Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 6.9 times the population of Saudi Arabia: 255.22 million people against 36.97 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 3.1 times the size of Pakistan's, at $1.28T versus $407.31B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $1.28T | 2025 | $373.07B / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.7% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 12.6% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $1,799 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | Higher: $1,067 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 180 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 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 3.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Pakistan and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Pakistan: a price level of 24 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 29.6 years.
Life expectancy is 11.2 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 67.8).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 59% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 881,912 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 7.9 times as much on defence as Pakistan: $80.33B versus $10.17B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 2.7%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 282,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 2.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $10.17B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).