United Kingdom vs Spain
Every indicator for United Kingdom and Spain side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 69,487,000 | 49,355,143 | +40.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,003 | 1,906 | +110.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 57,602 | 38,627 | +49.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 83.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 243,610 | 505,976 | −51.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 285 | 98 | +192.4% |
| Median age (years) | 40.6 | 46.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.5 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.7 | 10.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.9 | 2.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 83.3 | 80.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 81,763 | 24,615 | +232.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.28 | 1.43 | +59.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.25 | 3.20 | +64.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,177 | 499 | +135.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 153,000 | 199,000 | −23.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 4.0 | −45.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.45 | 0.87 | −48.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Kingdom relative to Spain; a positive value favors United Kingdom. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United Kingdom is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Spain leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 3.3 times; they are closest on armed forces personnel (2020).
Key differences
- United Kingdom's military expenditure (2024) (81,763) is about 3.3 times Spain's (24,615).
- United Kingdom's population density (285) is about 2.9 times Spain's (98).
- United Kingdom's military expenditure per capita (1,177) is about 2.4 times Spain's (499).
- United Kingdom's gdp (nominal) (4,003) is about 2.1 times Spain's (1,906).
- Spain's area (505,976) is about 2.1 times United Kingdom's (243,610).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Kingdom and Spain differ most?
Where are United Kingdom and Spain most alike?
On how many indicators is United Kingdom ahead of Spain?
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 United Kingdom or Spain.
United Kingdom profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.