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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Capital city · Population 4.2M

Riyadh is the capital and the 2nd largest city in Saudi Arabia with a population of approximately 4,205,961 people as of 2026. This makes it the 78th largest city in the world, accounting for 11.91% of Saudi Arabia's total population of 35.3M. Riyadh is classified as a major city and operates in the Asia/Riyadh timezone. The average annual temperature is 27.4°C with 51 mm of rainfall per year. The city sits at an elevation of 611 meters above sea level.

Population

4,205,961

Global Rank

#78

Country Rank

#2

% of Saudi Arabia

11.91%

Avg Temperature

27.4°C

Annual Rainfall

51 mm

Elevation

611 m

Timezone

Asia/Riyadh

Riyadh on the Map

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Climate in Riyadh

Riyadh's warmest month is Jul and the coldest is Jan. The wettest month is Apr with 18 mm of rainfall.

Average Monthly Temperature

17.4°C
Jan
17.4°C
Feb
21°C
Mar
25.6°C
Apr
31.8°C
May
37.2°C
Jun
37.5°C
Jul
37.4°C
Aug
33.9°C
Sep
28.4°C
Oct
23.6°C
Nov
17.6°C
Dec
17.4°C37.5°C

Monthly Rainfall

1 mm
Jan
4 mm
Feb
10 mm
Mar
18 mm
Apr
8 mm
May
0 mm
Jun
0 mm
Jul
0 mm
Aug
0 mm
Sep
1 mm
Oct
9 mm
Nov
0 mm
Dec

Saudi Arabia at a Glance

Country Population

35,300,280

Capital

Riyadh

Region

Western Asia

Major Cities

27

GDP per Capita

$35,122

Life Expectancy

78.7 years

Urban Population

84.5%

Growth Rate

0.01%

Other Major Cities in Saudi Arabia

Jeddah
4.7M
Makkah
1.6M
Madinah
1.3M
Dammam
1.3M
Sulţānah
947K
Buraydah
745K
Ta’if
689K
Tabuk
667K
Ha'il
606K
Najrān
506K

Nearest Major Cities

Closest cities to Riyadh with over 100,000 people

Cities closest to Riyadh by distance
CityPopulationDistance
Al Kharj425,30086 km
Az Zulfī125,000262 km
Al Hufūf293,179298 km
Al Mubarraz290,802300 km
Unaizah183,319315 km
Buraydah745,353330 km
Al Jubayl237,274389 km
Dammam1,252,523391 km

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Riyadh?

The population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is approximately 4,205,961 people, making it the 78th largest city in the world and the 2nd largest in Saudi Arabia.

Is Riyadh the capital of Saudi Arabia?

Yes, Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia.

What is the climate like in Riyadh?

Riyadh has an average annual temperature of 27.4°C and receives 51 mm of rainfall per year. The warmest month is Jul and the coldest is Jan.

What timezone is Riyadh in?

Riyadh is in the Asia/Riyadh timezone.