Finland vs Sweden
Every indicator for Finland and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Finland | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 5,646,436 | 10,596,620 | −46.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 317 | 669 | −52.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 56,149 | 63,133 | −11.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 338,480 | 528,660 | −36.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 17 | 20 | −16.8% |
| Median age (years) | 43.4 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.7 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 9.5 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.5 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,988 | 12,040 | −42.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.30 | 2.00 | +15.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.05 | 4.12 | −1.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,238 | 1,136 | +8.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 22,000 | 15,000 | +46.7% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 3.9 | 1.4 | +175.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.80 | 0.27 | +196.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Finland relative to Sweden; a positive value favors Finland. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Sweden is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Finland leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in armed forces as a share of the labor force, about 3.0 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Finland's armed forces as a share of the labor force (0.80) is about 3.0 times Sweden's (0.27).
- Finland's armed forces per 1,000 people (3.9) is about 2.8 times Sweden's (1.4).
- Sweden's gdp (nominal) (669) is about 2.1 times Finland's (317).
- On population (2025), Sweden is %88 higher than Finland: 10,596,620 against 5,646,436.
- On military expenditure (2024), Sweden is %72 higher than Finland: 12,040 against 6,988.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Finland and Sweden differ most?
Where are Finland and Sweden most alike?
On how many indicators is Finland 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 Finland or Sweden.
Finland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.