Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has 3.4 times the population of Portugal: 36.97 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 3.7 times the size of Portugal's, at $1.28T versus $346.64B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $346.64B | 2025 | $1.24T / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $34,537 | $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 2.3% | 2025 | 1.7% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $1,799 | $1,426 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,067 | Higher: $1,147 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 79.0 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.4 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 52,000 | 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 1.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 3.4 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 79.0).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 88% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 23 times the size of Portugal: 2,149,690 km² versus 92,090 km².
Portugal is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 17 times as much on defence as Portugal: $80.33B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 1.5%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Portugal?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Saudi Arabia is 23 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Portugal?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Portugal?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).