United Kingdom vs Sweden
Every indicator for United Kingdom and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 69,487,000 | 10,596,620 | +555.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,003 | 669 | +498.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 57,602 | 63,133 | −8.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 243,610 | 528,660 | −53.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 285 | 20 | +1,323.0% |
| Median age (years) | 40.6 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.5 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.7 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.9 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 83.3 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 81,763 | 12,040 | +579.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.28 | 2.00 | +14.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.25 | 4.12 | +27.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,177 | 1,136 | +3.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 153,000 | 15,000 | +920.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 1.4 | +55.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.45 | 0.27 | +66.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Kingdom relative to Sweden; a positive value favors United Kingdom. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United Kingdom is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in population density, about 14 times; they are closest on military expenditure per capita.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: United Kingdom stands at 285 against Sweden's 20 — roughly 14 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: United Kingdom stands at 153,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — roughly 10 times as much.
- United Kingdom's military expenditure (2024) (81,763) is about 6.8 times Sweden's (12,040).
- United Kingdom's population (2025) (69,487,000) is about 6.6 times Sweden's (10,596,620).
- United Kingdom's gdp (nominal) (4,003) is about 6.0 times Sweden's (669).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Kingdom and Sweden differ most?
Where are United Kingdom and Sweden most alike?
On how many indicators is United Kingdom ahead of Sweden?
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 United Kingdom or Sweden.
United Kingdom profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.