Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has about 90% more people than Saudi Arabia: 69.49 million against 36.97 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 3.1 times the size of Saudi Arabia's, at $4.00T versus $1.28T.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $1.28T | 2025 | $3.64T / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 3.3% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,567 | $1,799 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,532 | $1,067 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 313 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 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 much faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.9% in the United Kingdom and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 2.4 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 79.0).
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 89% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 242,900 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 17.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $81.76B (the United Kingdom) and $80.33B (Saudi Arabia).
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 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 8.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $34,537. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $80.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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