Updated
Overview
Iraq has 27% more people than Saudi Arabia: 47.02 million against 36.97 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 5.0 times the size of Iraq's, at $1.28T versus $254.37B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $5,410 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iraq | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $254.37B | Higher: $1.28T | 2025 | $279.64B / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | $5,410 | Higher: $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.2% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.3% | 2.1% | 2025 | 4.4% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 15.5% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 38 | 47 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $1,799 | — / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $269 | Higher: $1,067 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 47.02 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 42.92 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 2.1% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.8 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.17 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.4 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 81% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 438,317 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 107.3/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 234 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.1 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.18B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.4% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 459,000 | 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 grew while the other economy contracted: 4.5% against -2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.3% in Iraq and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Iraq: a price level of 38 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Iraq is the far younger society: median age 20.8 versus 29.6 years.
Life expectancy is 6.6 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 72.4).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 81% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Iraq is 80% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 438,317 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Iraq is far more densely settled: 107 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 13 times as much on defence as Iraq: $80.33B versus $6.18B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 2.4%.
Iraq fields the larger armed forces: 459,000 personnel against 282,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iraq bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Iraq covers 438,317 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 4.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Iraq or Saudi Arabia?
- Iraq has the larger population: 47.02 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iraq richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $5,410. Total GDP tells the same story: $254.37B for Iraq versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Iraq or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $6.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).