Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 2.4 times the population of Spain: 116.79 million people against 49.36 million (2025).
Spain's economy is 3.9 times the size of the Philippines', at $1.91T versus $487.09B.
Per person, Spain is the wealthier of the two: $38,627 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Spain | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $1.91T | 2025 | $461.62B / $1.72T |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $38,627 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.7% | 2.7% | 2025 | 3.2% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 10.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $3,574 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $1,561 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 49.36 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 47.28 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 45.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 505,992 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 97.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 175 Mt | 220 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 4.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $24.62B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 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
The Philippines is growing faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 2.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 2.7% in Spain.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 13.9 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 69.9).
Spain is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Spain (96% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 32% smaller than Spain: 342,353 km² versus 505,992 km².
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 98.
Military
Spain spends 4.0 times as much on defence as the Philippines: $24.62B versus $6.12B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 157,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Spain?
- Spain is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Spain covers 505,992 km², so Spain is 48% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Spain?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 49.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Spain?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Spain is richer: $38,627 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $1.91T for Spain.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Spain?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).