Indonesia vs Saudi Arabia

Every indicator for Indonesia and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorIndonesiaSaudi ArabiaDifference
Population (2025) (people)285,721,23636,973,555+672.8%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)1,4461,277+13.2%
GDP per capita ($)5,06034,537−85.3%
Life expectancy (years)71.379.0—
Area (km²)1,916,9072,149,690−10.8%
Population density (people/km²)14917+766.6%
Median age (years)30.130.8—
Internet usage (%)72.8100.0—
Unemployment rate (%)3.23.0—
Inflation (%)1.92.1—
Urban population (%)59.484.6—
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)11,04380,331−86.3%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)0.787.30−89.3%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)4.6022.31−79.4%
Military expenditure per capita ($)392,173−98.2%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)676,000282,000+139.7%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)2.47.6−69.0%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.491.92−74.5%

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

At a glance

Saudi Arabia is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Indonesia leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 56 times; they are closest on area.

Key differences

  • Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 2,173 against Indonesia's 39 — roughly 56 times as much.
  • Saudi Arabia's military expenditure as a share of gdp (7.30) is about 9.4 times Indonesia's (0.78).
  • Indonesia's population density (149) is about 8.7 times Saudi Arabia's (17).
  • Indonesia's population (2025) (285,721,236) is about 7.7 times Saudi Arabia's (36,973,555).
  • Saudi Arabia's military expenditure (2024) (80,331) is about 7.3 times Indonesia's (11,043).

Frequently asked questions

Where do Indonesia and Saudi Arabia differ most?
In military expenditure per capita. Saudi Arabia records 2,173 against Indonesia's 39 — a ratio of roughly 56 to one.
Where are Indonesia and Saudi Arabia most alike?
In area, at 2,149,690 and 1,916,907 — a gap of only %12.
On how many indicators is Indonesia ahead of Saudi Arabia?
Indonesia is higher on 4 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Saudi Arabia on 8. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia — core indicators
0100 M200 M300 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Indonesia: 285,721,236GDP (nominal) — Indonesia: 1,446GDP per capita — Indonesia: 5,060Area — Indonesia: 1,916,907Population (2025) — Saudi Arabia: 36,973,555GDP (nominal) — Saudi Arabia: 1,277GDP per capita — Saudi Arabia: 34,537Area — Saudi Arabia: 2,149,690
IndonesiaSaudi Arabia

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

Other comparisons involving Indonesia or Saudi Arabia.

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