Updated
Overview
Russia has 2.9 times the population of Spain: 143.51 million people against 49.36 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 34% larger than Spain's, at $2.56T versus $1.91T.
Per person, Spain is the wealthier of the two: $38,627 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Spain | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $1.91T | 2025 | $2.17T / $1.72T |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $38,627 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | 6.7% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 10.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 65 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $3,574 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $1,561 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 49.36 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 47.28 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 45.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 94% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 505,992 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 97.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 220 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 4.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $24.62B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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
Spain is growing faster: 2.8% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 2.7%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Russia is the younger society: median age 40.3 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 10.4 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 73.4).
Geography
By land area, Russia is 34 times the size of Spain: 17,098,242 km² versus 505,992 km².
Spain is far more densely settled: 98 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 6.1 times as much on defence as Spain: $148.97B versus $24.62B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 199,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Spain?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Spain covers 505,992 km², so Russia is 34 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Spain?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 49.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Spain?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Spain is richer: $38,627 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $1.91T for Spain.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Spain?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $24.62B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).