Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has 11 times the population of Singapore: 69.49 million people against 6.11 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 6.6 times the size of Singapore's, at $4.00T versus $603.87B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $57,602 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $603.87B | 2025 | $3.64T / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $57,602 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 3.3% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,567 | $3,483 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,532 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 6.11 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 59,000 | 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
Singapore is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.4%.
The United Kingdom runs the hotter price environment: 3.9% inflation versus 0.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Singapore: a price level of 60 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $3,483 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Singapore is the younger society: median age 36.2 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 2.0 years longer in Singapore (83.3 vs 81.4).
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 83%.
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 338 times the size of Singapore: 242,900 km² versus 719 km².
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 286.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 5.4 times as much on defence as Singapore: $81.76B versus $15.06B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The United Kingdom fields the larger armed forces: 153,000 personnel against 59,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Singapore?
- The United Kingdom is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so the United Kingdom is 338 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Singapore?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $57,602. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Singapore?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $15.06B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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