Updated
Overview
Poland has 3.4 times the population of Portugal: 36.44 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
Poland's economy is 3.0 times the size of Portugal's, at $1.04T versus $346.64B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $346.64B | 2025 | $914.70B / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | $28,420 | Higher: $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 2.3% | 2025 | 3.8% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,302 | $1,426 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,241 | $1,147 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.4 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 273 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.1 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 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
Poland is growing faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.8% in Poland and 2.3% in Portugal.
Average monthly earnings favour Poland: $2,302 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Poland is the younger society: median age 42.5 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 4.0 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 78.4).
Geography
By land area, Poland is 3.4 times the size of Portugal: 312,679 km² versus 92,090 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Poland spends 8.2 times as much on defence as Portugal: $38.00B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 1.5%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Portugal?
- Poland is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Poland is 3.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Portugal?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Portugal is richer: $32,082 against $28,420. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.04T for Poland versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Portugal?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).