The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that Real Estate Price Index increased by 0.8% during the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of last year (Quarter 2 2022). This increase is boosted by the slight increase in residential real estate prices by 1.1%.   According to the publication results, the residential sector prices increased by 1.1% as a result of the increase of residential lands by 1.2%, on a yearly basis during the second quarter of 2023. In addition, the prices of apartments increased by 1.0%, whereas the prices of buildings decreased by 0.9%, prices of villas by 5.0%, and prices of houses by 0.1% On the other hand, the commercial sector recorded an increase of 0.2% driven by the increase of commercial lands prices by 0.2%. However, the prices of stores decreased by 1.1%, while the prices of commercial buildings and centers remained stable and did not record any percentage change during the second quarter of 2023.   The agricultural sector registered a decline by 0.3% influenced by the decrease of agricultural lands prices by 0.3%.  The Real Estate Price General Index rely on the Ministry of Justice’s administrative data on real estate transactions. This index is an important tool that helps all concerned entities to make relevant economic and statistical decisions on the real estate prices movement and future anticipations over different periods of time. The index includes three main sectors that consist of several real estate categories:  residential sector, which consists of the following categories: (Land, building, villa, apartment, and house), commercial sector which consists of:  (Land, building, store/shop, and commercial center), and the agricultural sector which includes one category only (Agricultural lands).

The General Authority for statistics (GASTAT) released the GDP Flash Estimates Publication for the second quarter of 2023. According to the publication, real GDP increased by (1.1%) during the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of last year 2022.    The publication activities showed that non-oil activities positively grew by (5.5%) in quarter 2, 2023 compared to the same period of last year 2022. However, oil activities decreased by (4.2%) compared to the same period of last year.   The results also demonstrated that the seasonally adjusted real GDP declined by (0.1%) during the second quarter of 2023, compared to the first quarter of the same year.  It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and research, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

Merchandise exports in May 2023 amounted to SAR 97.1 billion, compared to SAR 143.0 billion in May 2022, with a decrease of SAR 45.9 billion or 32.1%, according to GASTAT's report.   The publication indicated that the value of oil exports in May 2023 recorded SAR 72.0 billion compared to SAR 115.5 billion in May 2022, with a decrease of SAR 43.5 billion by 37.7%. On the other hand, the decline of non-oil exports was the main driver of merchandise exports decline. According to the publication's results, the value of non-oil exports (including re-export) in May 2023 amounted to SAR 25.1 billion, compared to SAR 27.5 billion in May 2022, with a decrease of SAR 2.4 billion, by 8.7%.  However, the value of merchandise imports of Saudi Arabia in May 2023 amounted to SAR 67.7 billion, compared to SAR 56.0 billion in May 2022, with an increase of SAR 11.7 billion, by 20.9%.  It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and research, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that during the month of May 2023, the Industrial Production Index reached 1.2% compared to the same month of last year, with a slight decrease that resulted from the decline of mining and quarrying activity, which contributed directly to the decrease of the general index.   the Industrial Production Publication revealed the increase of the sub-index of manufacturing activity by 10.3% compared to the same month of last year (May 2022). However, the sub-index of electricity and gas supply activity increased by 12.0%.  The publication also indicated a decrease on the sub-index of mining and quarrying activity during the month of May 2023 by 5.5% compared to the same month of last year (May 2022).  It is noteworthy the Industrial Production Index (IPI) is an economic indicator that reflects relative changes and evolution in the volume of industrial production quantities based on the data of the Industrial Production Survey. It is implemented monthly and targets industrial establishments operating in the targeted activities, which are mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity and gas supply.

Merchandise exports in May 2023 amounted to SAR 97.1 billion, compared to SAR 143.0 billion in May 2022, with a decrease of SAR 45.9 billion or 32.1%, according to GASTAT's report.   The publication indicated that the value of oil exports in May 2023 recorded SAR 72.0 billion compared to SAR 115.5 billion in May 2022, with a decrease of SAR 43.5 billion by 37.7%. On the other hand, the decline of non-oil exports was the main driver of merchandise exports decline. According to the publication's results, the value of non-oil exports (including re-export) in May 2023 amounted to SAR 25.1 billion, compared to SAR 27.5 billion in May 2022, with a decrease of SAR 2.4 billion, by 8.7%.  However, the value of merchandise imports of Saudi Arabia in May 2023 amounted to SAR 67.7 billion, compared to SAR 56.0 billion in May 2022, with an increase of SAR 11.7 billion, by 20.9%.  It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and research, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that during the month of May 2023, the Industrial Production Index reached 1.2% compared to the same month of last year, with a slight decrease that resulted from the decline of mining and quarrying activity, which contributed directly to the decrease of the general index.   the Industrial Production Publication revealed the increase of the sub-index of manufacturing activity by 10.3% compared to the same month of last year (May 2022). However, the sub-index of electricity and gas supply activity increased by 12.0%.  The publication also indicated a decrease on the sub-index of mining and quarrying activity during the month of May 2023 by 5.5% compared to the same month of last year (May 2022).  It is noteworthy the Industrial Production Index (IPI) is an economic indicator that reflects relative changes and evolution in the volume of industrial production quantities based on the data of the Industrial Production Survey. It is implemented monthly and targets industrial establishments operating in the targeted activities, which are mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity and gas supply.

