Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has 2.0 times the population of the Netherlands: 36.97 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia and $1.33T for the Netherlands.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $1.28T | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $1.24T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $34,537 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 3.3% | 2025 | 1.7% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,799 | Higher: $6,402 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,067 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 79.0 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.4 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 3.0 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 79.0).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 85%.
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 51 times the size of the Netherlands: 2,149,690 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 3.5 times as much on defence as the Netherlands: $80.33B versus $23.18B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 1.9%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than the Netherlands?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Saudi Arabia is 51 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or the Netherlands?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $34,537. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or the Netherlands?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $23.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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