Updated
Overview
Russia has 14 times the population of Israel: 143.51 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 4.2 times the size of Israel's, at $2.56T versus $610.78B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $610.78B | 2025 | $2.17T / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 6.7% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 101 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $3,383 | 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 178,000 | 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
Israel is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 3.0%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Israel is the far younger society: median age 29.2 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 9.8 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 73.4).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 823 times the size of Israel: 17,098,242 km² versus 20,770 km².
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 3.2 times as much on defence as Israel: $148.97B versus $46.51B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 7.1%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Israel?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Russia is 823 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Israel?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Israel?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $46.51B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).