Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has 6.4 times the population of Portugal: 69.49 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 12 times the size of Portugal's, at $4.00T versus $346.64B.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $346.64B | 2025 | $3.64T / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 2.3% | 2025 | 3.3% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.7% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,567 | $1,426 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,532 | $1,147 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.5 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.4% for the United Kingdom, 1.9% for Portugal).
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.9% in the United Kingdom and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United Kingdom is the younger society: median age 40.1 versus 46.9 years.
The United Kingdom is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 2.6 times the size of Portugal: 242,900 km² versus 92,090 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 117.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 18 times as much on defence as Portugal: $81.76B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The United Kingdom fields the larger armed forces: 153,000 personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Portugal?
- The United Kingdom is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so the United Kingdom is 2.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Portugal?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Portugal?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
Related comparisons
Full profiles
Every comparison for United Kingdom · Portugal