Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has 18% more people than Italy: 69.49 million against 58.92 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is about 55% larger than Italy's, at $4.00T versus $2.55T.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $43,309 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Italy | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $2.55T | 2025 | $3.64T / $2.37T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $43,309 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.4% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 3.3% / 1.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.7% | 6.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 69 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,567 | Higher: $3,994 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,532 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 58.92 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 60.92 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 48.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 70% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 301,336 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 195.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 302 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 5.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $37.96B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 338,000 | 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 0.5%.
The United Kingdom runs the hotter price environment: 3.9% inflation versus 1.5%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Italy: a price level of 69 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Italy: $3,994 against $3,567 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United Kingdom is the far younger society: median age 40.1 versus 48.2 years.
Life expectancy is 2.6 years longer in Italy (84.0 vs 81.4).
The United Kingdom is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 19% smaller than Italy: 242,900 km² versus 301,336 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 2.2 times as much on defence as Italy: $81.76B versus $37.96B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Italy fields the larger armed forces: 338,000 personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Italy?
- Italy is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Italy covers 301,336 km², so Italy is 24% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Italy?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 58.92 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Italy?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $43,309. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $2.55T for Italy.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Italy?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $37.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).