Russia vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for Russia and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Russia | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 143,513,328 | 36,973,555 | +288.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 2,561 | 1,277 | +100.5% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 17,547 | 34,537 | −49.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 73.4 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 17,125,190 | 2,149,690 | +696.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 8 | 17 | −51.3% |
| Median age (years) | 40.3 | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 94.4 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.1 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 8.7 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 75.3 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 148,967 | 80,331 | +85.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 7.05 | 7.30 | −3.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 18.90 | 22.31 | −15.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,038 | 2,173 | −52.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 1,454,000 | 282,000 | +415.6% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 10.1 | 7.6 | +32.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.98 | 1.92 | +3.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Russia relative to Saudi Arabia; a positive value favors Russia. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Russia is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Saudi Arabia leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 8.0 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Russia's area (17,125,190) is about 8.0 times Saudi Arabia's (2,149,690).
- Russia's armed forces personnel (2020) (1,454,000) is about 5.2 times Saudi Arabia's (282,000).
- Russia's population (2025) (143,513,328) is about 3.9 times Saudi Arabia's (36,973,555).
- Saudi Arabia's military expenditure per capita (2,173) is about 2.1 times Russia's (1,038).
- Saudi Arabia's population density (17) is about 2.1 times Russia's (8).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Russia and Saudi Arabia differ most?
Where are Russia and Saudi Arabia most alike?
On how many indicators is Russia ahead of Saudi 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 Russia or Saudi Arabia.
Russia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.