Updated
Overview
Spain has 2.6 times the population of Romania: 49.36 million people against 19.02 million (2025).
Spain's economy is 4.4 times the size of Romania's, at $1.91T versus $428.68B.
Per person, Spain is the wealthier of the two: $38,627 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Spain | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.91T | $428.68B | 2025 | $1.72T / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $38,627 | $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.8% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.7% | 7.2% | 2025 | 2.8% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | 10.4% | Lower: 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,574 | $1,722 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,561 | $906 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 49.36 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 47.28 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.9 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 505,992 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 97.5/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 220 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.6 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.62B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 199,000 | 128,000 | 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 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 2.7%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Romania is the younger society: median age 43.2 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 7.4 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 76.5).
Spain is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Spain is 2.1 times the size of Romania: 505,992 km² versus 238,391 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Spain spends 2.8 times as much on defence as Romania: $24.62B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Romania carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Spain bigger than Romania?
- Spain is larger by land area. Spain covers 505,992 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so Spain is 2.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Spain or Romania?
- Spain has the larger population: 49.36 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Spain richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Spain is richer: $38,627 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.91T for Spain versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, Spain or Romania?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).