Updated
Overview
France has about 85% more people than Saudi Arabia: 68.72 million against 36.97 million (2025).
France's economy is 2.6 times the size of Saudi Arabia's, at $3.37T versus $1.28T.
Per person, France is the wealthier of the two: $48,986 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | France | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.37T | $1.28T | 2025 | $3.16T / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $48,986 | $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.8% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.9% | 2.1% | 2025 | 2.0% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 77 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $5,024 | $1,799 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,036 | $1,067 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 68.72 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 68.51 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 0.2% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.3 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 643,801 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 106.7/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 264 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $64.68B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.1% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 304,000 | 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 much faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.9% in France and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 77 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour France: $5,024 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 42.3 years.
Life expectancy is 4.0 years longer in France (83.0 vs 79.0).
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 89% of the population).
Geography
By land area, France is 70% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 643,801 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
France is far more densely settled: 107 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 24% more on defence than France: $80.33B versus $64.68B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 2.1%.
France fields the larger armed forces: 304,000 personnel against 282,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is France bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. France covers 643,801 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 3.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, France or Saudi Arabia?
- France has the larger population: 68.72 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is France richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, France is richer: $48,986 against $34,537. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.37T for France versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, France or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $64.68B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).