Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia and Peru are nearly matched in population: 36.97 million versus 34.58 million people (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 3.8 times the size of Peru's, at $1.28T versus $334.85B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $334.85B | 2025 | $1.24T / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $34,537 | $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 1.7% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 51 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $1,799 | $563 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,067 | $273 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.4 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $2.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 158,000 | 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 3.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 1.5% in Peru.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 29.6 (Saudi Arabia) and 30.2 (Peru).
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 67% larger than Peru: 2,149,690 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 31 times as much on defence as Peru: $80.33B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Peru?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so Saudi Arabia is 67% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Peru?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Peru?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).