Updated
Overview
Brazil has 12 times the population of the Netherlands: 212.81 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
Brazil's economy is about 70% larger than the Netherlands', at $2.28T versus $1.33T.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $10,713 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.28T | $1.33T | 2025 | $2.18T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $10,713 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.3% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.0% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 4.4% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $607 | Higher: $6,402 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $262 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 221.36 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.0 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 483 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 41,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Brazil is growing faster: 2.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 5.0% in Brazil and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Brazil: a price level of 46 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $607 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Brazil is the younger society: median age 34.8 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 5.9 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 76.0).
Internet adoption is higher in the Netherlands (97% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 203 times the size of the Netherlands: 8,515,767 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 25.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $20.95B (Brazil) and $23.18B (the Netherlands).
Relative to its economy, the Netherlands carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Brazil fields the larger armed forces: 762,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than the Netherlands?
- Brazil is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Brazil is 203 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or the Netherlands?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $10,713. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Brazil or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $20.95B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).