Where payroll sits in the Saudi economy: what the social insurance figures show

Saudi Gazette reports figures on social insurance (GOSI) coverage at the end of the second quarter of 2026. They show where most of the country's payroll sits, and they are a useful reminder of what a role costs beyond its salary.

What the figures show

• Saudi Arabia had about 13.99 million active social insurance subscribers across the public and private sectors.
• The private sector accounted for 95% of them: about 13.35 million.
• The Riyadh region accounted for 52% of all subscribers, about 7.24 million.
• The government sector accounted for about 639,000.

Why owners should care

Most payroll in the country, and the costs that come with it, is carried by private businesses. That is the setting every owner budgets in. Each person on the payroll brings a salary and a set of other costs that arrive with it.

Look at the full monthly cost of a role

For each role, a useful habit is to price every line, not just the salary:

• salary and any allowances;
• social insurance contributions;
• medical insurance;
• visa, work permit and Iqama, where they apply;
• housing;
• equipment, software and workspace.

Seeing the lines together makes hiring decisions clearer. Our cost calculator lets you enter your own figures and see the monthly total, and the cost checklist walks through each line.

Comparing ways to cover a role

When you compare a local employee with another way to cover the same role, put the same lines side by side. With a managed service, the cost of a role is one monthly fee set out in your service agreement, quoted per role. See how pricing works, or send us the role and its tasks and we reply within 24 hours. The service is provided under an international service agreement; terms are set out in the agreement.

Source

Saudi Gazette: Private sector accounts for 95% of Saudi social insurance subscribers; Riyadh tops with 52%.

This article summarises a news report and gives general points for business owners. It is not legal or financial advice. Figures and rules change, so check the latest official data before you decide.