Country comparison
United Kingdom Spain
How do United Kingdom and Spain compare on area, population, economy and living standards? Every figure below comes from open data, computed at build time.
United Kingdom vs Spain at a glance
- United Kingdom's surface area is smaller: about 50% of Spain's (248,906 km² vs 501,633 km²).
- United Kingdom's population is larger: about 1.4× Spain's (69.5M vs 49.4M).
- United Kingdom's GDP (total) is larger: about 2.1× Spain's ($4T vs $1.9T).
- United Kingdom's GDP per capita is about 1.5× Spain's.
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United KingdomSpain — United Kingdom's GDP per capita is about 1.5× Spain's.
| Metric | United Kingdom | Spain | A vs B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population & land | |||
| Population | 69.5M (2025) | 49.4M (2025) | 1.4× |
| Population growth | 0.3% (2025) | 1.0% (2025) | 29% |
| Urban population share | 83.3% (2025) | 80.5% (2025) | 1.0× |
| Population aged 65+ | 19.7% (2025) | 21.6% (2025) | 91% |
| Fertility rate | 1.6 (2024) | 1.1 (2024) | 1.4× |
| Birth rate | 9.9‰ (2024) | 6.5‰ (2024) | 1.5× |
| Death rate | 9.7‰ (2024) | 8.9‰ (2024) | 1.1× |
| Net migration | 389.9K (2025) | 96.6K (2025) | 4.0× |
| Surface area | 248,906 km² | 501,633 km² | 50% |
| Population densityderived | 279/km² (2025) | 98.4/km² (2025) | 2.8× |
| Economy | |||
| GDP (total) | $4T (2025) | $1.9T (2025) | 2.1× |
| GDP per capita | $57,602 (2025) | $38,627 (2025) | 1.5× |
| GNI per capita | $54,550 (2025) | $37,120 (2025) | 1.5× |
| GDP growth (annual) | 1.4% (2025) | 2.8% (2025) | 49% |
| Inflation rate | 3.9% (2025) | 2.7% (2025) | 1.4× |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% (2025) | 10.4% (2025) | 46% |
| Gini index | 32.4 (2021) | 33.4 (2023) | 97% |
| Poverty rate ($2.15/day) | 0.4% (2021) | 0.8% (2023) | 50% |
| Trade & industry | |||
| Exports share of GDP | 30.6% (2025) | 36.6% (2025) | 84% |
| Imports share of GDP | 31.9% (2025) | 32.8% (2025) | 97% |
| Agriculture share of GDP | 0.6% (2025) | 2.7% (2025) | 24% |
| Manufacturing share of GDP | 7.7% (2025) | 10.6% (2025) | 72% |
| International tourist arrivals | 11.1M (2020) | 36.4M (2020) | 30% |
| Tourism receipts | $31.7B (1998) | $31.6B (1998) | 1.0× |
| Health & education | |||
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years (2024) | 83.9 years (2024) | 97% |
| Infant mortality | 4.1‰ (2024) | 2.6‰ (2024) | 1.6× |
| Under-five mortality | 4.7‰ (2024) | 3.2‰ (2024) | 1.5× |
| DPT immunization | 92.0% (2024) | 94.0% (2024) | 98% |
| Hospital beds | 2.4 per 1,000 (2022) | 2.9 per 1,000 (2023) | 83% |
| Health spending share of GDP | 11.1% (2024) | 9.2% (2023) | 1.2× |
| Secondary school enrollment | 112.1% (2023) | 118.5% (2024) | 95% |
| Education spending share of GDP | 5.9% (2021) | 4.6% (2022) | 1.3× |
| Society & living | |||
| Human Development Index | 0.946 (2023) | 0.918 (2023) | 1.0× |
| Internet users | 95.5% (2024) | 95.8% (2024) | 100% |
| Mobile subscriptions | 121.6 per 100 (2024) | 130.3 per 100 (2024) | 93% |
| Fixed broadband | 42.2 per 100 (2024) | 39.2 per 100 (2024) | 1.1× |
| Electricity access | 100.0% (2024) | 100.0% (2024) | 1.0× |
| Environment & security | |||
| CO₂ emissions per capita | 4.2 t (2024) | 4.5 t (2024) | 94% |
| CO₂ emissions (total)derived | 292 Mt (2024) | 220 Mt (2024) | 1.3× |
| Renewable electricity share | 40.2% (2021) | 47.0% (2021) | 86% |
| Renewable energy consumption | 12.2% (2021) | 19.0% (2021) | 64% |
| Forest area | 13.3% (2023) | 37.2% (2023) | 36% |
| Agricultural land | 70.3% (2023) | 49.6% (2023) | 1.4× |
| Arable land | 25.0% (2023) | 23.0% (2023) | 1.1× |
| PM2.5 exposure | 9.5 µg/m³ (2023) | 10.1 µg/m³ (2023) | 94% |
| Military spending | 2.3% (2024) | 1.4% (2024) | 1.6× |
Population density is our own derived metric: latest population ÷ the equal-area surface area computed from Natural Earth boundaries — the same area basis as the true-size tool.
