Updated
Overview
Spain has 8.7 times the population of Finland: 49.36 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
Spain's economy is 6.0 times the size of Finland's, at $1.91T versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $38,627 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Spain | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.91T | $317.04B | 2025 | $1.72T / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $38,627 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.8% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.7% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 2.8% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | 10.4% | Lower: 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,574 | Higher: $5,760 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,561 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 49.36 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 47.28 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.9 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 505,992 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 97.5/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 220 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.6 t | 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.62B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 199,000 | 22,000 | 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 0.2%.
Spain runs the hotter price environment: 2.7% inflation versus 0.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Spain: a price level of 65 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $3,574 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Finland is the younger society: median age 43.2 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 1.6 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 82.3).
Geography
By land area, Spain is 50% larger than Finland: 505,992 km² versus 338,424 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Spain is far more densely settled: 98 people per km² against 17.
Military
Spain spends 3.5 times as much on defence as Finland: $24.62B versus $6.99B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Finland carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Spain bigger than Finland?
- Spain is larger by land area. Spain covers 505,992 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so Spain is 50% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Spain or Finland?
- Spain has the larger population: 49.36 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Spain richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $38,627. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.91T for Spain versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, Spain or Finland?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $6.99B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).