Saudis living longer
Almost six extra years of life since 2016
Vibrant Society pillar4 sourcesLast verified 2026-05-16
Hero metric
Average life expectancy at birth
79.7 yrs
2025 (Health Minister, Dec 2025)Up 5.7 years in nine years. The Minister of Health describes this as 'one of the most significant gains anywhere in the world' over the period.
Publishers include: Ministry of Health · Arab News · SPA · Zawya
Trend over time · 7 data points
2016 → 2025
Hover any point for the period, value, and primary publisher.
The Story
Before
In 2016, the average Saudi could expect to live 74 years. Road fatalities were among the highest in the G20; chronic diseases and obesity were rising; preventive screening was uneven across regions.
Initiative
The Health Sector Transformation Program restructured care delivery (Health Holding Company, National Health Insurance Center), expanded primary care, rolled out digital health (Sehhaty app, Seha Virtual Hospital — the world's largest virtual hospital), launched mass preventive screening, banned hydrogenated oils, mandated calorie labeling, and overhauled road safety.
Outcome
By 2025, life expectancy reached 79.7 years — within reach of the 80-year V2030 target. Saudi Arabia's Universal Health Coverage Index hit 83 points, up 9 points in just two years.
For citizens
It's not just adding years — it's adding healthy years. Traffic deaths are down 60%, deaths from chronic disease down 40%, heart disease deaths down 30%, and infectious disease deaths halved. More than 3 million people have been reached by early-detection screening, and 70% of cancer cases are now caught early.
Supporting metrics
Basic health coverage (% of populated areas)
97.5%
End 2025
Beneficiary satisfaction with health services
97.5%
End 2025
Universal Health Coverage Index
83 pts (+9 in 2 yrs)
2025
Traffic accident mortality
−60%
vs 2016
Heart disease mortality
−30%
vs 2016
Infectious disease mortality
−50%
vs 2016
Early-detection screening beneficiaries
>3M
cumulative
Premarital screening reach
≈6M people
cumulative
Approaching the 80-year target
79.7 → ~80
2025 actual vs 2030 target
Timeline of Milestones
2016
Baseline 74 yrs; Health Sector Transformation Program launched
2018
Hydrogenated oils banned; calorie labeling mandated
2024
Life expectancy reaches 78.8 yrs
2025
79.7 yrs — UHC Index 83; 97.5% basic coverage
2030
Target: 80 yrs
Evidence library · 4 primary sources
Sorted by tier, newest first
Saudi Arabia Records Global Progress in Universal Health Coverage Index
Ministry of Health
Life Expectancy Rises to 78.8 Years (World Health Day 2025)
SPA
Saudi Arabia records major healthcare gains (V2030 Annual Report 2025)
Zawya / Saudi Gazette
Life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to 79.7 years in 2025
Arab News
Background sources · 73 additional
From the editorial source repository
Show 73 more sources
KFSHRC Honored by American Heart Association for Leadership in CPR Training
Saudi Press Agency
KFSHRC Ranks 12th Globally in Brand Finance 2026
KFSHRC
Life Expectancy in Saudi Arabia Rises to 79.7 Years
Saudi Press Agency
Key Health Indicators
Ministry of Health
Saudi Global Health Report
Ministry of Health
Saudi Arabia Places Three Hospitals in Newsweek's Best Specialized Hospitals Middle East 2026
Saudi Press Agency
Council of Health Insurance Annual Reports
Council of Health Insurance
Saudi Arabia World Health Survey 2025
Ministry of Health
Newsweek: KFSHRC Ranked First in Middle East in Oncology and Orthopedics for 2026
KFSHRC
Health Minister: Saudi Arabia Leads Eastern Mediterranean in Healthy Cities Program
Saudi Press Agency
Global Health Exhibition 2025 Concludes with Record Investments
Saudi Press Agency
Seha Virtual Hospital Showcases Innovative Digital Care at Global Health Exhibition 2025
Ministry of Health
Seha Virtual Hospital Wins 2025 Award for Virtual Care Excellence
Ministry of Health
Health Ministry Reports Major Advancements in Ada'a Health
Saudi Press Agency
King Saud University Medical City: First Saudi Public University Medical City to Achieve International Recognition
Saudi Press Agency
Health Transformation Report Highlights Saudi Arabia's Progress in Expanding Access
Saudi Press Agency
Public Health Authority Annual Report 2024
Public Health Authority / Weqaya
Saudi Health Minister Commends Leadership for Vision 2030 Health Achievements
Ministry of Health
MoH: Average Life Expectancy Rises to 78.8 Years Due to Improved Health Services
Ministry of Health
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Ranked 5th in Saudi Arabia's Newsweek Best Hospitals 2025 Report
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare
Newsweek Ranks 10 Saudi Hospitals Among the Best in the World for 2025
Ministry of Health
