Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has about 40% more people than Spain: 69.49 million against 49.36 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 2.1 times the size of Spain's, at $4.00T versus $1.91T.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $38,627 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Spain | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $1.91T | 2025 | $3.64T / $1.72T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $38,627 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | 3.3% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.7% | 10.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,567 | Higher: $3,574 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,532 | $1,561 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 49.36 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 47.28 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 45.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 83.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 505,992 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 97.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 220 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 4.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $24.62B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 199,000 | 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 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.9% in the United Kingdom and 2.7% in Spain.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Spain: a price level of 65 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Spain: $3,574 against $3,567 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United Kingdom is the younger society: median age 40.1 versus 45.9 years.
Life expectancy is 2.5 years longer in Spain (83.9 vs 81.4).
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 52% smaller than Spain: 242,900 km² versus 505,992 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 98.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 3.3 times as much on defence as Spain: $81.76B versus $24.62B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Kingdom carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Spain fields the larger armed forces: 199,000 personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Spain?
- Spain is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Spain covers 505,992 km², so Spain is 2.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Spain?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 49.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Spain?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $38,627. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $1.91T for Spain.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Spain?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $24.62B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).