Kingdom Centre

Saudi Arabia

Name: World Residence Index 2026 scores for Saudi Arabia
Published: 2026

Region: Middle East
Capital: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Density: 17 / km²

WRI Score 2026

78.98

scale 1–100 · higher is better

Global rank: 26th
In Middle East: 4th
Ranked: 211

Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Top rate 0%· KPMG / EY
100.0
No personal income tax is levied.
Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 17 / km²· UN WPP
100.0
Sparsely populated, well below global norms.
GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $35,839· IMF WEO 2026
74.0
Middle-income economy by per-capita output.
Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 77.8 years· WHO / UN
71.5
Moderate life expectancy relative to peers.
Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 0.8 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
74.1
Moderate tourism activity relative to population.
Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 3.5%· ILO / SECO
93.5
Low, stable labour market.
Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 7.3% of GDP· SIPRI
29.1
Among the highest defence-spending ratios on this list.
Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
74.4
Moderate safety and rule-of-law composite.
Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
96.0
Among the highest ideological-neutrality scores on this list.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

Saudi Arabia holds 26th of 211 with a WRI Score of 78.98 — sits firmly in the upper tier. Its profile is defined by near-perfect its tax treatment (100) and population density (100), offset by military posture, a clear structural constraint.