United States vs Germany

Every indicator for United States and Germany side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorUnited StatesGermanyDifference
Population (2025) (people)341,784,85783,491,249+309.4%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)30,7705,051+509.2%
GDP per capita ($)90,02760,496+48.8%
Life expectancy (years)78.980.8—
Area (km²)9,831,510357,680+2,648.7%
Population density (people/km²)35233−85.1%
Median age (years)38.346.7—
Internet usage (%)94.793.5—
Unemployment rate (%)4.23.7—
Inflation (%)2.92.2—
Urban population (%)80.282.1—
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)997,30988,458+1,027.4%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)3.421.89+81.0%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)9.113.93+131.8%
Military expenditure per capita ($)2,9181,059+175.4%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)1,395,000183,000+662.3%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)4.12.2+86.2%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.840.42+100.0%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of United States relative to Germany; a positive value favors United States. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

At a glance

United States is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while Germany leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in area, about 27 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.

Key differences

  • Area shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 9,831,510 against Germany's 357,680 — roughly 27 times as much.
  • Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 997,309 against Germany's 88,458 — roughly 11 times as much.
  • United States's armed forces personnel (2020) (1,395,000) is about 7.6 times Germany's (183,000).
  • Germany's population density (233) is about 6.7 times United States's (35).
  • United States's gdp (nominal) (30,770) is about 6.1 times Germany's (5,051).

Frequently asked questions

Where do United States and Germany differ most?
In area. United States records 9,831,510 against Germany's 357,680 — a ratio of roughly 27 to one.
Where are United States and Germany most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 90,027 and 60,496 — a gap of only %49.
On how many indicators is United States ahead of Germany?
United States is higher on 11 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Germany on 1. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
United States and Germany — core indicators
0100 M200 M300 M400 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — United States: 341,784,857GDP (nominal) — United States: 30,770GDP per capita — United States: 90,027Area — United States: 9,831,510Population (2025) — Germany: 83,491,249GDP (nominal) — Germany: 5,051GDP per capita — Germany: 60,496Area — Germany: 357,680
United StatesGermany

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving United States or Germany.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI