Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has 6.7 times the population of Ireland: 36.97 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is about 75% larger than Ireland's, at $1.28T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $721.70B | 2025 | $1.24T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $34,537 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.5% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 2.2% | 2025 | 1.7% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,799 | Higher: $5,697 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,067 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 79.0 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.4 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 4.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 2.2% in Ireland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 39.0 years.
Life expectancy is 4.0 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 79.0).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 31 times the size of Ireland: 2,149,690 km² versus 70,273 km².
Ireland is far more densely settled: 78 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 60 times as much on defence as Ireland: $80.33B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Ireland?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Saudi Arabia is 31 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Ireland?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $34,537. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Ireland?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).