Health Minister Lauds Saudi Arabia's Healthcare Model Achievements
Saudi Press Agency
Health Sector Transformation Report 2024
Saudi Vision 2030 / HSTP
Digital Health Forum Charts Future of Healthcare Transformation
Saudi Press Agency
Healthcare Establishments and Workforce Statistics Publication 2024
General Authority for Statistics
Health Ministry: Saudi Nursing Workforce Reaches 44% in 2025
Saudi Press Agency
GDIPC Annual Report 2024
General Directorate of Infection Prevention and Control
Blood Donation Available at 185 Centers across Saudi Arabia
Saudi Press Agency
Saudi Arabia Outlines Health Sector Improvements in 2025
Saudi Press Agency
Madinah Reaccredited as WHO Healthy City
Saudi Press Agency
Healthcare Statistics Publication 2024
General Authority for Statistics
GASTAT: 100% of Saudis Have Basic Healthcare Coverage
General Authority for Statistics
GASTAT Unveils 2024 Healthcare Statistics in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Press Agency
Council of Health Insurance Home
Council of Health Insurance
Seha Virtual Hospital Receives Guinness World Record as Largest Virtual Healthcare Provider
Saudi Press Agency
2023 Health Indicators
Ministry of Health
Health Sector Transformation Program Unveils Successful Strides in 2023
Saudi Press Agency
Healthcare and Life Sciences Overview
Ministry of Investment
Health Sector Transformation Program Annual Report 2023
Saudi Vision 2030 / HSTP
Council of Health Insurance Annual Report 2023
Council of Health Insurance
GDIPC Annual Report 2023
General Directorate of Infection Prevention and Control
Transformation of Saudi Arabia's Health System and Its Impact on Population Health
Ministry of Health Knowledge Management / Academic
Ministry of Health Digital Strategy Framework and Roadmap
Ministry of Health
Saudi Arabia Charts New Heights in Quality of Life
Arab News
Virtual Hospitals Deliver Home Treatment to Remote Patients
Financial Times
World's Best Hospitals 2025: Saudi Arabia
Newsweek / Statista
Average Life Expectancy in Saudi Arabia Rises to 77.6 Years
Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabian Healthcare Group Fakeeh Care Group Announces IPO
Reuters
Saudi Arabia Health Data Overview
World Health Organization
Saudi Arabia Country Data
World Bank
Nursing Workforce Challenges and Retention Strategies in Saudi Arabia
Review of Diabetic Studies / Research
Digital Advancements in Saudi Arabia's Health System: A Blueprint for Change
HealthManagement.org
Saudi Arabia: A Rapidly Emerging Leader in Healthcare Delivery
Consultancy-me
Healthcare in Saudi Arabia
Knight Frank
KSA Pharma Industry
Aljazira Capital
Saudi Arabia Healthcare Transformation 2025 – Vision 2030, Investments & Trends
TASC Outsourcing
Saudi Arabia's OECD PaRIS Country Notes
Cvalue
Does Healthcare Deliver? Results from PaRIS: Saudi Arabia
OECD
Saudi Healthcare Market 2025
U.S.-Saudi Business Council
Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys
OECD
Informing Health System Reform through Patient Perspectives: Saudi Arabia's OECD PaRIS Survey Results
ISPOR
Saudi Arabia Accelerates Healthcare Innovation with Major Investments
Global Health Saudi
Sustainability and Resilience in the Saudi Arabian Health System
World Economic Forum / PHSSR
Transforming Healthcare: Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 Healthcare Model
Taylor & Francis
Global Wellness Institute Launches New Saudi Arabia Wellness Report
Global Wellness Institute
Saudi Healthcare Sector
Argaam Plus / Research
Insurance, from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2024
Oxford Business Group
Healthcare Financing in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review
PMC / Academic
A Comprehensive Evaluation of Vision 2030's Impact on Healthcare in Saudi Arabia
MDPI Sustainability
Saudi Arabia Wellness Economy Country Report
Global Wellness Institute
Current Status and Vision of Local Pharmaceutical Industries in Saudi Arabia
PMC / Academic
Middle East's First-Ever Virtual Hospital Opens in Saudi Arabia
World Economic Forum
Healthcare Transformation in Saudi Arabia
PMC / Academic
Healthcare reaches almost every corner
97.5% of populated areas covered by basic health services
97.5%
Saudi hospitals on Newsweek's world list
Seven Saudi institutions named among the World's Best Hospitals
7
WHO Universal Health Coverage Index
Saudi Arabia's UHC score rose by 9 points in two years to 83
83 pts
Cancers detected early
70% of cancers now caught at early stages — the survivability turning point
70%
Also relevant for
Initiative attribution: Health Sector Transformation Program, Sehhaty, Seha Virtual Hospital, preventive screening, traffic safety reforms, food/nutrition policy. Citizen benefit category: Healthier, longer lives.