Home / Comparisons / China vs Saudi Arabia GDP per capita
China vs Saudi Arabia GDP per capita
Saudi Arabia has held the lead throughout the published window. In 1960 China stood at roughly 12% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP per capita; today the figure is about 40%, and the pair was closest in 2020 (44%).
| Year | China | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 717.8 | 89.72 | 12% |
| 1970 | 1,509.44 | 113.35 | 8% |
| 1980 | 27,205.65 | 195.15 | 1% |
| 1990 | 11,054.75 | 318.5 | 3% |
| 2000 | 11,714.56 | 969.2 | 8% |
| 2010 | 22,028.39 | 4,629.25 | 21% |
| 2020 | 24,338.83 | 10,627.46 | 44% |
| 2025 | 34,536.66 | 13,861.97 | 40% |
Frequently asked questions
When did Saudi Arabia pass China in GDP per capita?
It has not come to that. Saudi Arabia has posted the larger GDP per capita in every published year (1960–2025).
How do China and Saudi Arabia compare today?
Saudi Arabia is ahead: 34,536.66 against 13,861.97 — the trailing economy stands at about 40% of the leader.
Are these GDP per capita figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — current US$ — with no inflation restatement, no PPP conversion and no interpolation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: