Updated
Overview
India has 30 times the population of Spain: 1.46 billion people against 49.36 million (2025).
India's economy is 2.1 times the size of Spain's, at $3.96T versus $1.91T.
Per person, Spain is the wealthier of the two: $38,627 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Spain | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.96T | $1.91T | 2025 | $3.91T / $1.72T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $38,627 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.4% | 2.7% | 2025 | 5.0% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 10.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $3,574 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $1,561 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 49.36 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 47.28 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 45.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 96% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 505,992 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 97.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 220 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 4.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $24.62B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 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
India is growing much faster: 7.6% annual GDP growth versus 2.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 2.7% in Spain.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 11.7 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 72.2).
Spain is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in Spain (96% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 6.5 times the size of Spain: 3,287,590 km² versus 505,992 km².
India is far more densely settled: 445 people per km² against 98.
Military
India spends 3.5 times as much on defence as Spain: $86.13B versus $24.62B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, India carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.4%.
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 199,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than Spain?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while Spain covers 505,992 km², so India is 6.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or Spain?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 49.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than Spain?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Spain is richer: $38,627 against $2,702. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.96T for India versus $1.91T for Spain.
- Who spends more on their military, India or Spain?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $24.62B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).