Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia: population, area, economy, capital How old is Saudi Arabia
This article is about the people who inhabit Saudi Arabia. For people of ethnic origin, Saudis, see Saudis.
| Demographics of Saudi Arabia | |
|---|---|
|
Saudi Arabia 2010 estimated population density. |
|
| Population | 33091113 |
| density | 15.322 people per sq. Km of land (2017) |
| growth rate | 1,63% |
| Birth rate | 15.6 newborns / 1000 population |
| Mortality | 3.3 deaths/1000 population |
| life expectancy | 75.7 years |
| Man | 74.2 years |
| female | 77.3 years |
| Birth rate | 2.04 newborns/woman |
| Net migration rate | 590000 (2017) |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabia |
| Main ethnic | Saudis |
| language | |
| official | Arab |
| colloquial | Arab |
Vital statistics
The following data was obtained from the CIA by country as of 2018.
- Birth rate: 15.6 newborns / 1000 population
- Mortality: 3.3 deaths/1000 population
- Maternal mortality rate: 12 deaths/100,000 live births
- Infant mortality rate:
- men: 13 deaths / 1,000 live births
- female: 11.1 deaths/1000 live births
- Total Fertility Rate: 2.04 newborns/woman
Saudi Arabia is ranked 111th compared to the world with a birth rate of 15.6 births per 1,000 people according to the CIA by country in 2018. The nation's death rate is slanted 220th in the world with 3.3 deaths per 1,000 people. Although the birth rate has declined in the past two decades, the rate of decline has not matched the significant decline in death rates. Because of this, Saudi Arabia has experienced a population explosion in the past 40 years, and continues to grow at a rate of 1.63% per year. Saudi Arabia's population growth is still 0.295% higher than the population growth rate in the Middle East and North Africa. The infant mortality rate has dropped significantly over the past twenty years, from 25.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1995 to 6.3 deaths in 2017, according to the World Bank. Saudi Arabia has a significantly lower infant mortality rate compared to the Middle East and North Africa region, which continues to face a high 19.3 deaths per 1,000 live births as of 2017. This significant decline may be due to increased access to modern healthcare throughout the country, ranking 26th in the world for the quality of the healthcare system. Construction of new hospitals and primary health centers throughout the Kingdom, as well as health care during pregnancy and increased use of vaccination bills to reduce infant mortality and increase life expectancy.
UN estimates
| period | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | CBR 1 | CDR 1 | NC 1 | TFR 1 | IMR 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950-1955 | 158 000 | 81 000 | 78 000 | 47,9 | 24,3 | +23,5 | 7,18 | 204,3 |
| 1955-1960 | 180 000 | 83 000 | 98 000 | 47,6 | 21,9 | 25,7 | 7,18 | 183,1 |
| 1960-1965 | 210 000 | 86 000 | 124 000 | 47,6 | 19,6 | 28,1 | 7,26 | 162,6 |
| 1965-1970 | 248 000 | 88 000 | 159 000 | 46,9 | +16,7 | 30,2 | 7,26 | 139,2 |
| 1970-1975 | 304 000 | 88 000 | 216 000 | 46,4 | 13,4 | 33,0 | 7,30 | 106,6 |
| 1975-1980 | 378 000 | 86 000 | 292 000 | 44,1 | 10,0 | 34,1 | 7,28 | 78,2 |
| 1980-1985 | 491 000 | 86 000 | 405 000 | 42,7 | 7,5 | 35,2 | 7,02 | 57,0 |
| 1985-1990 | 562 000 | 86 000 | 476 000 | 38,3 | 5,8 | 32,4 | 6,22 | 42,3 |
| 1990-1995 | 579 000 | 85 000 | 495 000 | 33,5 | 4,9 | 28,6 | 5,45 | 30,2 |
| 1995-2000 | 573 000 | 87 000 | 486 000 | 29,7 | 4.5 | 25,2 | 4,51 | 22,2 |
| 2000-2005 | 545 000 | 91 000 | 454 000 | 24,7 | 4,1 | 20,6 | 3,54 | 19,4 |
| 2005-2010 | 569 000 | 98 000 | 470 000 | 22,1 | 3,8 | 18,3 | 3,03 | 18,5 |
| 1 CBR = birth rate (per 1000); CDR = death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births | ||||||||
Nationality and ethnicity
Nationality
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: saudi or saudi arabia
Ethnos
The ethnic composition of Saudi citizens is 90% Arab and 10% Afro-Asian.
urbanization
The following data was obtained from the CIA on the countries of the world
urban population: 83.8% of the total population (2018)
urbanization rate: 2.17% annual change (2015-20 ESTA.)
Historically, the people of Saudi Arabia have followed a nomadic lifestyle. After the discovery of oil in the 1930s, the Kingdom became much more populated with people moving to centers of high economic activity. Significant population growth can be seen in the growth of urbanization throughout Saudi Arabia, which has grown by 2 percent over the past ten years. Saudi's largest cities have become inundated with new residents as more people move to urban cities to find better job opportunities, and overcrowding has become a major problem across the country.
migration
Migration is an important part of Saudi Arabia's society and cultures, and the country's thriving oil economy attracts large numbers of foreign workers from an assortment of countries across Asia and the Arab world. After diversifying the economy in response to the oil boom of the 1970s, the Saudi government encouraged skilled and semi-skilled workers to enter the Kingdom as demand for infrastructure and development intensified. Saudi Arabia is one of the top five immigrant destinations worldwide, currently hosting 5.3 million international migrants within its borders. In 2017, non-natives accounted for 37% of the Kingdom's total population, more than double that of the United States, whose immigrants make up 15% of the country's total population. The majority of the foreign population born in Saudi Arabia are men between the ages of 25 and 45. These immigrants make up a larger percentage of the total population in this age group compared to those born in Saudis aged 25-45, according to the Organization
Basic moments
Saudi Arabia is one of the few monarchies in the world named after a ruling dynasty. The head of state is the Al Saud royal family. Thanks to the colossal oil reserves and the pragmatism of the rulers from this dynasty, over the past half century, literally before the eyes of one generation, the country has turned from a desert outskirts of the Middle East region into one of the richest powers on the planet.
