The following is a comparison between Spain and Portugal, two neighboring countries in Southern Europe. Let’s read.
Spain and Portugal – country comparison
GDP comparison
Spain has both a larger economy and a higher GDP per capita than Portugal. Both countries have high-income, developed economies with strong tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and renewable energy sectors. The table below compares the GDP and GDP per capita of Spain and Portugal.
| 2025 (IMF) | Spain | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Euro | Euro |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $1.9 trillion | $346.41 billion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $38.29 thousand | $32.17 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $2.84 trillion | $541.37 billion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $57.03 thousand | $50.27 thousand |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Population
Spain has a significantly larger population than Portugal, but Portugal is more densely populated. The table below compares the population, total fertility rate (TFR), and the percentage of the population in different age groups in the two countries.
| 2025 estimate | Spain | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 47.9 million | 10.4 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 12.9% | 13% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 65.3% | 62% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 21.8% | 25% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.2 | 1.5 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Life
| Spain | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 83.67 | 82.36 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 28th | 40th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.918 | 0.890 |
Overview
Spain has a much larger land area than Portugal. It is approximately 5.5 times larger than Portugal.
| Spain | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 506,000 sq km | approximately 92,200 sq km |
| Population | 47.9 million (2025 estimate) | 10.4 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Madrid | Lisbon |
| Largest city | Madrid | Lisbon |
| Most spoken language | Spanish | Portuguese |
| Most popular sport | Football (Soccer) | Football (Soccer) |
Geography
| Spain | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Continent | Europe | Europe |
| Region | Southern Europe | Southern Europe |
| Forest cover (2023) | 37.2% | 36.2% |
| Total number of time zones | 2 | 2 |
| Highest mountain | Mount Teide (3,715 m/12,188 ft) | Mount Pico (2,351 m/7,713 ft) |
| Largest island | Mallorca (3,640 sq km) | São Miguel Island (760 sq km) |
(Also read: France and Spain – country comparison | France vs Spain)
Tourism
| Spain | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 93.8 million (2024) | 29 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 50 | 17 |
| Popular places to visit | Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Canary Islands, Granada, Valencia, Bilbao, Ibiza, etc. | Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, Algarve, Sintra, Azores, Coimbra, etc. |
