Updated
Overview
Spain has 5.4 times the population of Switzerland: 49.36 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Spain's economy is about 85% larger than Switzerland's, at $1.91T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $38,627 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Spain | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.91T | $1.04T | 2025 | $1.72T / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $38,627 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.8% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.7% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 2.8% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 10.4% | Lower: 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,574 | Higher: $7,309 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,561 | Higher: $4,784 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 49.36 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 47.28 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.9 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.9 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 505,992 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 97.5/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 220 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.6 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.62B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 199,000 | 20,000 | 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 1.3%.
Spain runs the hotter price environment: 2.7% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Spain: a price level of 65 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $3,574 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Switzerland is the younger society: median age 42.9 versus 45.9 years.
Geography
By land area, Spain is 12 times the size of Switzerland: 505,992 km² versus 41,284 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 98.
Military
Spain spends 3.7 times as much on defence as Switzerland: $24.62B versus $6.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Spain bigger than Switzerland?
- Spain is larger by land area. Spain covers 505,992 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Spain is 12 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Spain or Switzerland?
- Spain has the larger population: 49.36 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Spain richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $38,627. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.91T for Spain versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Spain or Switzerland?
- Spain spends more: $24.62B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).