China vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for China and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 36,973,555 | +3,704.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 1,277 | +1,426.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 34,537 | −59.9% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 2,149,690 | +344.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 17 | +755.2% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 80,331 | +290.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 7.30 | −76.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 22.31 | −77.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 2,173 | −89.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 282,000 | +798.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 7.6 | −76.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 1.92 | −82.8% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Saudi Arabia; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: China is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Saudi Arabia on 6. The widest separation is in population (2025) (about 38×); they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Saudi Arabia's 36,973,555 — roughly 38 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Saudi Arabia's 1,277 — roughly 15 times as much.
- Saudi Arabia's military expenditure per capita (2,173) is about 9.7 times China's (223).
- China's armed forces personnel (2020) (2,535,000) is about 9.0 times Saudi Arabia's (282,000).
- China's population density (147) is about 8.6 times Saudi Arabia's (17).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Saudi Arabia differ most?
In population (2025). China records 1,406,585,000 against Saudi Arabia's 36,973,555 — a ratio of roughly 38 to one.
Where are China and Saudi Arabia most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 34,537 and 13,862 — a gap of only %149.
On how many indicators is China ahead of Saudi Arabia?
China is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Saudi Arabia on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
ChinaSaudi Arabia
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving China or Saudi Arabia.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI