Updated
Overview
Spain has 2.7 times the population of the Netherlands: 49.36 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
Spain's economy is about 45% larger than the Netherlands', at $1.91T versus $1.33T.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $38,627 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Spain | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.91T | $1.33T | 2025 | $1.72T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $38,627 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.8% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.7% | 3.3% | 2025 | 2.8% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 10.4% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,574 | Higher: $6,402 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,561 | Higher: $2,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 49.36 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 47.28 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.9 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 505,992 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 97.5/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 220 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.6 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.62B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 199,000 | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.7% in Spain and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Spain: a price level of 65 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $3,574 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Netherlands is the younger society: median age 41.5 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 1.9 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 82.0).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 81%.
Geography
By land area, Spain is 12 times the size of the Netherlands: 505,992 km² versus 41,850 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 98.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $24.62B (Spain) and $23.18B (the Netherlands).
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Spain bigger than the Netherlands?
- Spain is larger by land area. Spain covers 505,992 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Spain is 12 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Spain or the Netherlands?
- Spain has the larger population: 49.36 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Spain richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $38,627. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.91T for Spain versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Spain or the Netherlands?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $23.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).