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Portugal vs Spain
Side-by-side comparison of Portugal and Spain from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Portugal
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 887 years
In short
Portugal scores 76.7 in the NationsTree Index (13th in the world) and Spain scores 75.9 (17th), a gap of 0.7 points. Their trees are 16 m and 36 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Spain has 4.6 times the population of Portugal. Spain is 5.5 times larger than Portugal by land area. Spain has an economy 5.1 times the size of Portugal (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Portugal 10.8 million and Spain 49.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $59,868 in Spain and $53,146 in Portugal (2025, international dollars). People in Spain live on average 1.5 years longer (83.9 vs 82.4 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Portugal ranks higher in the world on 21 and Spain on 15. Spain is clearly stronger in military, tourism and land & people.
As a nation, Portugal is the older of the two (statehood since 1139, 887 years), compared with Spain (since 1479). Over the last five years Portugal improved faster (direction score 73 vs 63 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Portugal and Spain.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Portugal overtook Spain in the NationsTree Index in 2016 and has stayed ahead since.
Spain has been ahead of Portugal in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
PortugalSpain All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Portugal | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 92,230112th/216 · 2024 | 505,98153rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 91,606109th/216 · 2024 | 499,68651st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 10.8 m89th/217 · 2025 | 49.4 m32nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.03%101st/217 · 2025 | 1.03%100th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 116.794th/216 · 2024 | 97.8107th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 61.5%122nd/217 · 2025 | 80.5%55th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 12.7%208th/217 · 2025 | 12.6%209th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 24.9%5th/217 · 2025 | 21.6%22nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $346.64 bn46th/210 · 2025 | $1.91 trn12th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $574.23 bn51st/199 · 2025 | $2.95 trn15th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $460.04 bn51st/199 · 2025 | $2.43 trn15th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $32,08256th/210 · 2025 | $38,62743rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $53,14647th/199 · 2025 | $59,86838th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $29,93049th/201 · 2025 | $37,12037th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.9%150th/210 · 2025 | 2.8%122nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.3%69th/180 · 2025 | 2.7%83rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.2%113th/187 · 2025 | 10.4%151st/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 5.7%1994 | 105.6%49th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 89.7%159th/189 · 2025 | 100.5%169th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 0.7%29th/192 · 2025 | -2.4%88th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 2.0%146th/197 · 2025 | 2.7%133rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 18.3%138th/200 · 2025 | 19.6%129th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 11.3%84th/192 · 2025 | 10.6%92nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 66.6%47th/200 · 2025 | 68.4%39th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $151.34 bn40th/182 · 2025 | $698.48 bn17th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $148.16 bn40th/182 · 2025 | $625.57 bn17th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 43.7%67th/183 · 2025 | 36.6%91st/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 42.7%95th/183 · 2025 | 32.8%123rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 86.4%84th/183 · 2025 | 69.5%114th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 5.1%74th/170 · 2025 | 5.0%75th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 75.3%31st/171 · 2025 | 66.0%46th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 14.4%93rd/171 · 2025 | 19.5%77th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.7%90th/171 · 2025 | 3.7%76th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 6.8%85th/168 · 2024 | 9.3%71st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.2%66th/191 · 2025 | 3.2%50th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.5%62nd/196 · 2025 | 1.5%121st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.3%144th/209 · 2021 | 0.1%155th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.05%83rd/197 · 2021 | 0.00%117th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%94th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.15%66th/209 · 2021 | 0.10%71st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.09%114th/209 · 2021 | 0.02%143rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 9.3%108th/206 · 2024 | 22.8%45th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,64274th/183 · 2022 | 2,32795th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 4.2 m41st/194 · 2020 | 36.4 m8th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $10.52 bn19th/175 · 2020 | $31.59 bn1998 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 12.2%50th/168 · 2020 | 19.8%1998 |
| Outbound trips departures | 680,00071st/107 · 2020 | 6.2 m25th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.429th/217 · 2024 | 83.912th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.220th/196 · 2024 | 3.220th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 5.855th/174 · 2022 | 4.2924th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.549th/145 · 2022 | 2.960th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 64.5%93rd/153 · 2024 | 84.3%65th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 120.3%15th/173 · 2023 | 118.5%19th/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 40.0%3rd/217 · 2025 | 32.9%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.2%27th/193 · 2024 | 9.2%42nd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 94.5%2011 | 99.7%9th/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 77.7%32nd/150 · 2023 | 93.8%13th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.89040th/193 · 2023 | 0.91828th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.952nd/108 · 2023 | 33.444th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.4%27th/108 · 2023 | 0.8%43rd/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 95.2%51st/150 · 2024 | 99.5%27th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 93.9%27th/144 · 2024 | 88.3%41st/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 88.5%68th/186 · 2024 | 95.8%22nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12479th/210 · 2024 | 13058th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 45.213th/208 · 2024 | 39.227th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.6029th/164 · 2022 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 2,52747th/82 · 2021 | 15,96315th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 18.3 m37th/161 · 2023 | 94.1 m11th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.32114th/203 · 2024 | 4.51144th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 32.3%77th/212 · 2021 | 19.0%110th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 8.837th/200 · 2023 | 10.146th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 36.6%90th/214 · 2024 | 38.2%86th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,81863rd/149 · 2024 | 2,30650th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 73.339th/205 · 2025 | 75.534th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 63.648th/207 · 2025 | 61.254th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 75.934th/207 · 2025 | 73.044th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 77.965th/207 · 2025 | 68.7100th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 65.154th/205 · 2025 | 62.760th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 81.120th/205 · 2025 | 78.228th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.724th/145 · 2022 | 0.721st/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $5.86 bn46th/156 · 2025 | $40.21 bn15th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.7%79th/156 · 2025 | 2.1%55th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.0%110th/154 · 2025 | 4.7%85th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 52,00068th/170 · 2020 | 199,00032nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.01%67th/168 · 2020 | 0.87%79th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 90.0 m50th/163 · 2025 | 237.0 m34th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m61st/65 · 2025 | 341.0 m13th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.69%25th/110 · 2023 | 1.49%31st/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 74338th/137 · 2024 | 1,16029th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 18,22527th/197 · 2023 | 60,30412th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Portugal or Spain?
Spain has the larger population: 49.4 m (2025) compared with 10.8 m for Portugal (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Portugal or Spain?
Spain is larger: 505,981 km² (2024) compared with 92,230 km² for Portugal (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Portugal or Spain?
Spain has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $2.95 trn intl. (2025) compared with $574.23 bn intl. for Portugal (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Portugal or Spain?
Spain has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $59,868 intl. (2025) compared with $53,146 intl. for Portugal (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Portugal or Spain?
Spain has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.9 years (2024) compared with 82.4 years for Portugal (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Portugal or Spain?
Spain spends more on the military: $40.21 bn (2025) compared with $5.86 bn for Portugal (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Portugal or Spain?
Portugal: 76.7 points (13th in the world); Spain: 75.9 points (17th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Denmark
Greece
Hungary
Norway
Uzbekistan
Italy
TürkiyeSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Portugal vs Spain — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/portugal-vs-spain. Data as of 26 October 2026.