Spain vs Portugal
Every indicator for Spain and Portugal side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Spain | Portugal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 49,355,143 | 10,804,871 | +356.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,906 | 347 | +449.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 38,627 | 32,082 | +20.4% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.9 | 82.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 505,976 | 92,230 | +448.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 98 | 117 | −16.7% |
| Median age (years) | 46.1 | 46.9 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 88.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 10.4 | 6.2 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.7 | 2.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.5 | 61.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 24,615 | 4,642 | +430.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.43 | 1.53 | −6.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.20 | 3.57 | −10.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 499 | 430 | +16.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 199,000 | 52,000 | +282.7% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.0 | 4.8 | −16.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.87 | 1.01 | −13.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Spain relative to Portugal; a positive value favors Spain. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Spain is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Portugal leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal), about 5.5 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Spain's gdp (nominal) (1,906) is about 5.5 times Portugal's (347).
- Spain's area (505,976) is about 5.5 times Portugal's (92,230).
- Spain's military expenditure (2024) (24,615) is about 5.3 times Portugal's (4,642).
- Spain's population (2025) (49,355,143) is about 4.6 times Portugal's (10,804,871).
- Spain's armed forces personnel (2020) (199,000) is about 3.8 times Portugal's (52,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Spain and Portugal differ most?
Where are Spain and Portugal most alike?
On how many indicators is Spain ahead of Portugal?
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 Spain or Portugal.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Portugal profile →
All statistics, series, and details.