Netherlands vs Spain
Every indicator for Netherlands and Spain side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Netherlands | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 18,087,633 | 49,355,143 | −63.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,333 | 1,906 | −30.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 73,684 | 38,627 | +90.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.0 | 83.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 41,540 | 505,976 | −91.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 435 | 98 | +346.4% |
| Median age (years) | 42.2 | 46.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.0 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.9 | 10.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.3 | 2.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 95.9 | 80.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 23,179 | 24,615 | −5.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.92 | 1.43 | +34.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.34 | 3.20 | +35.6% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,281 | 499 | +156.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 41,000 | 199,000 | −79.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.3 | 4.0 | −43.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 0.87 | −51.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Netherlands relative to Spain; a positive value favors Netherlands. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Spain is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Netherlands leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 12 times; they are closest on military expenditure (2024).
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Spain stands at 505,976 against Netherlands's 41,540 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Spain's armed forces personnel (2020) (199,000) is about 4.9 times Netherlands's (41,000).
- Netherlands's population density (435) is about 4.5 times Spain's (98).
- Spain's population (2025) (49,355,143) is about 2.7 times Netherlands's (18,087,633).
- Netherlands's military expenditure per capita (1,281) is about 2.6 times Spain's (499).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Netherlands and Spain differ most?
In area. Spain records 505,976 against Netherlands's 41,540 — a ratio of roughly 12 to one.
Where are Netherlands and Spain most alike?
In military expenditure (2024), at 24,615 and 23,179 — a gap of only %6.2.
On how many indicators is Netherlands ahead of Spain?
Netherlands is higher on 5 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Spain on 7. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
NetherlandsSpain
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 Netherlands or Spain.
Netherlands profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI