Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has about 95% more people than Portugal: 20.84 million against 10.80 million (2025).
Portugal's economy is 13% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $346.64B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Portugal is the wealthier of the two: $32,082 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $346.64B | 2025 | $288.41B / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 2.3% | 2025 | 8.8% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.8% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $1,426 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | Higher: $1,147 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 2.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Portugal: $1,426 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 7.9 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 74.5).
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 30 times the size of Portugal: 2,724,900 km² versus 92,090 km².
Portugal is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 8.
Military
Portugal spends 3.8 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $4.64B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Portugal carries the heavier military burden: 1.5% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Portugal?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Kazakhstan is 30 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Portugal?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Portugal is richer: $32,082 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Portugal?
- Portugal spends more: $4.64B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).