Denmark vs Sweden
Every indicator for Denmark and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Denmark | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 6,009,169 | 10,596,620 | −43.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 463 | 669 | −30.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 76,970 | 63,133 | +21.9% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 42,920 | 528,660 | −91.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 140 | 20 | +598.5% |
| Median age (years) | 42.0 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 99.8 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.5 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.9 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 88.8 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 9,959 | 12,040 | −17.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.42 | 2.00 | +21.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 4.12 | +22.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,657 | 1,136 | +45.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 15,000 | 0.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.5 | 1.4 | +76.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.49 | 0.27 | +81.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Denmark relative to Sweden; a positive value favors Denmark. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Denmark is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 12 times; they are closest on armed forces personnel (2020).
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Sweden stands at 528,660 against Denmark's 42,920 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Denmark's population density (140) is about 7.0 times Sweden's (20).
- On armed forces as a share of the labor force, Denmark is %81 higher than Sweden: 0.49 against 0.27.
- On population (2025), Sweden is %76 higher than Denmark: 10,596,620 against 6,009,169.
- On armed forces per 1,000 people, Denmark is %76 higher than Sweden: 2.5 against 1.4.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Denmark and Sweden differ most?
In area. Sweden records 528,660 against Denmark's 42,920 — a ratio of roughly 12 to one.
Where are Denmark and Sweden most alike?
In armed forces personnel (2020), at 15,000 and 15,000 — a gap of only %0.0.
On how many indicators is Denmark ahead of Sweden?
Denmark 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.
DenmarkSweden
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 Denmark or Sweden.
Denmark profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI