Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 6.5 times the population of the Netherlands: 116.79 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 2.7 times the size of the Philippines', at $1.33T versus $487.09B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $461.62B / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.7% | 3.3% | 2025 | 3.2% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $6,402 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 41,000 | 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 faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 12.0 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 69.9).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in the Netherlands (97% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 8.2 times the size of the Netherlands: 342,353 km² versus 41,850 km².
Military
The Netherlands spends 3.8 times as much on defence as the Philippines: $23.18B versus $6.12B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than the Netherlands?
- The Philippines is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so the Philippines is 8.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or the Netherlands?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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