Saudi Arabia’s Life Expectancy Reaches 79.7 Years in 2025: What’s Driving the Rise?

Saudi Arabia has reached a significant milestone in the well-being of its population. Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel recently announced that life expectancy in the Kingdom has risen to 79.7 years in 2025, a notable increase from 74 years in 2016. This improvement represents one of the most substantial gains globally over the past decade and stands as a clear testament to the focused investments and reforms of Saudi Vision 2030.

Speaking at the 2026 Budget Forum in Riyadh, Minister Al-Jalajel attributed this success to systemic enhancements across the healthcare landscape. The numbers reveal a story of profound progress in public health and safety.

Key drivers behind this rise in longevity include dramatic reductions in specific mortality rates. Since 2016:

• Traffic-related fatalities have fallen by 60%.
• Deaths from infectious diseases have been cut in half.
• Mortality from noncommunicable diseases, a leading cause of death worldwide, has decreased by 40%.
• Fatalities from unintentional injuries have dropped by 30%.

According to the Minister, these achievements are direct results of robust early detection programs, expanded preventive care, and significantly stronger nationwide health coverage, which now reaches 97.4% of the population.

Infrastructure and response capabilities have also seen transformative growth. Government and private hospitals have collectively added thousands of new beds since the start of the year. Perhaps one of the most critical improvements is in emergency care; the Saudi Red Crescent Authority has slashed its average response time from 25 minutes in 2016 to just 10 minutes today. Furthermore, the nation’s surgical capacity has doubled to 12,000 operations weekly, allowing 90% of surgeries to meet national timing standards, up from 60%.

Looking ahead, the newly approved budget for 2026 is poised to build on this momentum. The health sector plans to further enhance service sustainability, expand access, and build specialized capabilities. The ultimate goal extends beyond national borders: to position Saudi Arabia as a leading regional and global destination for healthcare.

This rise in life expectancy is more than a statistic; it is a measurable outcome of strategic planning and investment, reflecting a healthier, safer, and more resilient society for all citizens and residents.

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