Updated
Overview
The United States has 12 times the population of Australia: 341.78 million people against 27.61 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 17 times the size of Australia's, at $30.77T versus $1.80T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $65,130 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Australia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $1.80T | 2025 | $29.18T / $1.75T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $65,130 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.9% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 4.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 90 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $4,436 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,257 | Higher: $2,655 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $5.95 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 27.61 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 27.49 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 38.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 7,692,024 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 3.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 387 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 14.2 t | 14.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $33.82B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 60,000 | 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
The United States is growing faster: 2.2% annual GDP growth versus 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 2.9% in Australia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Australia: a price level of 90 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $4,436 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 38.5 (the United States) and 38.3 (Australia).
Life expectancy is 4.2 years longer in Australia (83.1 vs 78.9).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 28% larger than Australia: 9,833,517 km² versus 7,692,024 km².
The United States is far more densely settled: 35 people per km² against 4.
Military
The United States spends 29 times as much on defence as Australia: $997.31B versus $33.82B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.9%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 60,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Australia?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Australia covers 7,692,024 km², so the United States is 28% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Australia?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 27.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Australia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $65,130. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $1.80T for Australia.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Australia?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $33.82B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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