Updated
Overview
The United States has 2.4 times the population of Russia: 341.78 million people against 143.51 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 12 times the size of Russia's, at $30.77T versus $2.56T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Russia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $2.56T | 2025 | $29.18T / $2.17T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $17,547 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 8.7% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 6.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 32 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $777 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $208 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $1.74 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 143.51 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 140.13 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 73.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 17,098,242 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 8.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 1,781 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 12.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $148.97B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 7.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 1.5 million | 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 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 2.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 38.5 (the United States) and 40.3 (Russia).
Life expectancy is 5.4 years longer in the United States (78.9 vs 73.4).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 42% smaller than Russia: 9,833,517 km² versus 17,098,242 km².
The United States is far more densely settled: 35 people per km² against 8.
Military
The United States spends 6.7 times as much on defence as Russia: $997.31B versus $148.97B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 3.4%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 1.4 million (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Russia?
- Russia is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Russia covers 17,098,242 km², so Russia is 74% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Russia?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 143.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Russia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $17,547. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $2.56T for Russia.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Russia?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $148.97B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).