Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has 12 times the population of Qatar: 36.97 million people against 2.97 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 5.9 times the size of Qatar's, at $1.28T versus $215.56B.
Per person, Qatar is the wealthier of the two: $72,525 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Qatar | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $215.56B | 2025 | $1.24T / $217.98B |
| GDP per capita | $34,537 | Higher: $72,525 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 1.3% | 2025 / 2024 | 1.7% / — |
| Unemployment | 3.0% | Lower: 0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 56 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,799 | Higher: $3,287 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,067 | $275 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | $4.94 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 2.97 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 2.57 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 33.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.70 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 79.0 yrs | Higher: 82.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 99% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 11,586 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 256.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 126 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 20.4 t | 41.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $15.41B | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 6.5% | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 22,000 | 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 2.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 1.3% in Qatar.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 56 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Qatar: $3,287 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the younger society: median age 29.6 versus 33.5 years.
Life expectancy is 3.5 years longer in Qatar (82.5 vs 79.0).
Qatar is considerably more urbanized: 99% of people live in cities, against 85%.
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 186 times the size of Qatar: 2,149,690 km² versus 11,586 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Qatar is far more densely settled: 257 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 5.2 times as much on defence as Qatar: $80.33B versus $15.41B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Qatar?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Qatar covers 11,586 km², so Saudi Arabia is 186 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Qatar?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 2.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Qatar?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Qatar is richer: $72,525 against $34,537. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $215.56B for Qatar.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Qatar?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $15.41B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).