China vs Sweden
Every indicator for China and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 10,596,620 | +13,173.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 669 | +2,814.5% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 63,133 | −78.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 528,660 | +1,708.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 20 | +633.8% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 12,040 | +2,505.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 2.00 | −14.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 4.12 | +22.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 1,136 | −80.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 15,000 | +16,800.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 1.4 | +27.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 0.27 | +22.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Sweden; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 169 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — roughly 169 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Sweden's 10,596,620 — roughly 133 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Sweden's 669 — roughly 29 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Sweden's 12,040 — roughly 26 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against Sweden's 528,660 — roughly 18 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Sweden differ most?
Where are China and Sweden most alike?
On how many indicators is China ahead of Sweden?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
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China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.