Updated
Overview
Brazil has 4.3 times the population of Spain: 212.81 million people against 49.36 million (2025).
Brazil's economy is 20% larger than Spain's, at $2.28T versus $1.91T.
Per person, Spain is the wealthier of the two: $38,627 against $10,713 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | Spain | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.28T | $1.91T | 2025 | $2.18T / $1.72T |
| GDP per capita | $10,713 | Higher: $38,627 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.3% | Higher: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.0% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | 4.4% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.0% | 10.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $607 | Higher: $3,574 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $262 | Higher: $1,561 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 49.36 million | 2025 | 221.36 million / 47.28 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 45.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.0 yrs | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 505,992 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 97.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 483 Mt | Lower: 220 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 4.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | $24.62B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 199,000 | 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
Spain is growing faster: 2.8% annual GDP growth versus 2.3%.
Brazil runs the hotter price environment: 5.0% inflation versus 2.7%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Brazil: a price level of 46 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $607 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Brazil is the far younger society: median age 34.8 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 7.9 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 76.0).
Internet adoption is higher in Spain (96% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 17 times the size of Spain: 8,515,767 km² versus 505,992 km².
Spain is far more densely settled: 98 people per km² against 25.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $20.95B (Brazil) and $24.62B (Spain).
Brazil fields the larger armed forces: 762,000 personnel against 199,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than Spain?
- Brazil is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while Spain covers 505,992 km², so Brazil is 17 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or Spain?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 49.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than Spain?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Spain is richer: $38,627 against $10,713. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $1.91T for Spain.
- Who spends more on their military, Brazil or Spain?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $20.95B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).