Updated
Overview
Russia has 24 times the population of Denmark: 143.51 million people against 6.01 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 5.5 times the size of Denmark's, at $2.56T versus $462.53B.
Per person, Denmark is the wealthier of the two: $76,970 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Denmark | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $462.53B | 2025 | $2.17T / $429.46B |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $76,970 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 1.9% | 2025 | 6.7% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 92 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $6,992 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $7.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 6.01 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 6.05 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 41.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 94% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 43,094 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 139.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 28 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $9.96B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 2.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 1.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 92 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.3 (Russia) and 41.3 (Denmark).
Life expectancy is 8.8 years longer in Denmark (82.3 vs 73.4).
Denmark is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 397 times the size of Denmark: 17,098,242 km² versus 43,094 km².
Denmark is far more densely settled: 139 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 15 times as much on defence as Denmark: $148.97B versus $9.96B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 2.4%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Denmark?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Denmark covers 43,094 km², so Russia is 397 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Denmark?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 6.01 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Denmark?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Denmark is richer: $76,970 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $462.53B for Denmark.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Denmark?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $9.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).