Qatar vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for Qatar and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 2,972,215 | 36,973,555 | −92.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 216 | 1,277 | −83.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 72,525 | 34,537 | +110.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.5 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 11,490 | 2,149,690 | −99.5% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 259 | 17 | +1,404.0% |
| Median age (years) | — | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 98.1 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 0.1 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.3 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 99.4 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2022 / 2024) (million $) | 15,412 | 80,331 | −80.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 6.50 | 7.30 | −11.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 26.88 | 22.31 | +20.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 5,185 | 2,173 | +138.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 22,000 | 282,000 | −92.2% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 7.4 | 7.6 | −3.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.07 | 1.92 | −44.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Qatar relative to Saudi Arabia; a positive value favors Qatar. 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 Qatar leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in area, about 187 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 2,149,690 against Qatar's 11,490 — roughly 187 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Qatar stands at 259 against Saudi Arabia's 17 — roughly 15 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 282,000 against Qatar's 22,000 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 36,973,555 against Qatar's 2,972,215 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Saudi Arabia's gdp (nominal) (1,277) is about 5.9 times Qatar's (216).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Qatar and Saudi Arabia differ most?
In area. Saudi Arabia records 2,149,690 against Qatar's 11,490 — a ratio of roughly 187 to one.
Where are Qatar and Saudi Arabia most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 7.6 and 7.4 — a gap of only %3.0.
On how many indicators is Qatar ahead of Saudi Arabia?
Qatar 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.
QatarSaudi 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 Qatar or Saudi Arabia.
Qatar profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI