Spain vs United Kingdom

Spain and United Kingdom compared on 234 measures that both have. Each pair of values is for the same period, the latest one with data for both countries, so the year can differ from one row to the next.

Where Spain and United Kingdom differ most

Measures where one value is the largest multiple of the other, among measures with positive values. Totals such as population, index values and growth rates are left out, because their size says little about the difference.

Population and ageing

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Population on 1 January
people
47,318,050 people 67,025,542 peoplep (provisional) −29.4% 2020 Eurostat
Population by age and sex
people
47,318,050 people 67,025,542 peoplep (provisional) −29.4% 2020 Eurostat
Crude birth rate
live births per 1,000 people
6.5 per 1,000 peoplep (provisional) 9.3 per 1,000 people −2.8 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Crude death rate
deaths per 1,000 people
9.0 per 1,000 peoplep (provisional) 9.4 per 1,000 people −0.4 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Total fertility rate
live births per woman
1.26 births per woman 1.68 births per woman −25.0% 2018 Eurostat
Population aged 65 and over
% of total population
19.3% 18.4% +0.9 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Median age of the population
years
43.9 years 40.2 years +9.2% 2019 Eurostat
Old-age dependency ratio
people aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15 to 64
29.2 per 100 working-age people 28.9 per 100 working-age people +1.0% 2019 Eurostat
Natural population change
per 1,000 people
-2.5 per 1,000 peoplep (provisional) 0.0 per 1,000 people −2.5 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Population estimates and projections
people
47,911,580 people 68,682,962 people −30.2% 2023 UN Population Division
Median age estimates and projections
years
44.9 years 39.8 years +12.9% 2023 UN Population Division
Fertility rate estimates and projections
live births per woman
1.21 births per woman 1.56 births per woman −22.2% 2023 UN Population Division
Population growth estimates and projections
% per year
0.02% 0.70% −0.68 percentage points 2023 UN Population Division
Population
people
49,355,143 people 69,487,000 people −29.0% 2025 World Bank
Population growth
annual % change
1.03% 0.30% +0.73 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Population aged 65 and over
% of total population
21.6% 19.7% +1.9 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Population aged 0 to 14
% of total population
12.6% 17.0% −4.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Fertility rate
births per woman
1.10 births per woman 1.55 births per woman −29.1% 2024 World Bank
Crude birth rate
births per 1,000 people
6.5 per 1,000 people 9.9 per 1,000 people −3.4 per 1,000 people 2024 World Bank
Crude death rate
deaths per 1,000 people
8.9 per 1,000 people 9.7 per 1,000 people −0.8 per 1,000 people 2024 World Bank
Urban population share
% of total population
80.5% 83.3% −2.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Adolescent birth rate
births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19
4.9 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 7.8 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 −3.0 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 2024 World Bank
Age dependency ratio
dependants per 100 people aged 15 to 64
52.1 per 100 working-age people 57.9 per 100 working-age people −5.8 per 100 working-age people 2025 World Bank
Population density
people per square kilometre of land
97.8 people per km² 286.4 people per km² −65.9% 2024 World Bank
Urban population growth
annual % change
1.28% 0.39% +0.89 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Migration and citizenship

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Immigration
people
750,480 immigrants 680,906 immigrants +10.2% 2019 Eurostat
Emigration
people
296,248 emigrants 368,385 emigrants −19.6% 2019 Eurostat
Acquisitions of citizenship
people
98,954 people 159,348 people −37.9% 2019 Eurostat
First-time asylum applicants
people
115,190 applicants 44,315 applicants +159.9% 2019 Eurostat
Net migration rate
per 1,000 people
11.8 per 1,000 peoplep (provisional) 2.5 per 1,000 people +9.3 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Net migration estimates and projections
per 1,000 people
2.5 per 1,000 people 6.5 per 1,000 people −4.0 per 1,000 people 2023 UN Population Division
Net migration
people
96,630 people 389,911 people −75.2% 2025 World Bank
International migrant stock
% of population
18.5% 17.1% +1.4 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Personal remittances received
% of GDP
0.4% 0.1% +0.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Employment and occupations

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Monthly unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted)
% of the labour force
16.4% 4.9% +11.5 percentage points September 2020 Eurostat
Usual weekly working hours
hours per week
37.5 hours per week 37.0 hours per week +0.5 hours per week 2019 Eurostat
Part-time employment
% of total employment
14.5% 24.4% −9.9 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Monthly youth unemployment
% of the labour force under 25
41.0% 14.5% +26.5 percentage points September 2020 Eurostat
ILO estimate of the unemployment rate
% of the labour force aged 15 and over
10.4% 4.7% +5.6 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
ILO estimate of youth unemployment
% of the labour force aged 15 to 24
24.7% 14.6% +10.1 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Labour force participation
% of working-age population aged 15 and over
57.4% 61.4% −4.0 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Women's labour force participation
% of women aged 15 and over
52.8% 57.3% −4.5 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Employment-to-population ratio
% of population aged 15 and over
51.5% 58.5% −7.0 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
OECD monthly unemployment rate
% of the labour force aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted
10.2% 4.7% +5.5 percentage points July 2026 OECD
Employment in agriculture
% of total employment
3.4% 0.9% +2.5 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Employment in industry
% of total employment
19.9% 15.9% +3.9 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Employment in services
% of total employment
76.8% 83.2% −6.5 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Wages and labour costs

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Median equivalised net income
euro per year
€14,785 per year €21,464 per year −31.1% 2018 Eurostat
Unadjusted gender pay gap
% of men's average gross hourly earnings
11.9% 19.8% −7.9 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Hourly labour cost
euro per hour worked
€21.2 per hour €27.9 per hour −24.0% 2016 Eurostat
Monthly minimum wage
euro per month, gross
€1,108 per month €1,583 per month −30.0% H2 2020 Eurostat
Net annual earnings
euro per year
€21,482 per year €35,783 per year −40.0% 2019 Eurostat

Economy and productivity

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
GDP per capita in PPS
index, EU27 (from 2020) = 100
92 (EU = 100)p (provisional) 98 (EU = 100) −6 points 2024 Eurostat
GDP in US dollars
current US dollars
US$1.91 trillion US$4.00 trillion −52.4% 2025 World Bank
GDP per capita in US dollars
current US dollars per person
US$38,627 per person US$57,602 per person −32.9% 2025 World Bank
GDP per capita, PPP
constant 2021 international dollars per person
Int$49,318 per person Int$53,993 per person −8.7% 2025 World Bank
GNI per capita, Atlas method
current US dollars per person
US$37,120 per person US$54,550 per person −32.0% 2025 World Bank
Real GDP growth
annual % change
2.8% 1.4% +1.4 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Services share of GDP
% of GDP
68.4% 73.1% −4.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Investment share of GDP
% of GDP
21.4% 19.7% +1.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Savings share of GDP
% of GDP
24.3% 17.2% +7.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Household consumption per person
constant 2015 US dollars per person
US$16,636 per person US$29,689 per person −44.0% 2025 World Bank

Prices and purchasing power

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
HICP inflation
annual average rate of change, %
0.8% 1.8% −1.0 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
HICP price index
index, 2015 = 100
104.26 (2015 = 100) 107.80 (2015 = 100) −3.54 points 2019 Eurostat
Monthly HICP inflation
% change on the same month a year earlier
-0.8% 0.3% −1.1 percentage points November 2020 Eurostat
Consumer price level index
index, EU27 (from 2020) = 100
91 (EU = 100) 129 (EU = 100) −38 points 2024 Eurostat
Energy price inflation (HICP)
annual average rate of change, %
-8.6% -2.4% −6.2 percentage points 2016 Eurostat
OECD monthly CPI inflation
% change on the same month a year earlier
4.9% 3.6% +1.3 percentage points September 2026 OECD
Consumer price inflation
annual % change
2.7% 3.9% −1.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Consumer price index
index, 2010 = 100
135.0 (2010 = 100) 153.1 (2010 = 100) −18.1 points 2025 World Bank
Inflation measured by the GDP deflator
annual % change
2.9% 3.7% −0.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Exchange rate to the US dollar
local currency units per US dollar, annual average
0.885 per US$ 0.759 per US$ +16.5% 2025 World Bank

Housing and households

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
House price change
annual average rate of change, %
5.2% 1.0% +4.2 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Housing cost overburden rate
% of population
8.9% 15.1% −6.2 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Overcrowding rate
% of population
4.7% 4.8% −0.1 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Home ownership rate
% of population
76.3% 65.2% +11.1 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Inability to keep home adequately warm
% of population
9.1% 5.4% +3.7 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Average household size
people per household
2.5 people per household 2.3 people per household +0.2 people per household 2018 Eurostat
House prices, quarterly
% change on the same quarter a year earlier
1.8% 2.7% −0.9 percentage points Q3 2020 Eurostat
Arrears on utility bills
% of population
7.2% 5.4% +1.8 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Slum population
% of urban population
0.0% 0.2% −0.1 percentage points 2022 World Bank

Education and skills

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
% of population aged 25 to 34
46.5% 49.4% −2.9 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
% of population aged 18 to 24
17.3% 10.9% +6.4 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Adult participation in learning
% of population aged 25 to 64
10.6% 14.8% −4.2 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
% of youth aged 15 to 24
10.2% 14.3% −4.1 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
% of children 3 to 5 years above the final primary grade age
98.0% 99.8% −1.8 percentage points 2019 UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
% of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age
95.9% 99.6% −3.7 percentage points 2019 UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
% of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age
75.1% 84.5% −9.3 percentage points 2019 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
% of children of primary school age
1.3%nat_est (National estimate) 0.1%nat_est (National estimate) +1.2 percentage points 2023 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school adolescents
% of adolescents of lower secondary school age
2.0%nat_est (National estimate) 1.3%nat_est (National estimate) +0.7 percentage points 2023 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school youth
% of youth of upper secondary school age
5.8%nat_est (National estimate) 5.2%nat_est (National estimate) +0.6 percentage points 2023 UNESCO UIS
Primary net enrolment
% of children of primary school age
98.7%nat_est (National estimate) 99.9%nat_est (National estimate) −1.2 percentage points 2023 UNESCO UIS
Education share of public spending
% of total government expenditure
9.7% 11.8% −2.1 percentage points 2021 UNESCO UIS
Education spending
% of GDP
4.8% 5.9% −1.1 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Primary school enrolment (gross)
% of the official primary school-age population
103.0% 102.2% +0.8 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Tertiary education enrolment (gross)
% of the population in the five years after secondary school age
93.7% 80.4% +13.3 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Primary school completion rate
% of the relevant age group
99.6% 101.1% −1.5 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Secondary school enrolment (gross)
% of the official secondary school-age population
118.4% 112.1% +6.2 percentage points 2023 World Bank

Health and healthcare

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Life expectancy at birth
years
83.1 years 81.3 years +2.2% 2018 Eurostat
Infant mortality rate
deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
2.7 per 1,000 live births 3.9 per 1,000 live births −1.2 per 1,000 live births 2018 Eurostat
Practising physicians
physicians per 100,000 inhabitants
441 per 100,000 peoplee (estimated) 294 per 100,000 people +146 per 100,000 people 2019 Eurostat
People reporting good or very good health
% of people aged 16 or over
73.6% 73.2% +0.4 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Health spending share of GDP
% of GDP
9.2% 10.2% −0.9 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Practising nurses
nurses per 100,000 inhabitants
588 per 100,000 peoplede (definition differs (see metadata), estimated) 660 per 100,000 peopled (definition differs (see metadata)) −73 per 100,000 people 2019 Eurostat
Healthy life years at birth
years
68.0 years 61.2 years +11.1% 2018 Eurostat
Life expectancy at age 65
years
21.2 years 20.1 years +5.5% 2018 Eurostat
Adults with obesity
% of people aged 15 and over
16.2% 19.8% −3.6 percentage points 2014 Eurostat
Daily smokers
% of people aged 15 and over
23.0% 14.2% +8.8 percentage points 2014 Eurostat
Life expectancy estimates and projections
years
83.7 years 81.3 years +2.9% 2023 UN Population Division
Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections
years
21.5 years 20.2 years +6.7% 2023 UN Population Division
Healthy life expectancy
years
71.2 years 68.2 years +4.4% 2023 WHO
UHC service coverage
index from 0 to 100
84 88 −4 points 2023 WHO
Alcohol consumption
litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15+
11.12 litres 8.81 litres +26.3% 2024 WHO
Adult obesity
% of adults aged 18+
15.3% 27.4% −12.1 percentage points 2024 WHO
Hypertension
% of adults aged 30 to 79
27.2% 26.4% +0.8 percentage points 2019 WHO
Suicide rate
deaths per 100,000 people
7.1 per 100,000 people 9.6 per 100,000 people −2.5 per 100,000 people 2023 WHO
Premature NCD mortality
% probability
9.0% 10.9% −1.9 percentage points 2023 WHO
Physical inactivity
% of adults aged 18+
25.3% 21.9% +3.4 percentage points 2022 WHO
DTP3 immunisation
% of one-year-olds
93% 92% +1.0 percentage points 2025 WHO
Anaemia in women
% of women aged 15 to 49
15.6% 13.6% +2.0 percentage points 2023 WHO
Poisoning deaths
deaths per 100,000 people
0.3 per 100,000 people 0.3 per 100,000 people same 2023 WHO
Nurses and midwives
per 10,000 people
62.2 per 10,000 people 95.6 per 10,000 people −33.4 per 10,000 people 2023 WHO
Dentists
per 10,000 people
6.48 per 10,000 people 5.08 per 10,000 people +1.40 per 10,000 people 2023 WHO
Life expectancy at birth
years
83.9 years 81.4 years +3.1% 2024 World Bank
Life expectancy at birth, women
years
86.5 years 83.3 years +3.8% 2024 World Bank
Life expectancy at birth, men
years
81.4 years 79.5 years +2.3% 2024 World Bank
Health spending share of GDP
% of GDP
9.2% 11.0% −1.8 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Under-five mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
3.2 per 1,000 live births 4.7 per 1,000 live births −1.5 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Infant mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
2.6 per 1,000 live births 4.1 per 1,000 live births −1.5 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Maternal mortality ratio
maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
3 per 100,000 live births 8 per 100,000 live births −5 per 100,000 live births 2023 World Bank
Physicians
physicians per 1,000 people
4.29 per 1,000 people 3.14 per 1,000 people +1.15 per 1,000 people 2022 World Bank
Hospital beds
beds per 1,000 people
2.9 per 1,000 people 2.4 per 1,000 people +0.5 per 1,000 people 2022 World Bank
Measles immunisation
% of children aged 12 to 23 months
97% 89% +8.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Tobacco use
% of adults aged 15 and over
27.6% 12.8% +14.8 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Out-of-pocket health spending
% of current health expenditure
20.9% 14.6% +6.2 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Health spending per person
current US dollars per person
US$3,107 per person US$5,407 per person −42.5% 2023 World Bank
Diabetes prevalence
% of population aged 20 to 79
9.7% 7.4% +2.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Neonatal mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
1.7 per 1,000 live births 3.0 per 1,000 live births −1.3 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Tuberculosis incidence
new cases per 100,000 people
8 per 100,000 people 10 per 100,000 people −2 per 100,000 people 2024 World Bank
HIV incidence
new infections per 1,000 uninfected people aged 15 to 49
0.14 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 0.10 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 +0.04 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 2023 World Bank

Internet and digital society

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Households with internet access
% of households
95.4% 97.3% −1.9 percentage points 2020 Eurostat
Internet use in the last three months
% of individuals
93.2% 97.3% −4.1 percentage points 2020 Eurostat
Daily internet use
% of individuals
83.1% 93.5% −10.5 percentage points 2020 Eurostat
Online shopping
% of individuals
62.6% 90.2% −27.6 percentage points 2020 Eurostat
ICT specialists in employment
% of total employment
3.7%e (estimated) 5.6%e (estimated) −1.9 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Internet users
% of population
95.8% 95.5% +0.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Mobile subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 people
130 per 100 people 122 per 100 people +9 per 100 people 2024 World Bank
Fixed broadband subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 people
39.2 per 100 people 42.2 per 100 people −2.9 per 100 people 2024 World Bank

Business and industry

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Monthly industrial production
% change on the same month a year earlier
-3.9%p (provisional) -4.0% +0.1 percentage points October 2020 Eurostat
Industry share of GDP
% of GDP
19.6% 16.5% +3.1 percentage points 2025 World Bank
New businesses registered
new limited liability companies
118,193 companies 841,138 companies −85.9% 2024 World Bank
Medium and high-tech manufacturing
% of manufacturing value added
38.9% 45.4% −6.5 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Manufacturing share of GDP
% of GDP
10.6% 7.7% +2.9 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Trade and investment

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Current account balance, quarterly
% of GDP
0.5% -3.4% +3.9 percentage points Q3 2020 Eurostat
Exports share of GDP
% of GDP
36.6% 30.6% +6.0 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Imports share of GDP
% of GDP
32.8% 31.9% +1.0 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Trade as a share of GDP
% of GDP
69.5% 62.5% +7.0 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Foreign direct investment inflows
% of GDP
1.5% 0.9% +0.6 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Current account balance
% of GDP
2.9% -3.1% +6.1 percentage points 2025 World Bank
High-technology exports
% of manufactured exports
9.3% 29.2% −19.9 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Tourism and accommodation

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Nights spent in tourist accommodation
nights
454,957,250 nights 476,356,101 nights −4.5% 2016 Eurostat
Arrivals at tourist accommodation
arrivals
123,541,778 arrivals 122,041,074 arrivals +1.2% 2016 Eurostat
Bed-place occupancy rate in hotels
% of available bed places
61.3% 51.6% +9.7 percentage points 2016 Eurostat

Transport and mobility

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Car share of passenger transport
% of inland passenger-kilometres
84.6%e (estimated) 86.9%e (estimated) −2.3 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Car ownership
cars per 1,000 inhabitants
543 per 1,000 people 474 per 1,000 people +69 per 1,000 people 2024 Eurostat
Road traffic deaths
deaths per 100,000 inhabitants
3.9 per 100,000 people 2.8 per 100,000 people +1.1 per 100,000 people 2018 Eurostat
Rail passenger transport
million passenger-kilometres
28,847 million passenger-km 71,823 million passenger-km −59.8% 2019 Eurostat
Road share of inland freight transport
% of inland freight tonne-kilometres
95.2% 90.8% +4.4 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
New zero-emission cars
% of newly registered passenger cars
5.6% 19.2% −13.7 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Road traffic deaths
deaths per 100,000 people
3.9 per 100,000 people 3.2 per 100,000 people +0.7 per 100,000 people 2019 World Bank
Air passengers carried
passengers
94,101,520 passengers 118,945,920 passengers −20.9% 2023 World Bank

Energy and electricity

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Energy import dependency
% of gross available energy
75.0% 34.8% +40.2 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Electricity price for households
euro per kWh, all taxes included
€0.2239 per kWh €0.2203 per kWh +1.6% H1 2020 Eurostat
Natural gas price for households
euro per kWh, all taxes included
€0.0718 per kWh €0.0476 per kWh +50.8% H1 2020 Eurostat
Access to electricity
% of population
100.0% 100.0% same 2024 World Bank
Clean cooking access
% of population
97.0% 100.0% −3.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Renewable energy share
% of total final energy consumption
19.0% 12.2% +6.8 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Fossil electricity share
% of total electricity production
24.4% 32.2% −7.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Net energy imports
% of energy use
78.4% 47.6% +30.8 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Climate and emissions

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Temperature change
°C difference from the 1951 to 1980 average
2.30 °Ce (Estimated value) 1.84 °Ce (Estimated value) +0.46 °C 2025 FAOSTAT
Agrifood emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
2.06 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) 1.87 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) +10.3% 2024 FAOSTAT
Total greenhouse gas emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
285.6 Mt CO2e 386.7 Mt CO2e −26.1% 2024 World Bank
Greenhouse gas emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
5.8 t CO2e per person 5.6 t CO2e per person +4.8% 2024 World Bank
CO2 emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 per person
4.51 t CO2 per person 4.22 t CO2 per person +6.7% 2024 World Bank
Methane emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
42.8 Mt CO2e 58.9 Mt CO2e −27.3% 2024 World Bank
Nitrous oxide emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
18.87 Mt CO2e 25.62 Mt CO2e −26.3% 2024 World Bank

Air quality and ecosystems

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
PM2.5 air pollution
micrograms per cubic metre
8.0 µg/m³ 7.9 µg/m³ +1.0% 2023 WHO
Forest area
% of land area
38.2% 13.5% +24.7 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Protected areas
% of total territorial area
22.1% 42.1% −20.0 percentage points 2025 World Bank
PM2.5 air pollution exposure
micrograms per cubic metre
10.1 µg/m³ 9.5 µg/m³ +6.5% 2023 World Bank
Terrestrial protected areas
% of land area
28.1% 28.4% −0.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Water, sanitation and waste

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Total waste generated per person
kilograms per person per year
2,946 kg per person 4,249 kg per person −30.7% 2018 Eurostat
Basic drinking water access
% of population
99.9% 100.0% −0.1 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Safely managed drinking water
% of population
99.5% 99.8% −0.4 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Basic sanitation access
% of population
99.9% 99.1% +0.8 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Level of water stress
% of available freshwater resources
43.3% 14.4% +28.9 percentage points 2022 World Bank
Renewable internal freshwater per person
cubic metres per person
2,327 m³ per person 2,144 m³ per person +8.5% 2022 World Bank
Safely managed sanitation
% of population
88.3% 97.8% −9.6 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Agriculture, food and fisheries

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Area under organic farming
% of utilised agricultural area
9.7% 2.6% +7.0 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Cost of a healthy diet
international dollars (PPP) per person per day
Int$4.33 per person per daye (Estimated value) Int$2.75 per person per daye (Estimated value) +57.5% 2025 FAOSTAT
Healthy diet unaffordable
% of the population
9.3%e (Estimated value) 2.9%e (Estimated value) +6.4 percentage points 2025 FAOSTAT
Pesticide use
kg of active ingredients per hectare of cropland
3.63 kg/hae (Estimated value) 2.75 kg/hae (Estimated value) +32.0% 2024 FAOSTAT
Nitrogen fertiliser use
kg of nitrogen (N) per hectare of cropland
52.9 kg/hae (Estimated value) 113.1 kg/hae (Estimated value) −53.2% 2024 FAOSTAT
Agriculture share of GDP
% of GDP
2.7% 0.6% +2.0 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Cereal yield
kilograms per hectare
3,786 kg per hectare 6,558 kg per hectare −42.3% 2024 World Bank
Agricultural land
% of land area
49.3% 69.2% −19.9 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Capture fisheries production
metric tonnes
764,462 tonnes 755,323 tonnes +1.2% 2024 World Bank
Prevalence of undernourishment
% of population
2.5% 2.5% same 2024 World Bank
Food production index
index, 2014 to 2016 = 100
108.8 (2014-16 = 100) 97.7 (2014-16 = 100) +11.4% 2024 World Bank
Fertiliser use
kilograms per hectare of arable land
136.0 kg per hectare 193.7 kg per hectare −29.8% 2024 World Bank
Land area
square kilometres
499,686 km² 241,930 km² +106.5% 2024 World Bank

Poverty and social protection

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
At-risk-of-poverty rate
% of population
21.5% 18.6% +2.9 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Poverty or social exclusion rate
% of population
27.3% 22.8% +4.5 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Income inequality (Gini)
Gini coefficient, 0 to 100
33.2 (0 to 100) 33.5 (0 to 100) −0.3 points 2018 Eurostat
Income quintile share ratio (S80/S20)
ratio
6.03 times 5.63 times +7.1% 2018 Eurostat
Severe material and social deprivation
% of population
8.7% 4.5% +4.2 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Gini index
Gini index, 0 to 100
33.9 (0 to 100) 32.4 (0 to 100) +1.5 points 2021 World Bank
Income share held by the richest 10%
% of total income or consumption
24.7% 25.0% −0.3 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Extreme poverty rate
% of population
0.7% 0.4% +0.3 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Poverty rate at national poverty lines
% of population
21.5% 18.6% +2.9 percentage points 2017 World Bank
Poverty rate at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP)
% of population
0.9% 0.5% +0.4 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Poverty rate at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP)
% of population
2.2% 0.9% +1.3 percentage points 2021 World Bank

Government finance and taxation

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Tax revenue
% of GDP
14.9% 26.9% −12.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Central government expense
% of GDP
34.0% 41.2% −7.2 percentage points 2023 World Bank

Science and innovation

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
R&D spending share of GDP
% of GDP
1.24% 1.73%p (provisional) −0.49 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Researchers as a share of the labour force
% of labour force (full-time equivalent)
0.63% 0.97%p (provisional) −0.34 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
R&D spending share of GDP
% of GDP
1.49% 2.68% −1.18 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Researchers per million people
researchers per million people
2,847 per million people 4,473 per million people −1,625 per million people 2017 World Bank
Scientific and technical journal articles
articles, fractional count
60,304 articles 97,536 articles −38.2% 2023 World Bank

Crime, justice and public safety

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Crime or vandalism in the area
% of population
10.9% 24.2%u (low reliability) −13.3 percentage points 2018 Eurostat
Intentional homicides
victims per 100,000 people
0.6 per 100,000 people 1.1 per 100,000 people −0.5 per 100,000 people 2021 World Bank

Culture, society and wellbeing

MeasureSpainUnited KingdomSpain compared with United KingdomPeriodSource
Cultural employment
% of total employment
4.0% 5.1% −1.1 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Average life satisfaction
average rating, 0 to 10
7.3 out of 10 7.6 out of 10 −0.3 points 2018 Eurostat
Women in national parliament
% of seats in the single or lower chamber
44.3% 40.5% +3.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank

The difference column shows Spain compared with United Kingdom: in percentage points for percentages, in the same unit for rates per population and index values, and in percent for other measures.

Open a measure to see both countries on a chart. All statistics for Spain · All statistics for United Kingdom · Other pairs