Mecca, Saudi Arabia Population 2024

Mecca's 2024 population is now estimated at 2,184,560In 1950, the population of Mecca was 148,164Mecca has grown by 34,630 in the last year, which represents a 1.61% annual change.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Mecca, which typically includes Mecca's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Mecca is a city located in Saudi Arabia. This city is the capital of the Makkah Region, and it is most known for being the holiest city of the Islamic religion. The population is 1,675,368, and with millions of Muslims visiting each year, it is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

City Size and Population Density

The city of Mecca encompasses a considerable surface area which comes to a total of 760 square kilometers (290 square miles) for the city proper. The metropolitan area expands out to 1,200 kilometers squared (500 square miles). The population density of Mecca is approximately 2,200 residents living per square kilometer (5,700 residents per square mile).

Mecca Demographics

Because Mecca is a city of Islam -which is enforced by strict laws- non-Muslims are not allowed to enter. The majority of residents reside in what is known as the Old City. Most of the workers are employed in the Hajj Industry.

Both people that live in the city and tourists come from different backgrounds and ethnicities. This includes people from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The city also has a large number of Burmese residents, with approximately 250,000 contributing to the overall population.

Mecca History

People of Islam believe that Mecca was first inhabited by the descendants of Ishmael. Throughout its early history, Mecca has been considered an integral center of trade - but this is somewhat disputed among scholars. In its earliest years, tribes would travel to Mecca annually to pay homage to the shrine, drive from the Zamzam Well, resolve debts, trade, and arbitrate disputes.

Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 but later emigrated as the Muslims and Quraysh continued to fight. In 628, Muhammad attempted to enter Mecca but was not allowed. Muhammad later came back with 10,000 of his men, and the city eventually surrendered. At that time, Muhammad declared peace and amnesty for all residents. All pagan imagery was destroyed and it was dedicated to become a place to worship God.

In the 1800s, the First Saudi State captured Mecca and held it for ten years. It was also during the 1800s and early 1900s that cholera outbreaks from the pilgrims entering the company were at their worst. It was during the 1924 Battle of Mecca that the city was incorporated into Saudi Arabia. During this time, the most of the city was demolished and rebuilt. This has continued throughout the rule of Saudi Arabia. Since 1985, approximately 95% of historic buildings were destroyed. Much of this demolition was a result of new construction, including hotels, housing, and other infrastructure.

Mecca is considered to be the holiest center in Islam and millions of Muslims come from all over the world during the two pilgrimages: the Umrah and the Hajj. The city is home to the largest mosque in the world and it continues to evolve. The annual pilgrimages support the economy with the major influx of tourists and pilgrimage partakers. However, there are other important industries as well, including carpentry, iron manufacturing, copper, and banks. Because of the annual pilgrimages, the city has a rich cultural and historical heritage and is considered to be the most diverse city in the Muslim world.

Mecca Population Growth

The population of Mecca has seen steady growth throughout the years. Its role as a holy city of Muslims not only attracts millions of visitors, but many of these visitors choose to become residents. The city’s expansion to include highways, shopping centers, and many important industries makes it a prosperous city that appeals to new residents, so continued population should be expected into the future. Based on recent growth rate percentages, Mecca is on track to see a 2-5% annual increase in population.

Growth Rate
1.61%

86 Rows

Year
Population
20352,521,440
20342,494,800
20332,467,170
20322,438,640
20312,409,320
20302,379,280
20292,348,530
20282,317,030
20272,284,830
20262,252,000
20252,218,580
20242,184,560
20232,149,930
20222,114,680
20212,078,770
20202,042,110
20192,004,890
20181,967,090
20171,908,270
20161,851,210
20151,795,850
20141,742,150
20131,690,050
20121,639,510
20111,590,480
20101,542,920
20091,496,780
20081,452,090
20071,408,610
20061,366,480
20051,325,620
20041,287,610
20031,256,450
20021,226,080
20011,196,450
20001,167,580
19991,139,320
19981,111,780
19971,084,920
19961,058,730
19951,033,110
19941,008,140
1993983,777
1992953,319
1991903,450
1990856,253
1989811,522
1988769,184
1987728,947
1986690,866
1985654,775
1984620,615
1983588,150
1982557,425
1981528,304
1980500,742
1979474,548
1978449,757
1977426,262
1976404,023
1975382,888
1974361,593
1973336,640
1972313,441
1971291,782
1970271,647
1969252,902
1968235,473
1967219,202
1966204,076
1965189,993
1964176,899
1963164,676
1962158,462
1961157,578
1960156,699
1959155,823
1958154,952
1957154,087
1956153,228
1955152,371
1954151,520
1953150,674
1952149,834
1951148,996
1950148,164