United Kingdom
- Capital
- London
- Languages
- English
- Currencies
- GBP
- Subregion
- Northern Europe
Spain
- Capital
- Madrid
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currencies
- EUR
- Subregion
- Southern Europe
United Kingdom vs Spain in five metrics
Full metric comparison
| Metric | United Kingdom | Spain | A vs B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population & land | |||
| Population | 69.5M (2025) | 49.4M (2025) | 1.4× |
| Population growth | 0.3% (2025) | 1.0% (2025) | 29% |
| Urban population share | 83.3% (2025) | 80.5% (2025) | 1.0× |
| Population aged 65+ | 19.7% (2025) | 21.6% (2025) | 91% |
| Fertility rate | 1.6 (2024) | 1.1 (2024) | 1.4× |
| Birth rate | 9.9‰ (2024) | 6.5‰ (2024) | 1.5× |
| Death rate | 9.7‰ (2024) | 8.9‰ (2024) | 1.1× |
| Net migration | 389.9K (2025) | 96.6K (2025) | 4.0× |
| Surface area | 248,906 km² | 501,633 km² | 50% |
| Population density derived | 279/km² (2025) | 98.4/km² (2025) | 2.8× |
| Economy | |||
| GDP (total) | $4T (2025) | $1.9T (2025) | 2.1× |
| GDP per capita | $57,602 (2025) | $38,627 (2025) | 1.5× |
| GNI per capita | $54,550 (2025) | $37,120 (2025) | 1.5× |
| GDP growth (annual) | 1.4% (2025) | 2.8% (2025) | 49% |
| Inflation rate | 3.9% (2025) | 2.7% (2025) | 1.4× |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% (2025) | 10.4% (2025) | 46% |
| Gini index | 32.4 (2021) | 33.4 (2023) | 97% |
| Poverty rate ($2.15/day) | 0.4% (2021) | 0.8% (2023) | 50% |
| Trade & industry | |||
| Exports share of GDP | 30.6% (2025) | 36.6% (2025) | 84% |
| Imports share of GDP | 31.9% (2025) | 32.8% (2025) | 97% |
| Agriculture share of GDP | 0.6% (2025) | 2.7% (2025) | 24% |
| Manufacturing share of GDP | 7.7% (2025) | 10.6% (2025) | 72% |
| International tourist arrivals | 11.1M (2020) | 36.4M (2020) | 30% |
| Tourism receipts | $31.7B (1998) | $31.6B (1998) | 1.0× |
| Health & education | |||
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years (2024) | 83.9 years (2024) | 97% |
| Infant mortality | 4.1‰ (2024) | 2.6‰ (2024) | 1.6× |
| Under-five mortality | 4.7‰ (2024) | 3.2‰ (2024) | 1.5× |
| DPT immunization | 92.0% (2024) | 94.0% (2024) | 98% |
| Hospital beds | 2.4 per 1,000 (2022) | 2.9 per 1,000 (2023) | 83% |
| Health spending share of GDP | 11.1% (2024) | 9.2% (2023) | 1.2× |
| Secondary school enrollment | 112.1% (2023) | 118.5% (2024) | 95% |
| Education spending share of GDP | 5.9% (2021) | 4.6% (2022) | 1.3× |
| Society & living | |||
| Human Development Index | 0.946 (2023) | 0.918 (2023) | 1.0× |
| Internet users | 95.5% (2024) | 95.8% (2024) | 100% |
| Mobile subscriptions | 121.6 per 100 (2024) | 130.3 per 100 (2024) | 93% |
| Fixed broadband | 42.2 per 100 (2024) | 39.2 per 100 (2024) | 1.1× |
| Electricity access | 100.0% (2024) | 100.0% (2024) | 1.0× |
| Environment & security | |||
| CO₂ emissions per capita | 4.2 t (2024) | 4.5 t (2024) | 94% |
| CO₂ emissions (total) derived | 292 Mt (2024) | 220 Mt (2024) | 1.3× |
| Renewable electricity share | 40.2% (2021) | 47.0% (2021) | 86% |
| Renewable energy consumption | 12.2% (2021) | 19.0% (2021) | 64% |
| Forest area | 13.3% (2023) | 37.2% (2023) | 36% |
| Agricultural land | 70.3% (2023) | 49.6% (2023) | 1.4× |
| Arable land | 25.0% (2023) | 23.0% (2023) | 1.1× |
| PM2.5 exposure | 9.5 µg/m³ (2023) | 10.1 µg/m³ (2023) | 94% |
| Military spending | 2.3% (2024) | 1.4% (2024) | 1.6× |
Population density is our own derived metric: latest population ÷ the equal-area surface area computed from Natural Earth boundaries — the same area basis as the true-size tool.
Reference facts
| Metric | United Kingdom | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | London | Madrid |
| Languages | English | Spanish |
| Currencies | GBP | EUR |
| Subregion | Northern Europe | Southern Europe |
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, United Kingdom or Spain?
United Kingdom's surface area is smaller: about 50% of Spain's (248,906 km² vs 501,633 km²).
Which has a larger population, United Kingdom or Spain?
United Kingdom's population is larger: about 1.4× Spain's (69.5M vs 49.4M).
Which economy is larger, United Kingdom or Spain?
United Kingdom's GDP (total) is larger: about 2.1× Spain's ($4T vs $1.9T).
Related tools and comparisons
Open the interactive compare tool with United Kingdom and Spain preselected
See United Kingdom and Spain's true size on a drag-and-drop map →
Distance between United Kingdom and Spain →
United Kingdom country profile: key metrics vs world median →
Spain country profile: key metrics vs world median →
More comparisons with United Kingdom and Spain
Data & method
Indicators: World Bank Open Data, 43 indicators — CC BY 4.0 © World Bank — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/; Human Development Index — CC BY 3.0 IGO © United Nations Development Programme — https://hdr.undp.org/terms-use
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:110m (public domain); surface areas are computed with an equal-area spherical formula (Chamberlin–Duquette).
Reference facts (capital, languages, currencies, subregion): mledoze/countries (ODbL).