More recently, a Muslim country with an ancient original culture and amazing landscapes was closed for mass tourism of non-Christians. Today, tourist visas have already been introduced here, opening up wide opportunities for travelers. Introducing visa innovations, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Russia expressed the hope that regular flights will be established between Riyadh and Moscow in the near future.
An excellent tourist infrastructure has been created in the kingdom, sea resorts, luxury hotels and restaurants, entertainment and huge shopping centers await guests. On the territory of the country there are amazing natural attractions, many unique monuments of antiquity, among which are 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
History of Saudi Arabia
The Arabian Peninsula is the historical homeland of the Arabs. The tribes of this ethnic group settled in this area at least from the second half of the 2nd millennium BC. e. But the oldest artifacts testify to the presence of primitive people here 600,000 years ago. The hard-to-reach regions of Arabia keep many secrets; amazing discoveries await historians and archaeologists. Only a few decades ago, well-equipped international expeditions of scientists appeared in a previously closed country that amazed the world with their findings.
In the middle of the 20th century, menhirs were discovered in the Tihama Valley on the Red Sea coast - giant Neolithic buildings made of stone slabs weighing up to 20 tons. Here, the researchers unearthed the remains of settlements, ceramics and copper tools dating back to about 2400 BC. e. And in 2017, in the hilly region of Shuwaymis, in the north-west of the Arabian Peninsula, a Stone Age “picture gallery” was found - rock paintings with hunting scenes, where people armed with spears and bows are accompanied by hounds on leashes. These are the oldest images in the world that testify to the domestication of dogs, they date back to about 8000 BC. e. The local Bedouins have known about these drawings since time immemorial, but for Western explorers, the study of Arabia is just beginning. Numerous karst caves, where primitive people lived, and sand dunes of deserts, under which ancient cities are buried, protect their secrets.
Lost on the far outskirts of Eurasia, desert Arabia twice influenced the global development of the history of human civilization. In the 7th century, here, in the obscure town of Mecca, the world religion was born - Islam, which is now practiced by 1.8 billion believers, that is, every fourth inhabitant of the planet. And since the middle of the 20th century, the discovery of countless oil and gas fields has allowed Saudi Arabia to advance to a key role in the global distribution of energy resources and determine the direction of the vectors of world politics.
After the rapid Islamic expansion in the Early Middle Ages, the political centers of the Muslim world moved from Arabia to Damascus, Baghdad and Cairo. On the “mother” peninsula, several small Arab principalities were formed, conquered in the 16th century by the Turkish Sultan Selim I, who captured Mecca and declared himself the guardian of Islam.
The beginning of the statehood of Saudi Arabia was laid by Emir Muhammad ibn Saud, who ruled in the middle of the 17th century in the tiny principality of Diriyah, located in the center of the Arabian Peninsula - where the capital city of Riyadh is now located. Making an alliance with the religious leader Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the emir vowed to free Arabia from Ottoman rule. In 1744, Ibn Saud's troops won their first victory over the Turks. Thus, a powerful Saudi dynasty emerged on the political arena, based on a new trend in Islam - Wahhabism, which professes a return to the ancient sources of the religious teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and denies later innovations in the interpretation of the Koran. The struggle for the independence of Arabia continued until the beginning of the 20th century. In the political arena, the Arabs were supported by France and Great Britain, who fought the Ottomans during the First World War.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established within its present borders in 1934. A few years later, colossal oil reserves were discovered on the Arabian Peninsula. Since 1945, black gold has been mined with the participation of American oil corporations.
In the second half of the 20th century, the country took a leading position in the world energy market, which gave a powerful impetus to its development and prosperity. Since that time, the word "sheikh", originally denoting the head of the clan and the leader of a nomadic tribe, in all languages of the world has become synonymous with a fabulously rich person and a minion of fate, surrounded by unprecedented luxury.
Geography
Saudi Arabia is located in Southwest Asia, in the region known as the Middle East. The country occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, washed by the waters of the Red Sea and the shallow Persian Gulf of the Indian Ocean. The southern and southeastern limits of the kingdom border on Yemen and the Sultanate of Oman, in the northwest is the kingdom of Jordan, in the northeast - the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. In the waters of the Persian Gulf lies the border with Iran, and the narrow and deep Red Sea separates Saudi Arabia from Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea.
According to the UN, the area of the kingdom is about 2.25 million km², but this figure varies significantly in various sources, since there are vast border desert territories in the south of the country, the ownership of which has not yet been determined. The country is divided into 13 districts, each of which is ruled by an emir - a member of the royal family, which is why the districts are often called emirates.
In 2019, the population of Saudi Arabia exceeded 34.2 million inhabitants. More than 7 million people live in the country's capital, Riyadh. The city is crossed by two trans-Arabian highways running from north to south and from east to west. Riyadh has a railway junction and a major international airport.
The relief of the country is a vast desert plateau with a high mountain range rising in the west of the peninsula. Water in Arabia is of great value. In this sun-scorched land, the rivers disappeared thousands of years ago, only countless wadis, deep dusty channels cutting through the rocks, now speak of their existence. But it happens that heavy winter and spring showers fill the wadis with moisture for several days, and then these gorges turn into muddy streams that sweep away everything in their path. However, there are regions where not a drop of precipitation falls for years.
The longest 950-kilometer wadi, Er-Rumma, is located in the north of the kingdom. Here is the flourishing region of El Qasim, where cereals, dates, fruits and vegetables are grown. About 10,000 years ago, a large river flowed through its territory, flowing into the Persian Gulf. Several times a century, heavy rains revive the water flow. In 1818, the wadi of Er-Rumma was filled with life-giving moisture for 40 days, and in 1838, the channel, covered with sand, overflowed with water. A lake with an area of 520 km² was formed in the floodplain, which existed for two years. Waterfowl even settled in the reservoir, but gradually the lake evaporated.
Aquifers have been discovered under the parched land of Arabia. They feed green oases and entire areas in the valleys where agriculture is developed. Among the palm groves, springs with brackish water come to the surface. There are hot mineral springs with sulfur inclusions.
