Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has about 95% more people than Romania: 36.97 million against 19.02 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 3.0 times the size of Romania's, at $1.28T versus $428.68B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $428.68B | 2025 | $1.24T / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $34,537 | $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 7.2% | 2025 | 1.7% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $1,799 | $1,722 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,067 | $906 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.4 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 128,000 | 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 much faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 2.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 2.5 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 76.5).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 9.0 times the size of Romania: 2,149,690 km² versus 238,391 km².
Romania is far more densely settled: 80 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 9.2 times as much on defence as Romania: $80.33B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 2.3%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Romania?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so Saudi Arabia is 9.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Romania?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Romania?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).