting social equity, and guiding future development plans.
While the second session focused on national and international experiences in adopting new methodologies to enhance data quality, it also discussed statistical challenges and ways to overcome them through advanced technological solutions and modern analytical tools. Speakers emphasized the importance of research collaboration between universities and statistical offices to develop measurement tools that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
It is worth noting that the panel discussions are among the main programs of the forum and form part of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) efforts to strengthen the integration of roles between the academic and applied fields and to develop the capabilities of national cadres in statistical quality and decision-making.

As part of the activities of the Second Statistical Forum for Universities and Associations, specialized scientific sessions were held to discuss a variety of topics. The third session addressed “Ethics in Statistical Practice and Safeguarding Data Privacy,” while the fourth session focused on “Practices of Statistical Offices in Providing Data to Users.” The fifth session was dedicated to the topic “"Universities’ Contribution to Building Human Capital in the Field of Statistical Work".
The third session reviewed the ethical challenges associated with the use of big data and modern technologies, emphasizing the importance of promoting professional practices that preserve privacy and ensure transparency. In the fourth session, participants highlighted the significance of enhancing transparency by enabling institutions, researchers, and users to access statistical data. The fifth session discussed the vital role of universities in preparing qualified statistical professionals through updating curricula to keep pace with digital transformations.
It is worth noting that these sessions are part of a series of panel discussions held during the forum, with the participation of a distinguished group of experts and specialists, in addition to scientific and research papers. The forum aims to strengthen partnerships between the statistical and academic sectors and to leverage modern technologies in the development of statistical methodologies.