Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has 4.8 times the population of Saudi Arabia: 175.69 million people against 36.97 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 2.8 times the size of Bangladesh's, at $1.28T versus $456.32B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $2,597 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $456.32B | Higher: $1.28T | 2025 | $450.12B / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | $2,597 | Higher: $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.5% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 10.5% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $1,799 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $108 | Higher: $1,067 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 53% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 108 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.6 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 282,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Saudi Arabia is growing faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 3.5%.
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 2.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bangladesh: a price level of 25 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the younger society: median age 26.0 versus 29.6 years.
Life expectancy is 4.1 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 74.9).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 33%.
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 53% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is only about 1/15 the size of Saudi Arabia: 147,570 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 20 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $80.33B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 227,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $2,597. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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