Saudi Arabia vs United Kingdom: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 169 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
United Kingdom has 2.0 times as many people as Saudi Arabia (69.96 million vs 35.17 million). United Kingdom's economy is 2.6 times the size of Saudi Arabia's ($4.1 trillion vs $1.56 trillion GDP).
Comparing Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom: United Kingdom leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (613,800) against Saudi Arabia (1.78); Saudi Arabia leads on Oil Imports (83,150) against United Kingdom (1.45); United Kingdom leads on Number of AI Patents Filed (478 patents) against Saudi Arabia (1 patents). Across 169 compared metrics, Saudi Arabia wins on 64 and United Kingdom wins on 91.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 64 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 20 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 38 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 44.07 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 42.16 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 100 %★ | 95.47 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 100 %★ | 96.3 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 100% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 96% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 44.07 Mbps★ | 42.16 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 27.94 points | 78.89 points★ | |
| Radios | 6.25 | 84.5★ | |
| Televisions | 5.1 | 30.5★ | |
| Waterways | none | 3,200 |
Economy
64 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 14.69M | 5.08M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 1,500 % | 12,600 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 26.56 °C★ | 10.37 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 656.51 | 340.94★ | |
| Continental Shelf | not specific; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 51.43 mm | 962.53 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since oil was discovered in the 1930s; most of the country's population is now concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, | the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern N | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 24.77 sq km | 28.58 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 18.5 % | 28.4 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 2.2 Cubic meters per year | 9.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 2.4 | 147★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 11 species | 4 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.52 % | 9.75 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 26.61 | 115★ | |
| Agricultural land | 1.74M sq. km★ | 172,448.2 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 2.15M★ | 241,930 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,640 km | 12,429 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 29.56 cubic meters per inhabitant | 75.83 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 7,575★ | 718 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 64.18 % | 86.77 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 13 | England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Ess | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 59 index★ | 71 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 59 index | 71 index★ | |
| Independence | 23 | no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -3.48 | 10.98★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 131 per 100,000★ | 131.49 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 59★ | 71 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
20 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average BMI for Adults | 28 kg/m²★ | 27.3 kg/m² | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 96 %★ | 89 % | |
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 44.57 | 8.38★ | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 23.1★ | 7.4 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 78.98 years | 81.39 years★ | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.4 per 1,000 births | 0.25 per 1,000 births★ | |
| Health Care Spending per Capita | 3,758.53 USD | 7,011.86 USD★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 83 score | 88 score★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 6 % of GDP | 11.3 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 78.98 years | 81.39 years★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 2.2 people/sq km | 2.4 people/sq km★ | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 2.44 beds per 1,000★ | 2.42 beds per 1,000 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 7 %★ | 8 % | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 6.56 per 1,000 people | 9.55 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 35.4 % | 27.8 %★ | |
| Out-of-Pocket Health Spending | 14.12 %★ | 14.63 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 12,000 | NA | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 3.41★ | 3.3 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 3.5 | 0.6★ |
Military and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 257,000 personnel★ | 150,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 6.48 % | 2.35 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 282,000★ | 153,000 |
People and Society
38 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.36 | 2.25★ | |
| Airports | 90 | 1,057★ | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 104 | 618★ | |
| Heliports | 69 | 139★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 46.34B USD | 84.55B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 4.25 %★ | 3.75 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About Saudi Arabia vs United Kingdom
Which has a larger population, Saudi Arabia or United Kingdom?▾
United Kingdom. United Kingdom has 2.0 times as many people as Saudi Arabia (69.96 million vs 35.17 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Saudi Arabia or United Kingdom?▾
United Kingdom. United Kingdom's economy is 2.6 times the size of Saudi Arabia's ($4.1 trillion vs $1.56 trillion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Saudi Arabia or United Kingdom?▾
United Kingdom is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $58,622 in United Kingdom vs $44,398 in Saudi Arabia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).