Updated
Overview
The United States has 9.2 times the population of Saudi Arabia: 341.78 million people against 36.97 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 24 times the size of Saudi Arabia's, at $30.77T versus $1.28T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $1.28T | 2025 | $29.18T / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.2% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.1% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $1,799 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $1,067 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 14.2 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 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 faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 38.5 years.
Geography
By land area, the United States is 4.6 times the size of Saudi Arabia: 9,833,517 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
The United States is far more densely settled: 35 people per km² against 17.
Military
The United States spends 12 times as much on defence as Saudi Arabia: $997.31B versus $80.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 3.4%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 282,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so the United States is 4.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Saudi Arabia?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $34,537. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Saudi Arabia?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $80.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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