Germany vs Sweden
Every indicator for Germany and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Germany | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 83,491,249 | 10,596,620 | +687.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 5,051 | 669 | +655.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,496 | 63,133 | −4.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.8 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 357,680 | 528,660 | −32.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 233 | 20 | +1,064.5% |
| Median age (years) | 46.7 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.5 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.7 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.2 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 82.1 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 88,458 | 12,040 | +634.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.89 | 2.00 | −5.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.93 | 4.12 | −4.6% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,059 | 1,136 | −6.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 183,000 | 15,000 | +1,120.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 1.4 | +54.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 0.27 | +55.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Germany relative to Sweden; a positive value favors Germany. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Germany is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 12 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Germany stands at 183,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Germany stands at 233 against Sweden's 20 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Germany's population (2025) (83,491,249) is about 7.9 times Sweden's (10,596,620).
- Germany's gdp (nominal) (5,051) is about 7.6 times Sweden's (669).
- Germany's military expenditure (2024) (88,458) is about 7.3 times Sweden's (12,040).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Germany and Sweden differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Germany records 183,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — a ratio of roughly 12 to one.
Where are Germany and Sweden most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 63,133 and 60,496 — a gap of only %4.4.
On how many indicators is Germany ahead of Sweden?
Germany is higher on 7 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Sweden on 5. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
GermanySweden
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Germany or Sweden.
Germany profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI