Updated
Overview
Turkey (Türkiye) has 2.3 times the population of Saudi Arabia: 85.88 million people against 36.97 million (2025).
Turkey (Türkiye)'s economy is 25% larger than Saudi Arabia's, at $1.60T versus $1.28T.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $18,599 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Turkey (Türkiye) | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.60T | $1.28T | 2025 | $1.32T / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | $18,599 | Higher: $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.6% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 34.9% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 58.5% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 8.5% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,001 | Higher: $1,799 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $659 | Higher: $1,067 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.91 | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 85.88 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 84.63 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.5 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.4 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 90% | Higher: 100% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 783,562 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 109.6/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 513 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.9 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.98B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 512,000 | 282,000 | 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 3.6%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Turkey (Türkiye) at 34.9%, while the other economy sits at 2.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $1,001 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the younger society: median age 29.6 versus 33.5 years.
Life expectancy is 1.6 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 77.4).
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 90% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Turkey (Türkiye) is 64% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 783,562 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Turkey (Türkiye) is far more densely settled: 110 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 3.2 times as much on defence as Turkey (Türkiye): $80.33B versus $24.98B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 1.9%.
Turkey (Türkiye) fields the larger armed forces: 512,000 personnel against 282,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. Turkey (Türkiye) covers 783,562 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 2.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Turkey (Türkiye) or Saudi Arabia?
- Turkey (Türkiye) has the larger population: 85.88 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $18,599. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.60T for Turkey (Türkiye) versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Turkey (Türkiye) or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $24.98B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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