General Authority for Statistics announced today that the total number of pilgrims for this year amounted to (1,845,045) pilgrims. Number of external pilgrims arriving from various ports was (1,660,915), while the number of internal pilgrims reached (184,130) citizens and residents. According to its statistical results for Hajj 1444 H, GASTAT indicated that the number of male pilgrims out of the general total number of internal and external pilgrims amounted to (969,694) pilgrims, while the number of female pilgrims reached (875,351). Regarding the statistics of external pilgrims, GASTAT indicated that the number of pilgrims from Arab countries reached (346,214) or (21%). Number of pilgrims from African countries other than Arab countries was (221,863) or (13.4%), while the number of pilgrims from Europe, America, Australia and other unclassified countries reached (36,521) or (2.1%). As for the ways of arrival, (1,593,271) pilgrims arrived through airports, (60,813) pilgrims arrived through land ports, and (6,831) pilgrims arrived through seaports. GASTAT noted that the number of countries benefiting from Makkah Route initiative was 7 countries, where the number of beneficiaries from this initiative reached (242,272) pilgrims. Travel procedures for all pilgrims benefiting from the initiative have been completed after checking health requirements, and their luggage has been transported directly from their countries of departure to their place of residence. It should be noted that GASTAT relied on administrative records data to issue statistical data and indicators for Hajj season 1444 AH / 2023, as a main source of data represented by all government and private entities concerned with serving pilgrims to provide data according to a unified form that includes a number of elements as an extension of the statistical approach that was followed during the past three years. Hajj statistics publication shows the total number of pilgrims, and their distribution according to sex, nationality, and way of arrival. It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and researches, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well. On the other hand, GASTAT's President, Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dossari, on behalf of all GASTAT's employees, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister - may Allah protect them - for everything that was provided to pilgrims, asking Allah Almighty to accept their Hajj, and to help all government entities in Saudi Arabia to provide distinguished services to pilgrims. To view the executive summary of Hajj statistics 1444 AH, please visit the following link: https://www.stats.gov.sa/system/tdf/file_manger/Hajj%20Report%201444H-EN...

The General Authority for Statistics organized a virtual webinar on the Saudi Census 2022, with the participation of a number of GASTAT employees and international experts, to introduce the census methodology and the efforts made in its implementation, after announcing the results of the first phase of the Saudi Census 2022, which included demographics, households and housing. In the course of the webinar, the participating international experts confirmed that the Saudi census 2022 is one of the most powerful population censuses that have been implemented recently in the Arab region and the Middle East due to the combination between register-based data and field enumeration. They pointed out that the high level of integration and participation between government entities, and the development of digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia contributed to achieving data quality, making it a pioneering experience in the framework of combining and comparing multiple sources. The webinar addressed several axes, most notably the statistical methodology that was used in the Saudi census 2022, which international experts described as a professional methodology. It went through several stages, beginning with the preparation of the census project, then collecting, analyzing, and processing statistical data, and finally extracting and publishing the results in line with international best practices. The webinar discussed the technical aspect of the Saudi census 2022, and the impact of the great development in the digital infrastructure witnessed by Saudi Arabia with the launch of Vision 2030. This helped in raising GASTAT’s technical capabilities, as the latest modern technologies were used in the census project, such as self-enumeration. Field enumeration process relied on geospatial data, using satellite images with the aim of improving geographical coverage, accuracy of sorting addresses, and ensuring that no dwelling was overlooked during enumeration. Satellites have also contributed to verifying dwellings data with high accuracy. The webinar included a discussion of the main quality standards that were applied in the data collection phase to ensure coverage of the entire population, and comparisons between what was applied in the Saudi census 2022 and the procedures used in a number of countries of the world, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Australia, in addition to talking about the pivotal role GASTAT undertakes to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and privacy for individuals and to protect their personal data that they provided during the data collection phase. The webinar revealed that GASTAT has allocated an integrated team to review and audit the data, and made more than a million calls to ensure the quality of work, in addition to carrying out (900,000) additional field visits to ensure the accuracy and quality of the data collected. It also compared five different sources of data and reviewed them through 200 indicators of data quality. This had a great impact in providing an accurate population database that will be used as a reliable basis for developing economic and social policies. The webinar emphasized that this reflects the importance of the census project in providing accurate and reliable data and various statistical indicators on the demographics of Saudi Arabia that support decision-makers and contribute to the development of plans and policy-making in all sectors and fields.