Updated
Overview
Spain has 2.5 times the population of Chile: 49.36 million people against 19.86 million (2025).
Spain's economy is 5.3 times the size of Chile's, at $1.91T versus $357.37B.
Per person, Spain is the wealthier of the two: $38,627 against $17,995 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Spain | Chile | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.91T | $357.37B | 2025 | $1.72T / $330.27B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $38,627 | $17,995 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.8% | 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.7% | 4.2% | 2025 | 2.8% / 4.3% |
| Unemployment | 10.4% | Lower: 9.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 48 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,574 | $1,024 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,561 | $530 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.41 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 49.36 million | 19.86 million | 2025 | 47.28 million / 19.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.9 yrs | 36.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.13 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 505,992 km² | 756,102 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 97.5/km² | 26.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 220 Mt | Lower: 79 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.6 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.62B | $5.11B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 199,000 | 114,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (2.8% for Spain, 2.5% for Chile).
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.7% in Spain and 4.2% in Chile.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Chile: a price level of 48 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $1,024 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Chile is the far younger society: median age 36.9 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 2.5 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 81.4).
Geography
By land area, Spain is 33% smaller than Chile: 505,992 km² versus 756,102 km².
Spain is far more densely settled: 98 people per km² against 26.
Military
Spain spends 4.8 times as much on defence as Chile: $24.62B versus $5.11B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 114,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Spain bigger than Chile?
- Chile is larger by land area. Spain covers 505,992 km² while Chile covers 756,102 km², so Chile is 49% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Spain or Chile?
- Spain has the larger population: 49.36 million versus 19.86 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Spain richer than Chile?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Spain is richer: $38,627 against $17,995. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.91T for Spain versus $357.37B for Chile.
- Who spends more on their military, Spain or Chile?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $5.11B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).