Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has 3.2 times the population of Jordan: 36.97 million people against 11.52 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 21 times the size of Jordan's, at $1.28T versus $61.61B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $5,348 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Jordan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $61.61B | 2025 | $1.24T / $53.35B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $34,537 | $5,348 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 1.8% | 2025 | 1.7% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 16.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $1,799 | $495 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,067 | $366 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | $3.53 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 11.52 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 11.31 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 24.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 2.57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 78.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 93% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 89,342 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 129.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 23 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.4 t | Lower: 2.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $2.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 4.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 116,000 | 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 2.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 1.8% in Jordan.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $495 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Jordan is the younger society: median age 24.7 versus 29.6 years.
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 78.0).
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 24 times the size of Jordan: 2,149,690 km² versus 89,342 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Jordan is far more densely settled: 129 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 31 times as much on defence as Jordan: $80.33B versus $2.56B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 4.8%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 116,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Jordan?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Jordan covers 89,342 km², so Saudi Arabia is 24 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Jordan?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 11.52 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Jordan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $5,348. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $61.61B for Jordan.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Jordan?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $2.56B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).