Updated
Overview
Russia has about 70% more people than Germany: 143.51 million against 83.49 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 2.0 times the size of Russia's, at $5.05T versus $2.56T.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Germany | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $2.56T | Higher: $5.05T | 2025 | $2.17T / $4.66T |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $60,496 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.0% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 6.7% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 3.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 80 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $4,647 | 2021 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $2,442 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 83.49 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 84.01 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 45.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 82% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 357,114 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 233.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 572 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 6.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $88.46B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 183,000 | 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
Russia is growing faster: 1.0% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 2.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Russia is the younger society: median age 40.3 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 7.4 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 73.4).
Geography
By land area, Russia is 48 times the size of Germany: 17,098,242 km² versus 357,114 km².
Germany is far more densely settled: 234 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends about 70% more on defence than Germany: $148.97B versus $88.46B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 1.9%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Germany?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Germany covers 357,114 km², so Russia is 48 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Germany?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 83.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Germany?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $17,547. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $5.05T for Germany.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Germany?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $88.46B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).