Updated
Overview
Germany has 2.3 times the population of Saudi Arabia: 83.49 million people against 36.97 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 4.0 times the size of Saudi Arabia's, at $5.05T versus $1.28T.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $1.28T | 2025 | $4.66T / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 2.3% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 3.7% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,647 | $1,799 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $1,067 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 572 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.8 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 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 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.2% in Germany and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 1.8 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 79.0).
Geography
By land area, Germany is 83% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 357,114 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
Germany is far more densely settled: 234 people per km² against 17.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $88.46B (Germany) and $80.33B (Saudi Arabia).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 1.9%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 6.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or Saudi Arabia?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $34,537. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or Saudi Arabia?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $80.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).