Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 24 times the population of Portugal: 255.22 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
Pakistan's economy is 18% larger than Portugal's, at $407.31B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Portugal is the wealthier of the two: $32,082 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $407.31B | $346.64B | 2025 | $373.07B / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 2.3% | 2025 | 12.6% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.4% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $1,426 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | Higher: $1,147 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 180 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 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
Pakistan is growing faster: 3.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Pakistan and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Pakistan: a price level of 24 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Portugal: $1,426 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 14.6 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 67.8).
Portugal is considerably more urbanized: 61% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Portugal (88% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 9.6 times the size of Portugal: 881,912 km² versus 92,090 km².
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 117.
Military
Pakistan spends 2.2 times as much on defence as Portugal: $10.17B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Pakistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 1.5%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Portugal?
- Pakistan is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Pakistan is 9.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Portugal?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Portugal is richer: $32,082 against $1,596. Total GDP tells a different story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Portugal?
- Pakistan spends more: $10.17B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).