Updated
Overview
The United States has 4.9 times the population of the United Kingdom: 341.78 million people against 69.49 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 7.7 times the size of the United Kingdom's, at $30.77T versus $4.00T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $57,602 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | United Kingdom | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $4.00T | 2025 | $29.18T / $3.64T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $57,602 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 3.9% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 89 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $3,567 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,257 | Higher: $2,532 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $7.40 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 69.49 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 68.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 40.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.54 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 95% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 242,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 286.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 313 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 4.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $81.76B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 153,000 | 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 3.9% in the United Kingdom.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the United Kingdom: a price level of 89 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $3,567 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 38.5 (the United States) and 40.1 (the United Kingdom).
Life expectancy is 2.5 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 78.9).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 40 times the size of the United Kingdom: 9,833,517 km² versus 242,900 km².
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 12 times as much on defence as the United Kingdom: $997.31B versus $81.76B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 2.3%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than the United Kingdom?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while the United Kingdom covers 242,900 km², so the United States is 40 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or the United Kingdom?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 69.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than the United Kingdom?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $57,602. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $4.00T for the United Kingdom.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or the United Kingdom?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $81.76B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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