Updated
Overview
Taiwan has 2.2 times the population of Portugal: 23.30 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
Taiwan's economy is 2.7 times the size of Portugal's, at $920.05B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Taiwan is the wealthier of the two: $39,489 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Taiwan | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $920.05B | $346.64B | 2025 | $611.39B / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $39,489 | $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 8.7% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.7% | 2.3% | 2025 | 2.2% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.4% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 60 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $1,426 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $1,147 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.42 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 23.30 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 23.60 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | — | 1.0% | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 44.8 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 0.86 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | — | 82.4 yrs | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | — | 61% | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | — | 88% | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 36,193 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 643.7/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 262 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 11.3 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | — | $4.64B | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | — | 1.5% | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | — | 52,000 | — / 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
Taiwan is growing much faster: 8.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in Taiwan and 2.3% in Portugal.
People and society
Taiwan is the younger society: median age 44.8 versus 46.9 years.
Geography
By land area, Taiwan is 61% smaller than Portugal: 36,193 km² versus 92,090 km².
Taiwan is far more densely settled: 644 people per km² against 117.
Frequently asked
- Is Taiwan bigger than Portugal?
- Portugal is larger by land area. Taiwan covers 36,193 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Portugal is 2.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Taiwan or Portugal?
- Taiwan has the larger population: 23.30 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Taiwan richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Taiwan is richer: $39,489 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $920.05B for Taiwan versus $346.64B for Portugal.