United States and Saudi Arabia
Regional security, energy and business cooperation underpin the relationship. The 2025 agenda expanded defence and investment announcements. Understanding the relationship requires distinguishing political commitments, arms sales and accumulated direct investment capital, alongside examining goods and services trade.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Defence and Gulf security
The US communication of November 2025 presents the signing of a strategic defence agreement and the deepening of the partnership.
The economic agenda goes beyond oil
The USTR trade profile covers goods and services trade and bilateral economic dialogue.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 24,594.5 M USD | 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Goods: United States to Saudi Arabia | 14,107.7 M USD | 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Goods: Saudi Arabia to United States | 10,486.8 M USD | 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Services trade | 14,500 M USDUSTR est. | 2025 · USTR |
| Export share: United States to Saudi Arabia | ||
| Export share: Saudi Arabia to United States | ||
| Investment stock: United States in Saudi Arabia | 9,978 M USDBEA est. | 2025 · BEA |
| Investment stock: Saudi Arabia in United States | 15,980 M USDBEA est. | 2025 · BEA |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods for January–December 2025, millions of USD, U.S. reporter. Excludes services, affiliate sales and the addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: United States to Saudi Arabia
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods for January–December 2025, millions of USD, U.S. reporter. Excludes services, affiliate sales and the addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Saudi Arabia to United States
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods for January–December 2025, millions of USD, U.S. reporter. Excludes services, affiliate sales and the addition of mirror reports.
- Services trade
- 2025 · USTR · Bilateral services total estimated and published by USTR. The total is retained, not the sum of rounded components.
- Investment stock: United States in Saudi Arabia
- 2025 · BEA · Direct investment position at historical cost; immediate counterpart. Not portfolio investment or announced commitments.
- Investment stock: Saudi Arabia in United States
- 2025 · BEA · Direct investment position at historical cost; immediate counterpart. Not portfolio investment or announced commitments.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | United States | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 30.77 trillion USD2025 · WB | 1.28 trillion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 90,026.52 USD2025 · WB | 34,536.66 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 2.16 %2025 · WB | 4.5 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 3.75–4 %2026-09-16 · Fed | 4.5 %2026-09-16 · SAMA |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.7 %IMF est.Annual average · 2025 · IMF | 2.08 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.4 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · BLS | 1.8 %Headline CPI · 2026-08 · year-on-year · SAMA / GASTAT |
| Unemployment | 4.2 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.04 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -6.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -5.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 123.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 31.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -3.63 %2025 · WB | -2.56 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 341,784,8572025 · WB | 36,973,5552025 · WB |
| Area | 9,831,510 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 2,149,690 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDUnited States: 2025 · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited States: 2025 · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United States: 2025 · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)United States: 2026-09-16 · Federal funds target range · Federal ReserveSaudi Arabia: 2026-09-16 · Repo rate; not reverse repo (4.00%) · SAMA · Official central-bank decision; not a commercial lending rate or a bill yield.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United States: 2025 · Average annual change in headline CPI (%) · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · WEO estimate; not the year-on-year change for December or August 2026. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07Saudi Arabia: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedUnited States: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Published: 2026-09-11 · Headline year-on-year CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted; not monthly or core inflation.Saudi Arabia: 2026-08 · Year-on-year inflation; official SAMA / GASTAT indicator · SAMA / GASTAT · August 2026 indicator verified in SAMA's indexed version. The dynamic homepage does not expose the value in HTML without JavaScript; publication date unavailable. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionUnited States: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)United States: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)United States: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Saudi Arabia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPUnited States: 2025 · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Population
- PeopleUnited States: 2025 · World BankSaudi Arabia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query. Extrapolated assuming the same growth rate as the previous year.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited States: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAOSaudi Arabia: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
