Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has 6.9 times the population of Israel: 69.49 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 6.6 times the size of Israel's, at $4.00T versus $610.78B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $610.78B | 2025 | $3.64T / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $57,602 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 3.3% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,567 | $3,383 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,532 | $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 178,000 | 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
Israel is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.9% in the United Kingdom and 3.0% in Israel.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the United Kingdom: a price level of 89 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $3,383 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Israel is the far younger society: median age 29.2 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 1.8 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 81.4).
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 12 times the size of Israel: 242,900 km² versus 20,770 km².
Military
The United Kingdom spends about 75% more on defence than Israel: $81.76B versus $46.51B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 2.3%.
Israel fields the larger armed forces: 178,000 personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Israel?
- The United Kingdom is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so the United Kingdom is 12 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Israel?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $57,602. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Israel?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $46.51B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).