Updated
Overview
The United States has 32 times the population of Portugal: 341.78 million people against 10.80 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 89 times the size of Portugal's, at $30.77T versus $346.64B.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $346.64B | 2025 | $29.18T / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.3% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $1,426 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $1,147 | 2026 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 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 (2.2% for the United States, 1.9% for Portugal).
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United States is the far younger society: median age 38.5 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 3.5 years longer in Portugal (82.4 vs 78.9).
The United States is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Geography
By land area, the United States is 107 times the size of Portugal: 9,833,517 km² versus 92,090 km².
Portugal is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 215 times as much on defence as Portugal: $997.31B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.5%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 52,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Portugal?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so the United States is 107 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Portugal?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Portugal?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).