United States to Saudi Arabia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Saudi Arabia to United States
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | United States to Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia to United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,849.1 | 11,131.6 | 13,717.5 |
| 2022 | 34,687.3 | 11,409.7 | 23,277.6 |
| 2023 | 29,681.6 | 13,786.1 | 15,895.5 |
| 2024 | 26,001 | 13,146.5 | 12,854.5 |
| 2025 | 24,594.5 | 14,107.7 | 10,486.8 |
Connections between people
Travel and education provide measures of civilian connection different from intergovernmental cooperation and business announcements. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United States living in Saudi Arabia | ||
| Residents from Saudi Arabia living in United States | ||
| Study and training: United States in Saudi Arabia | ||
| Study and training: Saudi Arabia in United StatesStudy and OPT training in the United States | 12,702 | 2024/25 · Open Doors |
| Academic stays: United States in Saudi ArabiaU.S. study-abroad stays carrying academic credit | 11 | 2023/24 · Open Doors |
| Academic stays: Saudi Arabia in United States | ||
| Travel: United States to Saudi Arabia | ||
| Travel: Saudi Arabia to United StatesResidence in Saudi Arabia; international arrivals | 96,449arrivals | 2025 · NTTO / U.S. Department of Commerce |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
- Study and training: Saudi Arabia in United States
- Open Doors: place of origin, enrolment and OPT training. Not visas issued or a count of residents. 2024/25 · Open Doors
- Academic stays: United States in Saudi Arabia
- Open Doors: mobility carrying academic credit reported by U.S. institutions. A different academic year from the count of foreign students. 2023/24 · Open Doors
- Travel: Saudi Arabia to United States
- International arrivals in the United States by country of residence; not unique visitors, nationality or emigration. Coverage and revisions of the NTTO series. 2025 · NTTO / U.S. Department of Commerce
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Defence and Gulf security
The US communication of November 2025 presents the signing of a strategic defence agreement and the deepening of the partnership. Equipment sales and security instruments have authorisation and implementation procedures. An announced package is not an inventory of arms already delivered. Assessing its effect also requires considering the implementation period, capabilities involved and the instrument's legal scope. [2]
The economic agenda goes beyond oil
The USTR trade profile covers goods and services trade and bilateral economic dialogue. The May 2025 communication places investment and business projects alongside defence and energy cooperation. This combination reveals an economic diversification agenda without establishing that the announcements have already changed the actual composition of exports. Customs trade and services in the table retain separate coverage and currencies. [1] [3]
Announced commitments versus accumulated investment
In May 2025, the White House presented a Saudi commitment of 600,000 million dollars; in November it spoke of expanding it towards almost one trillion. These are commitments published by the US Government, not measured direct investment positions. The BEA table shows the 2025 position at historical cost and by immediate counterparty. It is not a substitute for portfolio investments, funds held through third countries or schedules for future projects. [2] [3] [4]
Services, travel and training
USTR estimates services trade at 14,500 million dollars in 2025. Education and travel form part of civilian connections, although that total is not identified as covering only those activities. Open Doors separates Saudi students with OPT placements from US academic stays. NTTO counts arrivals by residence. Each measure's scale and definition matter to avoid confusing students, tourists, workers and resident nationals. [1]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
How to read the 2025 agreements
The May and November documents reflect an intensification of the business and security agenda. The second communication distinguishes defence instruments from investment commitments. This profile retains those dates and attributes announced amounts to the White House. The quantitative tables use statistical records: a signature or promise can open a path to cooperation, but economic outcomes require subsequent observations of trade, investment or deliveries. [2] [3]
What recorded goods show
In 2025, recorded goods trade was 24,594.5 million USD. Shipments from the United States to Saudi Arabia were 14,107.7 million USD, and those in the opposite direction were 10,486.8 million USD. A single reporter is used for both directions. The difference between those flows describes that source's goods balance, not the entire economic balance: services, subsidiary activity and investment have independent measures. [5]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, currency, definition and source. Blank cells are not zero. Policy documents are distinguished from statistical results, and projects under way from announcements.
- Trade relations and agreements
USTR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Economic and defense partnership, November 2025
White House · Institutional source · Document: 2025-11-18 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Investment commitment, May 2025
White House · Institutional source · Document: 2025-05 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Direct investment positions in the United States
BEA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- TOTAL rows 2021–2025; goods; US reporter; million USD
U.S. Census Bureau · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07