Updated
Overview
Greece has 4.4 times the population of Albania: 10.41 million people against 2.35 million (2025).
Greece's economy is 9.2 times the size of Albania's, at $280.64B versus $30.54B.
Per person, Greece is the wealthier of the two: $26,948 against $12,998 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Greece | Albania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $280.64B | $30.54B | 2025 | $257.14B / $27.18B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $26,948 | $12,998 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.1% | Higher: 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.5% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 2.7% / 2.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 8.5% | 10.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 60 | 43 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,185 | $548 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,161 | $430 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.41 million | 2.35 million | 2025 | 10.42 million / 2.55 million |
| Population growth | 0.1% | -1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 46.8 yrs | 37.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.34 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 81.8 yrs | 79.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 59% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 86% | 86% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 131,990 km² | 28,748 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 78.9/km² | 81.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 53 Mt | Lower: 4.44 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 5.3 t | Lower: 1.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.02B | $535.47M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.1% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 147,000 | 8,000 | 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
Albania is growing faster: 3.8% annual GDP growth versus 2.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.5% in Greece and 2.1% in Albania.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Albania: a price level of 43 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Greece: $2,185 against $548 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Albania is the far younger society: median age 37.3 versus 46.8 years.
Life expectancy is 2.1 years longer in Greece (81.8 vs 79.8).
Greece is considerably more urbanized: 79% of people live in cities, against 59%.
Geography
By land area, Greece is 4.6 times the size of Albania: 131,990 km² versus 28,748 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Greece spends 15 times as much on defence as Albania: $8.02B versus $535.47M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Greece carries the heavier military burden: 3.1% of GDP versus 2.0%.
Greece fields the larger armed forces: 147,000 personnel against 8,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Greece bigger than Albania?
- Greece is larger by land area. Greece covers 131,990 km² while Albania covers 28,748 km², so Greece is 4.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Greece or Albania?
- Greece has the larger population: 10.41 million versus 2.35 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Greece richer than Albania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Greece is richer: $26,948 against $12,998. Total GDP tells the same story: $280.64B for Greece versus $30.54B for Albania.
- Who spends more on their military, Greece or Albania?
- Greece spends more: $8.02B versus $535.47M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).