86 Rows

Year
Population
Change
Growth
1950148,1640%0
1951148,9960.56%832
1952149,8340.56%838
1953150,6740.56%840
1954151,5200.56%846
1955152,3710.56%851
1956153,2280.56%857
1957154,0870.56%859
1958154,9520.56%865
1959155,8230.56%871
1960156,6990.56%876
1961157,5780.56%879
1962158,4620.56%884
1963164,6763.92%6,214
1964176,8997.42%12,223
1965189,9937.4%13,094
1966204,0767.41%14,083
1967219,2027.41%15,126
1968235,4737.42%16,271
1969252,9027.4%17,429
1970271,6477.41%18,745
1971291,7827.41%20,135
1972313,4417.42%21,659
1973336,6407.4%23,199
1974361,5937.41%24,953
1975382,8885.89%21,295
1976404,0235.52%21,135
1977426,2625.5%22,239
1978449,7575.51%23,495
1979474,5485.51%24,791
1980500,7425.52%26,194
1981528,3045.5%27,562
1982557,4255.51%29,121
1983588,1505.51%30,725
1984620,6155.52%32,465
1985654,7755.5%34,160
1986690,8665.51%36,091
1987728,9475.51%38,081
1988769,1845.52%40,237
1989811,5225.5%42,338
1990856,2535.51%44,731
1991903,4505.51%47,197
1992953,3195.52%49,869
1993983,7773.19%30,458
19941,008,1402.48%24,363
19951,033,1102.48%24,970
19961,058,7302.48%25,620
19971,084,9202.47%26,190
19981,111,7802.48%26,860
19991,139,3202.48%27,540
20001,167,5802.48%28,260
20011,196,4502.47%28,870
20021,226,0802.48%29,630
20031,256,4502.48%30,370
20041,287,6102.48%31,160
20051,325,6202.95%38,010
20061,366,4803.08%40,860
20071,408,6103.08%42,130
20081,452,0903.09%43,480
20091,496,7803.08%44,690
20101,542,9203.08%46,140
20111,590,4803.08%47,560
20121,639,5103.08%49,030
20131,690,0503.08%50,540
20141,742,1503.08%52,100
20151,795,8503.08%53,700
20161,851,2103.08%55,360
20171,908,2703.08%57,060
20181,967,0903.08%58,820
20192,004,8901.92%37,800
20202,042,1101.86%37,220
20212,078,7701.8%36,660
20222,114,6801.73%35,910
20232,149,9301.67%35,250
20242,184,5601.61%34,630
20252,218,5801.56%34,020
20262,252,0001.51%33,420
20272,284,8301.46%32,830
20282,317,0301.41%32,200
20292,348,5301.36%31,500
20302,379,2801.31%30,750
20312,409,3201.26%30,040
20322,438,6401.22%29,320
20332,467,1701.17%28,530
20342,494,8001.12%27,630
20352,521,4401.07%26,640

Mecca Population Data (Urban Area)

Name
2024 Pop.
2024 Growth
Riyadh7,820,5501.8%
Jiddah4,943,2101.65%
Mecca2,184,5601.61%
Medina1,598,9801.68%
Ad Dammam1,352,9101.78%
Hufuf Mubarraz884,7531.41%
Buraydah727,7141.9%
Taif717,3341.15%
Tabuk697,0411.46%
Jubayl694,9722.82%
Khamis Mushayt579,7051.43%
Najran442,4131.75%
Ha'il425,0531.48%
Hafar Al Batin376,0361.52%
Thuqbah374,5551.94%
Yanbu Al Bahr364,8371.92%
Khubar361,9442.09%

Other Cities in Saudi Arabia