Many caves have been discovered under the rocky deserts. Especially many natural underground labyrinths are located on the Samman limestone plateau. Large sinkholes up to 90 meters in diameter are located southeast of the capital. These natural wells, over 100 meters deep, are filled with potable water. But there was not enough water for the needs of the population and industry. Modern technologies have come to the rescue: in Saudi Arabia, powerful installations have been created that desalinate sea water that enters the water supply systems of cities.
Climate
The Arabian Peninsula has a hot and arid desert climate, with meteorologists distinguishing several climatic zones. The Arabian coast of the Red Sea in the Tihama region belongs to the hottest places on the planet. The air temperature here often exceeds +45 °С, and the sea water warms up to +29...+30 °С. Evaporation so saturates the atmosphere that at 90% humidity it is difficult to breathe, and a wet beach towel does not dry out in the sun.
In the interior regions of the peninsula, deserts are surrounded by mountain ranges. Here the humidity is close to zero. The average temperature in the summer months is +30 °С, and in January it drops to +10 °С. In winter, showers often occur, filling the beds of dry rivers.
In the northern mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia, January night temperatures reach -11 ... -10 ° С, snow sometimes falls on the high mountain plateaus.
A special climate with sharp temperature changes during the day is inherent in the Rub al-Khali desert. The usual daytime temperature here is about +35 °С, while at night the air rapidly cools down to +6...+8 °С. In this desert, deadly sandstorms occur, they are brought by a destructive east wind - simoom. A formidable rumble warns travelers about the approach of trouble. In the blink of an eye, millions of tons of hot sand cover the desert with a yellow-red haze. The ambient temperature reaches +50 °C. From the smallest dust penetrating into the lungs, linen masks and capes do not save travelers, engines and car devices fail. The lack of moisture in the air and extreme temperatures cause extremely life-threatening rapid dehydration of the body of people and animals.
Tradition and modernity
The strict patriarchal traditions that reign in this Sunni country severely restrict the freedom of women. In public places, they are required to wear loose and black robes - abayas, unattractive baggy robes that hide the figure from head to toe. Another obligatory element of women's clothing is hijabs covering the face with a narrow slit for the eyes. However, under the abaya are hidden beautiful fashionable outfits in which beauties flaunt at home.
Unmarried members of the fair sex are forbidden to go outside without being accompanied by a close relative, and married women are allowed to walk only accompanied by their spouse. Wealthy men are often followed by 3-5 wives and many daughters.
In Saudi Arabia, in all spheres of religious and civil life, the traditional lunar calendar and the Muslim chronology are used, which created certain problems in busy contacts with the Western world - for example, in coordinating the date and time of departure of aircraft. Since 2016, for international civil contacts, the country has joined the world community living according to the Gregorian calendar, but for internal use, the traditional time calculation has been unshakably preserved.
In 2017, the world press was full of reports that the 32-year-old heir to the Saudi throne, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, decided to diversify the country's budget revenues from oil exports. The Prince announced an ambitious program of transformation for the next decade - Vision 2030. An important role in it is assigned to the creation of the entertainment industry and the promotion of international tourism. In the next decade, $64 billion is planned to be invested in this area. The plans of the prince-reformer are already being realized. In 2018, a large-scale construction of a mega-entertainment center the size of Las Vegas was launched near Riyadh. Theme parks, attractions and sports complexes are being built here. Recently, the authorities announced plans to create resorts with luxury hotels on fifty islands and coastal locations in the Red Sea.
Conservative traditions were also revised. So, in April 2018, cinemas opened in the kingdom after a thirty-five-year ban. The first opera house in the history of the kingdom is being built in Jeddah. In April 2018, 47 Saudi girls took part in the first women's cycling race, and in June of that year, women were allowed to drive without male supervision. Interestingly, there was no direct law on such a ban in Saudi Arabia, it was just that women were never given the right to drive a car. Since August 1, 2019, Saudi women have been allowed to travel independently to foreign countries. In the same year, segregation in restaurants and cafes was officially abolished. Previously, the halls of these establishments were divided by screens into two parts - male and female.
The milestone event took place on September 27, 2019. On that day, foreign diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia announced the acceptance of applications for the issuance of tourist visas. True, the gates of a conservative Islamic state did not open for everyone. The list includes only 49 countries whose citizens have the opportunity to use the new service. During the first 10 days alone, 24,000 tourists applied for visas, most of all who wanted to visit Arabia turned out to be among the citizens of China, the USA and Great Britain.
However, experts believe that a massive influx of Western tourists to the exotic country of the East is not expected yet. In particular, diametrically different views on many everyday aspects serve as an obstacle. For example, half-naked women in bikinis on the beaches and even men in shorts and T-shirts walking the streets will cause a real shock to true Saudis. In addition, no one in Arabia is going to abolish the harsh penalties for drinking alcohol, which invariably accompanies the rest of uninhibited Europeans and Americans. Here, for a sip of whiskey, you can end up in jail; a tipsy tourist, at best, is immediately deported from the country. Most likely, time will put everything in its place, but for now, tour operators are preparing individual programs for travelers focused on getting to know the historical sights of Arabia.
Visa to Saudi Arabia
Travelers from 49 countries, including Russia, have the opportunity to obtain tourist visas through Saudi embassies and consulates, as well as apply for entry via the Internet or by presenting a passport directly upon arrival in the kingdom. Minor tourists must be accompanied by their parents (guardians). On the spot, visas are issued at the four largest airports in the country, located in Riyadh, Medina, Jeddah and Dammam (Ed-Dammam).
A visa can also be obtained when entering Saudi Arabia by land from Bahrain through a checkpoint on a bridge named after King Fahd. On the border with the UAE, there is a visa center at the Al-Bata checkpoint.
To apply for e-visas yourself, please visit the Visit Saudi portal. The visa fee is $118, there may be additional costs for administrative services. The cost of the visa includes medical insurance in the amount of $26,000. The visa is valid for multiple entries in the country during the year, while the total duration of stay is 90 days.
In order not to cause unnecessary questions, in the appropriate column of the entry form, indicate your belonging to any religion, even if you are a convinced atheist. You shouldn't put a dash here: in Saudi Arabia, denying God is punishable by law, and you will have to enter into unnecessary discussions with local border guards.
