Nuptiality and fertility in Saudi Arabia: An appraisal of census data

Saudi Arabia constitutes bulk of the Arabian Peninsula. Higher birth and lower death rate with higher levels of expectation of life characterizes Saudi Arabian demography. This attempt at appraising nuptiality and fertility is based on censuses. Marriage patterns are changing with higher age at marriage; increasing ever marriage and reducing adolescent marriage, divorces and polygamy. Fertility, was captured from children ever born, parity, and births during 12 months prior to 2004 census and sterility. The children ever born to Saudi Arabian ever married women were 3.8. Women of higher age had higher number of children ever born. Fertility levels remained higher but with a larger proportion of woman at zero parity even among those above 45 years – indication of sterility. Fertility transition was under way as a result of improved female education, value of children, higher age at marriage and reduced infant and child mortality rate.