Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 21 times the population of Finland: 116.79 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
The Philippines' economy is about 55% larger than Finland's, at $487.09B versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $487.09B | $317.04B | 2025 | $461.62B / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.7% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 3.2% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $5,760 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 22,000 | 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
The Philippines is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 0.3% in Finland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 12.4 years longer in Finland (82.3 vs 69.9).
Finland is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Finland (94% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is almost exactly the same size as Finland: 342,353 km² versus 338,424 km².
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 17.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $6.12B (the Philippines) and $6.99B (Finland).
Relative to its economy, Finland carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.3%.
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Finland?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², a difference of under 1%.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Finland?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $4,171. Total GDP tells a different story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Finland?
- Finland spends more: $6.99B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).