Currency
All payments in Saudi Arabia are made in the national currency - the riyal (SAR). 1 riyal is equal to 20 kurush or 100 halal. There are banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 riyals, as well as change coins denominated in halal or kurush. You can exchange currency at any bank, at points at hotels, supermarkets or at the airport: exchange rate fluctuations in exchangers will amount to only hundredths of a percent. As of December 2019, 1 Saudi riyal is equal to 16.75 Russian rubles.
Security
Saudi Arabia is recognized as one of the safest countries on the planet, the level of street crime here is reduced to zero. Despite the fact that the kingdom is home to millions of immigrants who came here to work from the poorest countries in Asia and Africa, no one dares to break the harsh laws. The court here is quick, and crimes are punished effectively, spectacularly and terribly: as a warning to citizens, public executions and executions are periodically held in one of the squares of Riyadh. The executioner cold-bloodedly cuts off the hands of petty thieves, and those who have committed serious crimes are publicly deprived of their heads. Therefore, in Saudi Arabia, no one will touch a wallet forgotten by an absent-minded tourist on a street cafe table, and a taxi driver will definitely return an iPhone dropped in a car.
Unrest on Saudi Arabia's borders with Iraq and Yemen. Travel companies recommend excluding border areas in the north of the province of El Hudud el Shamaliya and in the southeast of the provinces of Jizan, Asir and Najran from plans to inspect the country.
Connection
The international dialing code for Saudi Arabia is +966. Mobile services in the country are provided by Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily and Zaine. Roaming with them is available to Russian mobile operators. SIM-cards of local operators at a price of 40-50 riyals are sold at branded customer service offices, airports, hotels, shopping centers, gas stations. You can also buy cards for using street pay phones to call any country.
In cities and towns, in oases there is high-speed Internet, users have access to international social networks. In desert regions, the signal is weak or non-existent.
Rules and prohibitions
The people of Saudi Arabia are hospitable and friendly, but in this still very conservative Muslim country, there are many rules and prohibitions that tourists should not break. First of all, they concern public manifestations of affection of men and women, as well as the appearance of tourists. No need to wear shirts, t-shirts, caps with ambiguous inscriptions or obscene images. Travelers are obliged to chastely hide their forms under long clothes and not attract male attention with bright cosmetics.
Exclude from your baggage pork products, alcohol, any weapons, and drugs that could arouse the suspicion of customs officers. You should not take with you the Bible, religious or anti-Muslim literature. Big problems can arise even because of a magazine or newspaper with candid photographs of models - whether they are women or men. For a pinch of the lightest drug, you can go to jail and even to the chopping block. Smoking in public places is not allowed. It is forbidden to smoke during fasting before Ramadan.
The kingdom has a Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, as well as a vigilant vice police. The local press and the Internet are subject to strict censorship. Thousands of video cameras are installed on the streets, in shopping centers and other public buildings, disguised police officers vigilantly monitor the order, immediately stopping any suspicious actions. For example, a man who turns to an unfamiliar woman walking along a crowded street will most likely be detained. Attract the attention of the vice police and a tourist in defiant clothes.
To avoid trouble, in Saudi Arabia, you should not photograph people without their consent, especially the military or police. Fines ranging from 100 to 6,000 riyals have been set for violating public order.
Regions of Saudi Arabia
On the territory of Saudi Arabia, there are historical regions of Nejd, Hijaz, Asir, Al-Khasa and others, which make up three large regions - central, western and eastern. In the central part of the Arabian Peninsula, the Nejd Plateau extends. The Shammar Mountains rise to the northwest, their ranges delineating the fertile and densely populated Batina Valley. Further on, the Big Nefud desert with 100-meter red sand dunes stretches for 610 thousand km². In the south, the huge Rub al-Khali desert stretches for 1200 km. There is a lifeless region of Bahr es-Safi, covered with quicksands that make strange sounds in windy weather. According to legend, once these sands swallowed up the whole army of the legendary Arabian king Safi.
central region
A major cultural event for the entire Arab world is the annual Al-Jenadriyah National Heritage Festival, which is held at numerous venues in the vicinity of Riyadh and lasts for two weeks. This holiday attracts hundreds of thousands of guests. Within the framework of the festival, concerts, exhibitions and fairs, camel races and horse races, colorful ethnic shows are organized.
The range of entertainment is constantly expanding. Since 2019, the Kingdom has been running the Saudi Seasons national program all year round. Within its framework, festivals are held monthly in different parts of the country, designed to demonstrate to tourists the culture, customs and cuisine of the inhabitants of Arabia.
Purchases
In the big cities of Saudi Arabia, huge shopping centers are built, where goods from all over the world are offered. Multi-storey modern malls and traditional bustling bazaars are located in Riyadh, Jeddah and Mecca. A huge market (suk), located southeast of Mecca, on the way to the city of Taif, is very popular among tourists. This fair has been known since the time of the Prophet Muhammad. There are about 200 shops and many stalls with a variety of goods - from spices and incense to consumer electronics.
As a memento of visiting Saudi Arabia, tourists often purchase chased metal dishes, coffee sets, jugs, and dishes. Good decorative items made of mother-of-pearl, shells of sea turtles. A richly decorated hookah can serve as an exotic decoration for your living room interior. The jewelry stores offer a huge selection of beautiful products made of gold and silver. Collectors will find curious antiques in the markets.
As a present, rosaries made of black coral, jewelry made of pearls mined in the waters of the Persian Gulf, a bottle of water from the sacred well of Zamzam in Mecca are popular. Muslims will definitely bring a gift edition of the Koran, wall panels and dishes with Arabic script of sacred sayings, silk prayer rugs from here.
Tourists should take into account that all shops are closed during the afternoon prayers. In large shopping malls and supermarkets, buyers are warned of the approaching hour of prayer through an internal broadcast, messages are in Arabic and English.
Saudi Arabian Cuisine
Saudi cooking is based on three pillars - the centuries-old Bedouin food culture, the instructions of the Koran and spices. The use of pork, animal blood, and the use of alcohol are strictly prohibited.
