Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Healthcare in Saudi Arabia - statistics & facts
Saudi Arabia spends the most on healthcare in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the sector remains a central pillar of the country's broader economic and social transformation. With healthcare demand surging due to population growth, an aging demographic, and lifestyle-related diseases, the kingdom has doubled down on both spending and structural reforms. In 2024, healthcare expenditure in Saudi Arabia exceeded 58 billion U.S. dollars.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) oversees most healthcare services, offering free care to Saudi citizens and public employees. Expatriates have used private facilities with mandatory insurance since 2005, regulated by the Council for Cooperative Health Insurance. Despite expanded coverage in 2016, many employers still fail to comply fully, leaving enforcement gaps. As a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Health sector Transformation Program aims to improve access, efficiency, and quality with the support of the private sector.
It was forecasted that smokers in Saudi Arabia would make up about 17 percent of the population by 2025. The MoH plans to create nationwide health clusters to encourage preventative healthcare, increase accessibility, enhance service quality, and reduce regional disparities. Targets also include raising the number of globally accredited hospitals, reducing smoking and obesity rates, and boosting digital healthcare technology.
Healthcare accessibility in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia had the highest spending on healthcare compared to the GCC region and one of the highest densities of medical professionals per thousand residents. This was only achievable by intensively recruiting foreign physicians and nurses, which resulted in the number of physicians of Saudi and non-Saudi nationalities being very comparable.The Ministry of Health (MoH) oversees most healthcare services, offering free care to Saudi citizens and public employees. Expatriates have used private facilities with mandatory insurance since 2005, regulated by the Council for Cooperative Health Insurance. Despite expanded coverage in 2016, many employers still fail to comply fully, leaving enforcement gaps. As a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Health sector Transformation Program aims to improve access, efficiency, and quality with the support of the private sector.
Lifestyles and healthcare outlook
The rise in income, acceptance of contemporary diets, and a lack of physical activity have all contributed to the emergence of modern health disorders. In Saudi Arabia, non-communicable diseases account for the bulk of mortality, with diabetes and obesity prevalent among the population. According to the World Health Organization, almost 60 percent of all deaths in Saudi Arabia in 2022 were attributed to non-communicable diseases.It was forecasted that smokers in Saudi Arabia would make up about 17 percent of the population by 2025. The MoH plans to create nationwide health clusters to encourage preventative healthcare, increase accessibility, enhance service quality, and reduce regional disparities. Targets also include raising the number of globally accredited hospitals, reducing smoking and obesity rates, and boosting digital healthcare technology.
