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 comparison
IndicatorChinaSaudi ArabiaDifference
Population (2025) (people)1,406,585,00036,973,555+3,704.3%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)19,4981,277+1,426.9%
GDP per capita ($)13,86234,537−59.9%
Life expectancy (years)78.079.0
Area (km²)9,562,9102,149,690+344.9%
Population density (people/km²)14717+755.2%
Median age (years)39.630.8
Internet usage (%)91.6100.0
Unemployment rate (%)4.63.0
Inflation (%)0.12.1
Urban population (%)66.384.6
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)313,65880,331+290.5%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)1.717.30−76.6%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)5.0622.31−77.3%
Military expenditure per capita ($)2232,173−89.7%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)2,535,000282,000+798.9%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)1.87.6−76.4%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.331.92−82.8%

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.

Key differences

  • On population (2025), China is 3,704.3% higher than Saudi Arabia.
  • On gdp (nominal), China is 1,426.9% higher than Saudi Arabia.
  • On gdp per capita, China is 59.9% lower than Saudi Arabia.
China and Saudi Arabia — core indicators
0500 mn1 mr1,5 mrPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — China: 1.406.585.000GDP (nominal) — China: 19.498GDP per capita — China: 13.862Area — China: 9.562.910Population (2025) — Saudi Arabia: 36.973.555GDP (nominal) — Saudi Arabia: 1.277GDP per capita — Saudi Arabia: 34.537Area — Saudi Arabia: 2.149.690
ChinaSaudi Arabia

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

Other comparisons involving China or Saudi Arabia.

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