The list of the main traditional ingredients of Arabian cuisine, dating back to the modest diet of nomads, is small: cereals, lamb, chicken, vegetables, dates, milk yogurts and spices. In different regions, the recipes of dishes are replenished with local seasonal products. Smoking incense sticks are often lit for dinner parties, and guests are served rose water to wash their hands.
A very tasty dish called "mandi" is cooked on coals of black saxaul or acacia wood, blazing in an underground clay oven, reminiscent of a Central Asian tandoor with a massive lid. In a ceramic pot, pilaf is cooked from selected basmati rice with spices, then lamb is hung in the oven and languishing over gradually cooling coals for about 8 hours. In restaurants of national cuisine, mandi is ordered in advance. This dish is served at weddings and other celebrations.
In the oases, you can try another old Bedouin holiday treat: a whole camel is roasted in an underground oven, inside it is a lamb, which, in turn, is stuffed with chicken. This combination is stuffed with rice, nuts, spices. Hummus, a thick spicy chickpea sauce flavored with tahini, pepper and garlic, is popular.
In the south of Saudi Arabia, you should try agdu - Yemeni lamb roast with vegetables, baked in a pot. In the coastal regions, there is a wide choice of seafood caught by local fishermen, as well as all kinds of vegetables and fruits delivered on ships from distant countries. For dessert, fruit drinks with ice, halva, puff pastry with almonds and other sweets are served.
Centuries-old traditions are associated with Arabic coffee. Pilgrims coming to Mecca and Medina carried them all over the world. In Saudi Arabia, coffee is prepared extremely strong, rich and bitter, depending on preferences, spices are added - cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, saffron. The drink is served in miniature fragile cups without handles (they are called “fengjan”), or in beautiful metal jugs called “della”. Sugar is not added; instead, coffee is often accompanied by dates, dried fruits, candied fruits, nuts, or other desserts. When receiving guests, the owner personally grinds the roasted beans and brews coffee - this is a demonstration of hospitality and generosity. The Arabs say about the hospitable house: "Coffee is prepared here from morning to night."
The progenitors of Arab coffee houses were resting places in Bedouin tents and cells of Sufi monks, where men had conversations over a cup of coffee, played board games and sipped fragrant hookah. UNESCO experts have recognized the traditions of Arabic coffee as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind.
For a taste of Saudi cuisine in Riyadh, check out the restaurant at the luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel, which accepts pre-orders for mandi. You can enjoy real Arabic coffee, for example, in Five Elephants boutique cafe, where gourmet desserts will be served with the drink. In the capital's Nojoud shopping center, which is opposite the InterContinental Riyadh hotel, you can eat at Tao Bistro, where they are treated to delights of Mediterranean cuisine. To get started, order a meze and you will be served a dozen small portions of a variety of appetizers - fried halloumi, pickled olives, hummus, falafel, thinly sliced shawarma and other treats.
Dishes prepared from recipes from all over the world are offered by restaurants in multicultural Jeddah. Known as the "gateway to Mecca", millions of pilgrims from dozens of countries disembark each year at this port city, and a host of restaurants strive to cater to their needs. The average check for a dinner for two will be about 100 reais. However, individual dishes can be quite expensive. For example, a large lobster with a vegetable side dish will cost 120-130 reais.
The huge number of pilgrims forced Saudi Arabia to create its own fast food chains. The menu of these establishments includes shawarma, sandwiches, fried kufta, seafood, pieces of chicken fillet with tahini sauce, crispy spiral curls of french fries and juicy lamb kebabs. The Albaik Express eatery chain serves fried chicken and shrimp with various sauces. This company organized the world's largest fast food kitchen in Mecca, capable of feeding hundreds of thousands of pilgrims on the days of the Hajj. Western fast food is prepared at Kudu and Herfy eateries. The cost of lunch in fast food restaurants is within 40 riyals.
Where to stay
Until recently, hotels in Saudi Arabia focused on two main categories of guests - foreign businessmen flying here on business, and pilgrims arriving to visit Mecca. In large cities, 4-5-star hotels of world chains have been built, the cost of living in them ranges from 600 to 2500 riyals per day.
The best hotels in the capital of the kingdom include Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, Burj Rafal Hotel. The luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh is located in the Kingdom Center skyscraper. The rooms here are expensive - 1600-5050 riyals), but the service is impeccable, and the restaurants serve truly royal dishes. A large shopping complex is attached to the hotel.
In Dammam, judging by the reviews of tourists, among the best is the Park Inn by Radisson Dammam 4 * hotel. The cost of living is from 683 riyals. In the resort town of Al Khobar, there is a constant demand for rooms in Sofitel Al Khobar Corniche 5 * and Dana Beach Resort 5 * hotels.
Radisson Blu Hotel Jeddah is popular in Jeddah, the price range for accommodation is 280-398 riyals. The hotel is located near the newly built promenade with beaches and entertainment. In city hotels of the 3 * category, you can stay for 130-150 riyals per day. Modest guest houses, designed for pilgrims and families of workers who came here to earn money, offer rooms with private bathrooms and kitchenettes for 35-40 riyals per day.
Transport
The most common mode of transport in Saudi Arabia is private cars. This is the main means of transportation for local residents, so there is no need for public transport. In the business centers of large cities, the layout of the streets is subject to the convenience of motorists, often there are no sidewalks for pedestrians, and parking lots are located in their place.
Taxis are available in all cities. There is an extensive network of intercity bus routes. However, buses are mainly used by visiting low-income immigrant workers and unpretentious pilgrims.
315,000 km of roads have been laid for road communication in the country, of which about 4,000 km are high-speed multi-lane highways. On some highways speed up to 140 km/h is allowed. These highways include 8-lane highways Mecca - Medina, Riyadh - Dammam.
1380 km of railways have been laid in the kingdom, a line for high-speed trains is being built. The subway operates in Riyadh and Mecca, the construction of subway lines continues.
There are 13 international airports in Saudi Arabia, connected with the largest cities and capitals of the world, all of them are capable of receiving airliners of any class. It is curious that, by agreement with NASA, the vast Riyadh airport, located 35 km from the city, served as one of the alternate landing sites for the American Space Shuttle reusable space shuttles.
The country also has regional air harbors for domestic flights. Wealthy travelers use the service of light-engine air taxis; helipads are equipped in all regions.
Car rent
Airports and major cities in Saudi Arabia have branches of the world's largest car rental companies. A daily rental of an economy class car such as Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Spark or Hyundai Elantra will cost about 130 rials, executive cars - from 260 rials, SUVs - from 320 rials. You can get the keys to a premium car, such as a BMW 5 Series, for 750 riyals per day. For renting a luxury limousine, for example, a luxurious Mercedes-AMG S-Class, you need to pay 3000 riyals.
How to get there
There are no flights from Russian cities with Saudi Arabia yet. You can get into the kingdom with a transfer at one of the airports of foreign countries connected with it by direct flights, for example, through Turkey, the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain. Direct flights to Riyadh Airport are carried out by airliners departing from London.
Age structure of the population
Age strata:
- 0-14 years: 27.6% ▼
- 15-64 years: 69.2% ▲
- 65 years and older: 3.1% ▲
Average age:
- Overall: 26.4 years; ▲
- Men: 27.3 years; ▲
- Women: 25.3 years. ▲
Vital movement of the population:
- Total fertility rate - 18.78 per 1000 people ▼
- Crude death rate - 3.32 per 1000 people ▬
Life expectancy (2013):
- Total: 74.82 years; ▲
- Men: 72.79 years; ▲
- Women: 76.94 years. ▲
Level of urbanization - 82,3 %.
Urbanization rate- 2.38% per year (2010-2015)
Religion
The state religion of the country is Sunni Islam. The country also has a large community of Shiite Muslims (10-15% of the population).
Representatives of other religions also live in the country - Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Bahais. The number of Christians is estimated at 1.2 million; the largest denominations are represented by Catholics (1.05 million) and Pentecostals (83 thousand). Among the immigrants from Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Lebanon, there are supporters of the ancient Eastern churches (50 thousand) - Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Syro-Jacobite.
Despite a significant proportion of immigrants (30% of the total population) with a different faith, most forms of public expression of religious beliefs that are incompatible with state-sanctioned interpretations of Sunni Islam (Wahhabism) are limited. Non-Muslims are not allowed to have Saudi citizenship. Non-Muslims are also not allowed to organize places and venues for their worship.
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Notes
An excerpt characterizing the population of Saudi Arabia
Among the many young people who daily visited Helen's house, Boris Drubetskoy, who had already been very successful in the service, was, after Helen's return from Erfurt, the closest person in the Bezukhovs' house. Helen called him mon page [my page] and treated him like a child. Her smile towards him was the same as towards everyone, but sometimes it was unpleasant for Pierre to see this smile. Boris treated Pierre with special, dignified and sad respect. This shade of deference also bothered Pierre. Pierre suffered so painfully three years ago from the insult inflicted on him by his wife that now he saved himself from the possibility of such an insult, firstly by the fact that he was not the husband of his wife, and secondly by the fact that he did not allow himself to suspect.“No, now having become a bas bleu [blue stocking], she forever abandoned her former hobbies,” he said to himself. “There was no example of bas bleu having passions of the heart,” he repeated to himself, from no one knew where, a rule he had undeniably believed. But, strange to say, the presence of Boris in his wife's living room (and he was almost constantly) had a physical effect on Pierre: it bound all his members, destroyed his unconsciousness and freedom of movement.
“Such a strange antipathy,” thought Pierre, “and before that I even liked him very much.
In the eyes of the world, Pierre was a great gentleman, a somewhat blind and ridiculous husband of a famous wife, an intelligent eccentric, doing nothing, but not harming anyone, a glorious and kind fellow. In the soul of Pierre, during all this time, a complex and difficult work of inner development took place, which revealed a lot to him and led him to many spiritual doubts and joys.
He continued his diary, and this is what he wrote in it during this time:
“November 24th.
“I got up at eight o’clock, read Holy Scripture, then went to the office (Pierre, on the advice of a benefactor, entered the service of one of the committees), returned to dinner, dined alone (the countess has many guests, unpleasant to me), ate and drank moderately and after dinner he copied plays for the brothers. In the evening he went down to the countess and told a funny story about B., and only then remembered that he should not have done this, when everyone was already laughing out loud.
“I go to bed with a happy and peaceful spirit. Great Lord, help me to walk in Your paths, 1) overcome the part of anger - by quietness, slowness, 2) lust - by abstinence and disgust, 3) move away from the hustle and bustle, but do not excommunicate myself from a) state affairs of service, b) from family worries , c) from friendly relations and d) economic pursuits.
“November 27th.
“I got up late and woke up for a long time lying on the bed, indulging in laziness. My God! help me and strengthen me so that I may walk in Your ways. I read Holy Scripture, but without the proper feeling. Brother Urusov came and talked about the vanities of the world. He spoke about the new plans of the sovereign. I began to condemn, but I remembered my rules and the words of our benefactor that a true freemason should be a diligent worker in the state when his participation is required, and a calm contemplative of what he is not called to. My tongue is my enemy. Brothers G. V. and O. visited me, there was a preparatory conversation for the acceptance of a new brother. They make me the speaker. I feel weak and unworthy. Then the discussion turned to the explanation of the seven pillars and steps of the temple. 7 sciences, 7 virtues, 7 vices, 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. Brother O. was very eloquent. In the evening, the acceptance took place. The new arrangement of the premises greatly contributed to the splendor of the spectacle. Boris Drubetskoy was accepted. I proposed it, I was the rhetorician. A strange feeling agitated me throughout my stay with him in the dark temple. I found in myself a feeling of hatred for him, which I vainly strive to overcome. And therefore I would have wished to truly save him from evil and lead him on the path of truth, but bad thoughts about him did not leave me. It seemed to me that his purpose in joining the fraternity was only a desire to get close to people, to be in favor with those in our lodge. Except for the reasons that he asked several times if N. and S. were in our box (to which I could not answer him), except that, according to my observations, he is not able to feel respect for our holy Order and is too busy and pleased with the outward man, in order to desire spiritual improvement, I had no reason to doubt him; but he seemed insincere to me, and all the time when I stood with him eye to eye in the dark temple, it seemed to me that he smiled contemptuously at my words, and I really wanted to prick his bare chest with the sword that I held, put to it . I could not be eloquent and could not sincerely convey my doubt to the brothers and the great master. Great Architect of nature, help me to find the true paths leading out of the labyrinth of lies.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose population dates back to the second millennium BC (it was then that the indigenous Arab tribes occupied the entire Arabian Peninsula), is today the main member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The state ranks second in the world in the extraction and export of oil and oil products. In addition, referring to Mecca and Medina - the main holy cities of Islam - Saudi Arabia is called the Land of the Two Holy Mosques. It is the rich deposits of black gold and the penetration of religion into many areas of life that distinguish the kingdom.
General information about Saudi Arabia
The state from which Islam spread occupies about 80% of the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country is occupied by desert areas, foothills and mountains of medium height, so that less than 1% of the land is suitable for cultivation. The Arabian Peninsula is one of the few places on Earth where the air temperature constantly exceeds 50 degrees in summer.
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. Other major cities are Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Em Dammam, Al Hofuf. There are 27 settlements with a population of more than 100 thousand people, and four cities with a population of one million. The capital of Saudi Arabia is traditionally not only the administrative, but also the political, scientific, educational and business center of the country. Religious and cultural centers, shrines of the state - Mecca and Medina.
The official symbols are the flag of Saudi Arabia, the coat of arms and the anthem. The flag is a green cloth with a sword, symbolizing the victories of the founder of the state, and an inscription - the Muslim creed (shahada). Interestingly, the flag of Saudi Arabia is never flown at half mast for mourning. Also, the image cannot be applied to clothes and souvenirs, since the shahada is considered sacred to Muslims.
The king of Saudi Arabia, who today rules the state, is a direct descendant of the first king, Abdulaziz. The power of Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud of the Saudi dynasty is actually limited only by Sharia law. Important government decisions are made by the king in consultation with a group of religious leaders and other respected members of Saudi society.
Current demographic situation
The population of Saudi Arabia as of 2014 was 27.3 million people. About 30% of them are visitors, while the indigenous population are Saudi Arabs. After a brief stabilization of demographic indicators in 2000 at around 20 million people, the population of Saudi Arabia began to grow again. In general, there are no sharp jumps in population in the dynamics of the population of the kingdom.
Other relevant demographics for Saudi Arabia are as follows:
- birth rate - 18.8 per 1000 people;
- mortality - 3.3 per 1000 people;
- total fertility rate - 2.2 children per woman;
- natural population growth - 15.1;
- migration growth of the population - 5.1 per 1000 people.
Density of inhabitants and nature of settlement
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers an area of 2,149,610 square kilometers. By territory, the state is the 12th in the world and the first among the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. These data, as well as a rough estimate of the population for 2015, allow us to calculate the population density. The figure is 12 people per square kilometer.
Most of the people of Saudi Arabia are concentrated in cities. Firstly, the relief and climate of the Arabian Peninsula make it possible to comfortably exist only within the oases around which the largest cities of the state were once formed. Secondly, a significant proportion of the urban population is due to the structure of the economy, where agriculture takes a very small part, due to the meager percentage of land suitable for growing plants and livestock.
The urbanization rate in the kingdom is 82.3% and the corresponding rate is 2.4% per annum. More than five million people live in the capital of Saudi Arabia. The total population of the remaining three million-plus cities is another six million Saudis. Thus, in the four largest cities of the kingdom, eleven million people out of 31.5 (estimated for 2015), which is approximately 35% of the country's inhabitants, live.
Religious affiliation of the population
Saudi Arabia, whose population is highly religious, is officially an Islamic state. Islam as the state religion is enshrined in the first article of the Basic Law of the State. Muslims are 92.8% of the population of Saudi Arabia. By the way, non-Islamic tourists are banned from entering Mecca and Medina.
Christianity is the second most followed religion in the kingdom. The number of Christians is about 1.2 million, the majority of whom are foreigners. Quite often, cases of harassment of adherents of other religions (non-Muslims) are recorded in the country - Saudi Arabia is in sixth place among the states where the rights of Christians are most often harassed.
Atheism in the kingdom is considered a grave sin and is equated with terrorism, so it is impossible to estimate the exact number of unbelievers in the country. The American Institute of Public Opinion, based on polls, cites the following data: 5% of Saudis are convinced atheists, about 19% call themselves unbelievers. Profile publications publish smaller numbers, indicating only 0.7% in the column "atheists and non-believers".
Sex and age structure of the population
Saudi Arabia, whose population is mostly of working age, has a progressive (or growing) type of sex and age pyramid. This is better seen in a simplified scheme, where only three categories of citizens are distinguished: children and adolescents (up to the full age of 14), the working-age population (from 15 to 65 years old) and the elderly (over 65 years old).
The working-age population is about 22 million people, which is 67.6% of the total number of Saudis. There are 9.6 million or 29.4% of children and adolescents in the state, only 3% fall to the share of elderly people, this group is 0.9 million people. In general, the dependent part of the citizens (children and pensioners who are supported by the adult population) has 32.4% of Saudis. Such indicators form a not particularly significant social burden on society.
Saudi Arabia, whose population traditionally oppresses the fair sex, is distinguished by an almost equal gender structure of the population. The country has 55% men and 45% women.
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia
Women's rights are severely restricted in a country like Saudi Arabia. The population is deeply religious, so it follows all religious norms. Thus, women are prohibited from driving a car, voting, using public transport without being accompanied by a husband or male relative, or communicating with men (with the exception of relatives and a husband). The fair sex is required to wear long dark robes, and in some regions only the eyes are allowed to be left open.
The quality of education for women in Saudi Arabia is worse than for men. In addition, female students receive smaller scholarships than their male counterparts. And in general, the fair sex does not have the right to study, work or travel outside the country, unless their husband or close male relative has allowed them to do so. Even for rape in Saudi Arabia, a woman can be punished, not a criminal. In this case, the victim is charged with “provocation to rape” or violation of the dress code.
