Updated
Overview
Portugal has about 80% more people than Denmark: 10.80 million against 6.01 million (2025).
Denmark's economy is 33% larger than Portugal's, at $462.53B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Denmark is the wealthier of the two: $76,970 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Portugal | Denmark | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $346.64B | Higher: $462.53B | 2025 | $308.68B / $429.46B |
| GDP per capita | $32,082 | Higher: $76,970 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.9% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.3% | Lower: 1.9% | 2025 | 2.4% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 6.2% | Lower: 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 60 | 92 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,426 | Higher: $6,992 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,147 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.80 million | 6.01 million | 2025 | 10.19 million / 6.05 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 46.9 yrs | 41.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 61% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 88% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 92,090 km² | 43,094 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 117.3/km² | 139.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 36 Mt | Lower: 28 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.4 t | 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.64B | $9.96B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.5% | 2.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 52,000 | 15,000 | 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
Denmark is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.3% in Portugal and 1.9% in Denmark.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 92 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Denmark is the younger society: median age 41.3 versus 46.9 years.
Denmark is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Internet adoption is higher in Denmark (100% vs 88% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Portugal is 2.1 times the size of Denmark: 92,090 km² versus 43,094 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Denmark spends 2.1 times as much on defence as Portugal: $9.96B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Denmark carries the heavier military burden: 2.4% of GDP versus 1.5%.
Portugal fields the larger armed forces: 52,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Portugal bigger than Denmark?
- Portugal is larger by land area. Portugal covers 92,090 km² while Denmark covers 43,094 km², so Portugal is 2.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Portugal or Denmark?
- Portugal has the larger population: 10.80 million versus 6.01 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Portugal richer than Denmark?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Denmark is richer: $76,970 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $346.64B for Portugal versus $462.53B for Denmark.
- Who spends more on their military, Portugal or Denmark?
- Denmark spends more: $9.96B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).