Updated
Overview
Germany has 7.7 times the population of Portugal: 83.49 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 15 times the size of Portugal's, at $5.05T versus $346.64B.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $346.64B | 2025 | $4.66T / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.2% | 2.3% | 2025 | 2.3% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.7% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,647 | $1,426 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $1,147 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 80.8 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 572 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.8 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 52,000 | 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
Portugal is growing faster: 1.9% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.2% in Germany and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 45.5 (Germany) and 46.9 (Portugal).
Life expectancy is 1.6 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 80.8).
Germany is considerably more urbanized: 82% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Geography
By land area, Germany is 3.9 times the size of Portugal: 357,114 km² versus 92,090 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Germany spends 19 times as much on defence as Portugal: $88.46B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Germany fields the larger armed forces: 183,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than Portugal?
- Germany is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Germany is 3.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or Portugal?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or Portugal?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).