Healthcare & Wellbeing
Are we living longer, healthier lives?
Vibrant Society pillar18 sources8 metricsLast reviewed 2026-05-16
What this means 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.
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
Healthcare reaches almost every corner
97.5%
97.5% of populated areas covered by basic health services
Saudi hospitals on Newsweek's world list
7
Seven Saudi institutions named among the World's Best Hospitals
WHO Universal Health Coverage Index
83 pts
Saudi Arabia's UHC score rose by 9 points in two years to 83
Cancers detected early
70%
70% of cancers now caught at early stages — the survivability turning point
Sehhaty health-app users
12M+
12 million+ Saudis on the unified health platform
Saudi cities WHO Healthy-Cities accredited
16
16 Saudi cities recognized for public health quality
Chronic disease mortality reduction
−40%
40% fewer deaths from chronic disease
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
Recent milestones in this sector
All milestones →Mina Emergency Hospital 2 expands to 400 beds
18,000 sqm facility with 400 beds, 270+ ambulance units, and 570+ paramedics/specialists — strengthening Hajj emergency care.
Programs delivering these outcomes · 4
Sehhaty
programThe Ministry of Health's national patient-facing app. Hosts vaccination records, lab results, prescription tracking, medical appointment booking, and telemedicine consultations. Centralized what had previously been a fragmented health-records system distributed across separate provider IT systems.
CHI
institutionCouncil of Cooperative Health Insurance
The body that regulates and certifies private health-insurance providers in the kingdom. Established in 1999, it became the central architecture for the universal health coverage rollout that took basic coverage to 97.5% by 2025. The transition from fragmented employer-provider arrangements to a regulated unified scheme runs through CHI.
KFSH&RC
institutionKing Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
The kingdom's flagship academic medical center, founded in 1975. Internationally ranked as one of the world's top hospitals (consistently top 25 globally by Newsweek's specialty-medical ranking). Hosts the national programs in oncology, organ transplantation, cardiac surgery, and clinical research; runs the kingdom's largest stem-cell transplant program in MENA.
Weqaya
institutionSaudi Public Health Authority
The national public health authority, established in 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consolidated disease surveillance, outbreak response, vaccination programs, and population-health monitoring that had previously been distributed across the Ministry of Health and several agencies. Modeled in part on the US CDC and Public Health England structures.
Evidence library · 6 sources
Filter coming in 2.1
Saudi Arabia Records Global Progress in Universal Health Coverage Index
Ministry of HealthSaudis living longer
Life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to 79.7 years in 2025
Arab NewsSaudis living longer
Life Expectancy Rises to 78.8 Years (World Health Day 2025)
SPASaudis living longer
Saudi Arabia records major healthcare gains (V2030 Annual Report 2025)
Zawya / Saudi GazetteSaudis living longer
Vision 2030 Report: Basic Health Coverage in Saudi Arabia Reaches 97.5%
SPAHealthcare reaches almost every corner
Saudi Arabia nears 80-year life expectancy as Vision 2030 health reforms deliver gains
Arabian BusinessHealthcare reaches almost every corner