Updated
Overview
Saudi Arabia has 4.1 times the population of Switzerland: 36.97 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 22% larger than Switzerland's, at $1.28T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.28T | $1.04T | 2025 | $1.24T / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $34,537 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.5% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 1.7% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,799 | Higher: $7,309 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,067 | Higher: $4,784 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.06 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.97 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 36.54 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 4.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.29 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 79.0 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 85% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 17.2/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 692 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 20.4 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $80.33B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.3% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 282,000 | 20,000 | 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 1.3%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Saudi Arabia and 0.2% in Switzerland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 5.4 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 79.0).
Geography
By land area, Saudi Arabia is 52 times the size of Switzerland: 2,149,690 km² versus 41,284 km².
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 12 times as much on defence as Switzerland: $80.33B versus $6.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Saudi Arabia bigger than Switzerland?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Saudi Arabia is 52 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or Switzerland?
- Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 36.97 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Saudi Arabia richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $34,537. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.28T for Saudi Arabia versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Saudi Arabia or Switzerland?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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