Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has 7.6 times the population of Kuwait: 36.97 million people against 4.87 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 8.1 times the size of Kuwait's, at $1.28T versus $157.21B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Kuwait | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $157.21B | 2025 | $1.24T / $160.23B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $34,537 | $32,312 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 2.4% | 2025 | 1.7% / 2.9% |
| Unemployment | 3.0% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,799 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,067 | $245 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | $4.52 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 4.87 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 3.17 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | -0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 34.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.50 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 79.0 yrs | Higher: 84.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 100% | 100% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 17,818 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 273.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 130 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 20.4 t | 26.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $7.79B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 4.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 25,000 | 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 2.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 2.4% in Kuwait.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 57 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the younger society: median age 29.6 versus 34.8 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in Kuwait (84.6 vs 79.0).
Kuwait is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 85%.
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 121 times the size of Kuwait: 2,149,690 km² versus 17,818 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Kuwait is far more densely settled: 273 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 10 times as much on defence as Kuwait: $80.33B versus $7.79B (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 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Kuwait?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Kuwait covers 17,818 km², so Saudi Arabia is 121 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 4.87 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Kuwait?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $32,312. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $157.21B for Kuwait.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $7.79B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).