Saudi Arabia, whose population gives the main prerogative to men, adheres to the principles of sexual segregation. So, for example, houses have separate entrances for women and men, restaurants are divided into several zones (women's, men's and family), celebrations are held with separation, and studies for students of different sexes are held at different times so that boys and girls do not intersect .
The King of Saudi Arabia has repeatedly announced the imminent empowerment of women with certain rights. For example, he said that he would allow the fair sex to drive as soon as the Saudi society was ready for this step. Of course, it will take a long time to wait for equal rights for women and men in Saudi society (and this simply contradicts the norms of Islam), but there are already some indulgences for the fair sex.
The literacy rate of the inhabitants of the kingdom
Saudi Arabia, whose population is fairly literate (94.4% of citizens over the age of 15 can read and write), has different literacy rates for women and men. Thus, 97% of men and 91% of women can read and write, which is associated with the traditional oppression of the rights of the fair sex. However, among young people (from 15 to 24 years old), literacy rates are approximately equal: in Saudi Arabia, 99.4% and 99.3% of literate young people and girls, respectively.
Culture in Saudi Arabia
The culture of the kingdom is closely connected with the state religion. Muslims are forbidden to consume pork and alcohol, so mass festivities are practically excluded. In addition, cinemas and theaters are banned in the country, but such establishments exist in areas populated mainly by foreigners. Home video viewing is very common in Saudi Arabia, and Western films are largely uncensored.
The structure of the state economy
The country has 25% of the world's oil reserves, which determines the basis of the economy of a state like Saudi Arabia. Oil provides almost all export earnings (90%). In the last thirty years, industry, transport, and trade have also developed, while the share of agriculture in the economy is very small.
The currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi rial. The exchange rate of the monetary unit is pegged to the US dollar at a ratio of 3.75 to 1. In conclusion, information for tourists on how the currency of Saudi Arabia is converted in terms of the currencies of other countries: 100 rials is 1,500 rubles, 25 euros, 26.6 dollars United States of America.
Saudi Arabia, the map of which is presented below, is a country in the southwestern part of Asia, covering about 80% of the area. The origin of its name is associated with the Saudi royal family, which founded the state and continues to rule it to this day.
general description
The area of Saudi Arabia is 2.15 million square kilometers. The state borders on Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, 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. Its capital is Riyadh, which is home to over five million people. Other major cities in Saudi Arabia are Jeddah, Mecca and Medina. Their population exceeds one million people.
Political structure
In March 1992, the first documents regulating the state and the basic principles of its management were adopted. Based on them, the country of Saudi Arabia is a theocratic absolute monarchy. Its constitution is based on the Koran. The Saudi dynasty has been in power since 1932. The King has full legislative, executive and judicial power. Its powers are only theoretically limited by local traditions and Shariah norms. The government in its current form has been functioning since 1953. It is headed by the king, who determines the main directions of its activities. There is also a Council of Ministers in the country, which is entrusted not only with executive, but also with legislative functions. All decisions taken by this authority are approved by decree of the king of the country of Saudi Arabia. The population of the state is obliged to comply with them. Administratively, the country is divided into thirteen provinces.
Economy
The local economy is based on private free enterprise. At the same time, it is impossible not to note the fact that control over the key ones is carried out by the government. The state boasts the largest oil reserves on the planet. It accounts for about 75% of his income. In addition, Saudi Arabia is the world leader in the export of black gold and plays one of the leading roles in OPEC. The country also has reserves of zinc, chromium, lead, copper and
Population
The first census of local residents was carried out in 1974. From that time to the present day, the population of Saudi Arabia has almost tripled. Now almost 30 million people live in the country. The vast majority of local residents are Arabs, a significant part of which has retained the tribal organization. Now there are more than 100 tribal associations and tribes in the country. It should also be noted that approximately one-fifth of the population is made up of foreign workers. Based on official UN statistics, as of 1970, the infant mortality rate in the country was 204 babies for every thousand newborns. Now there has been a significant positive shift in this indicator. In particular, due to the improvement of living standards and medical care in the state, out of a thousand newborns, only 19 children die.
Language
Arabic is the official language in a country like Saudi Arabia. The population in everyday life uses mainly the Arabian dialect, which comes from el-fushy. Within it, several dialects that are close to each other stand out at once. At the same time, city dwellers and descendants of nomads speak differently. Literary and spoken languages have minor differences between themselves. In a religious context, mainly the classical Arabic dialect is used. Common languages among immigrants from other countries are English, Indonesian, Urdu, Tagalog, Farsi and others.
Religion
Saudi Arabia is considered the center of the Islamic world. Almost the entire population of the country professes this particular religion. According to various estimates, up to 93% of local residents are Sunnis. The rest of the representatives of Islam are predominantly Shiites. As for other religions, about 3% of the country's inhabitants are Christians, and 0.4% are other confessions.
Education
Higher education in the country, although free, is not compulsory. A good job and a comfortable life in Saudi Arabia are possible without him. Be that as it may, there are a number of programs operating here, the main goal of which was to reduce the level of illiteracy of local residents. Currently, there are 7 universities and 16 higher educational institutions in the country. All of them are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Higher Education. Approximately 30 thousand students study abroad every year. In the past few decades, the government has significantly increased spending on education. At the same time, the state needs a general reform in this area, which should form a new balance between modern and traditional teaching methods.
The medicine
Saudi Arabia is one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of medicine. The population of the state has the right to receive free services related to it. This applies to both residents of megacities and representatives of the Bedouin tribes who roam in the desert. Every year, the government allocates about 8% of the local budget for health care, which is simply a gigantic amount. Mandatory immunization of newborns is fixed at the legislative level. The epidemiological control system, which was created in 1986, made it possible to completely defeat and eliminate such terrible diseases as plague and cholera.
Demographic Issues
According to scientists, if the current number of inhabitants in the country continues (over the past 30 years they have been about 4% of the inhabitants per year), then by 2050 the population of Saudi Arabia will reach 45 million. In other words, very soon the country's leadership will have to solve the problem of not only providing citizens with jobs, but also ensuring a decent old age for the Saudis who are currently working. This task is not so easy even for a state with such impressive oil reserves. The emergence of such problems is associated primarily with positive changes in the areas of nutrition and medical care, as well as with the improvement of living conditions in the country.
