Updated
Overview
The United States has 4.1 times the population of Germany: 341.78 million people against 83.49 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 6.1 times the size of Germany's, at $30.77T versus $5.05T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $60,496 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Germany | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $5.05T | 2025 | $29.18T / $4.66T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $60,496 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.2% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 80 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $4,647 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,257 | Higher: $2,442 | 2026 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 83.49 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 84.01 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 45.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 82% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 357,114 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 233.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 572 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 6.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $88.46B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 183,000 | 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 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 2.2% in Germany.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Germany: a price level of 80 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $4,647 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United States is the younger society: median age 38.5 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 1.9 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 78.9).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 28 times the size of Germany: 9,833,517 km² versus 357,114 km².
Germany is far more densely settled: 234 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 11 times as much on defence as Germany: $997.31B versus $88.46B (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 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Germany?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Germany covers 357,114 km², so the United States is 28 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Germany?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 83.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Germany?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $60,496. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $5.05T for Germany.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Germany?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $88.46B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).