Economy, jobs and prices in Northern Borders Region, Saudi Arabia: official figures
The unemployment rate in Northern Borders Region was 7.5% in the fourth quarter of 2024 for all residents aged 15 and over, the highest of 13 regions; the national rate was 3.5%.
What is the unemployment rate for Saudis in Northern Borders Region?
Among Saudi nationals the unemployment rate in Northern Borders Region was 12.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024 (8.7% for men and 17.4% for women), the highest of 13 regions; the national Saudi rate was 7.0%.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Northern Borders Region?
Saudi women in Northern Borders Region had an unemployment rate of 17.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, 3rd highest of 13 regions; the national rate for Saudi women was 11.9%.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for foreign workers in Northern Borders Region?
Among non-Saudi residents the unemployment rate in Northern Borders Region was 3.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024 (3.1% for men), against 1.5% nationally.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Northern Borders Region?
61.4% of people aged 15 and over in Northern Borders Region were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in the fourth quarter of 2024, 4th lowest of 13 regions; the national rate was 66.4%. For Saudi women the rate was 35.2% against 36.0% nationally.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Northern Borders Region?
The average household in Northern Borders Region had SAR 12,868 a month to spend or save (disposable income) in 2023, 2nd highest of 13 regions; the national average was SAR 11,839. Households headed by Saudis averaged SAR 16,427 and non-Saudi households SAR 5,398.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average income per person in Northern Borders Region?
Average disposable income per person in Northern Borders Region was SAR 2,647 a month in 2023, 7th highest of 13 regions; the national figure was SAR 3,195 (Saudis SAR 2,945, non-Saudis SAR 1,609 in the region).
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyHow much does a household spend per month in Northern Borders Region?
Households in Northern Borders Region spent SAR 11,310 a month on average on consumption in 2023, 5th highest of 13 regions; the national average was SAR 10,884.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyWhat kinds of homes do people live in in Northern Borders Region?
Of 53,625 homes occupied by Saudi households in Northern Borders Region in the 2025 Population Characteristics Survey, 28.4% were apartments, 35.1% villas, 21.6% floors of a house and 14.4% traditional houses; nationally 46.8% were apartments and 29.5% villas.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyHow big are households in Northern Borders Region?
10.6% of Saudi households in Northern Borders Region had one person, and 45.5% had six or more members, in the 2025 Population Characteristics Survey; nationally the shares were 16.7% and 27.9%.
Source: General Authority for Statistics · saved copyHow Northern Borders Region compares with other regions
Unemployment rate, all residents (Q4 2024)
Northern Borders Region ranks 1 of 13, highest first. Labour Force Survey, people aged 15 and over.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, all residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Borders Region | 7.5% |
| 2 | Jazan Region | 5.3% |
| 3 | Asir Region | 5.3% |
| 4 | Tabuk Region | 5.0% |
| 5 | Madinah Region | 4.7% |
| 6 | Al Baha Region | 4.5% |
| 7 | Najran Region | 4.4% |
Unemployment rate, Saudis (Q4 2024)
Northern Borders Region ranks 1 of 13, highest first. Labour Force Survey, Saudi nationals aged 15 and over.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, Saudis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Borders Region | 12.0% |
| 2 | Asir Region | 11.1% |
| 3 | Tabuk Region | 10.5% |
| 4 | Al Baha Region | 9.3% |
| 5 | Qassim Region | 8.8% |
| 6 | Jazan Region | 8.8% |
| 7 | Madinah Region | 8.4% |
Unemployment rate, Saudi women (Q4 2024)
Northern Borders Region ranks 3 of 13, highest first. Labour Force Survey, Saudi women aged 15 and over.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, Saudi women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tabuk Region | 21.3% |
| 2 | Asir Region | 18.2% |
| 3 | Northern Borders Region | 17.4% |
| 4 | Al Baha Region | 15.6% |
| 5 | Qassim Region | 14.1% |
| 6 | Makkah Region | 13.8% |
| 7 | Hail Region | 13.5% |
Labour force participation rate, all residents (Q4 2024)
Northern Borders Region ranks 10 of 13, highest first. Share of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate, all residents |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Asir Region | 63.7% |
| 8 | Najran Region | 63.6% |
| 9 | Qassim Region | 62.7% |
| 10 | Northern Borders Region | 61.4% |
| 11 | Madinah Region | 59.4% |
| 12 | Al Baha Region | 59.3% |
| 13 | Jazan Region | 56.4% |
Employment-to-population ratio, all residents (Q4 2024)
Northern Borders Region ranks 10 of 13, highest first. Share of people aged 15 and over who are in work.
| Rank | Region | Employment-to-population ratio, all residents |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Najran Region | 60.8% |
| 8 | Asir Region | 60.3% |
| 9 | Qassim Region | 60.1% |
| 10 | Northern Borders Region | 56.8% |
| 11 | Madinah Region | 56.6% |
| 12 | Al Baha Region | 56.6% |
| 13 | Jazan Region | 53.4% |
Average household monthly disposable income (SAR) (2023)
Northern Borders Region ranks 2 of 13, highest first. Survey of households by region of residence, all nationalities.
| Rank | Region | Average household monthly disposable income (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riyadh Region | SAR 14,990 |
| 2 | Northern Borders Region | SAR 12,868 |
| 3 | Eastern Province | SAR 11,775 |
| 4 | Al Baha Region | SAR 11,348 |
| 5 | Asir Region | SAR 11,264 |
| 6 | Tabuk Region | SAR 11,127 |
| 7 | Jazan Region | SAR 10,763 |
Average monthly disposable income per person (SAR) (2023)
Northern Borders Region ranks 7 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly disposable income per person (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Asir Region | SAR 2,889 |
| 5 | Makkah Region | SAR 2,811 |
| 6 | Tabuk Region | SAR 2,687 |
| 7 | Northern Borders Region | SAR 2,647 |
| 8 | Qassim Region | SAR 2,491 |
| 9 | Madinah Region | SAR 2,421 |
| 10 | Jazan Region | SAR 2,403 |
Average household monthly consumption spending (SAR) (2023)
Northern Borders Region ranks 5 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average household monthly consumption spending (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Riyadh Region | SAR 13,000 |
| 3 | Eastern Province | SAR 11,509 |
| 4 | Al Baha Region | SAR 11,346 |
| 5 | Northern Borders Region | SAR 11,310 |
| 6 | Qassim Region | SAR 9,983 |
| 7 | Al Jouf Region | SAR 9,872 |
| 8 | Tabuk Region | SAR 9,722 |
More on Northern Borders Region: overview · health · poverty and living standards · Saudi Arabia
Sources
- General Authority for Statistics: Household Income and Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023, publication tables: consumption expenditure by administrative region and spending group (Tables 1-3, 9-3, 10-4, 9-4, 15-4, 16-4), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 df850fca853f…)
- General Authority for Statistics: Housing Statistics Bulletin 2025, Tables 1 and 3: housing units occupied by Saudi households by region, type and household size (Population Characteristics Survey 2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8c245a4021f5…)
- General Authority for Statistics: Labor Market Statistics, fourth quarter 2024: Tables 2-4, 4-4 and 5-4 (unemployment, employment and participation by administrative region, Labour Force Survey), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03c856c15b2f…)
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