Updated
Overview
Pakistan has about 80% more people than Russia: 255.22 million against 143.51 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 6.3 times the size of Pakistan's, at $2.56T versus $407.31B.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Russia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $2.56T | 2025 | $373.07B / $2.17T |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $17,547 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.5% | 8.7% | 2025 | 12.6% / 6.7% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 32 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $777 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | Higher: $208 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | $1.74 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 143.51 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 140.13 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 73.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 17,098,242 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 8.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 180 Mt | 1,781 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 12.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $148.97B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 7.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 1.5 million | 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
Pakistan is growing faster: 3.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 3.5%.
Average monthly earnings favour Russia: $777 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in Russia (73.4 vs 67.8).
Russia is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Russia (94% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is only about 1/19 the size of Russia: 881,912 km² versus 17,098,242 km².
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 15 times as much on defence as Pakistan: $148.97B versus $10.17B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 2.7%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 943,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Russia?
- Russia is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Russia covers 17,098,242 km², so Russia is 19 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Russia?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 143.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Russia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $2.56T for Russia.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Russia?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $10.17B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).