Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has 12 times the population of Finland: 69.49 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 13 times the size of Finland's, at $4.00T versus $317.04B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $317.04B | 2025 | $3.64T / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.4% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 3.3% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.7% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,567 | Higher: $5,760 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,532 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 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
The United Kingdom is growing faster: 1.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
The United Kingdom runs the hotter price environment: 3.9% inflation versus 0.3%.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $3,567 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United Kingdom is the younger society: median age 40.1 versus 43.2 years.
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 28% smaller than Finland: 242,900 km² versus 338,424 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 17.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 12 times as much on defence as Finland: $81.76B versus $6.99B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The United Kingdom fields the larger armed forces: 153,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Finland?
- Finland is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so Finland is 39% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Finland?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $56,149. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Finland?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $6.99B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).