Netherlands vs Sweden
Every indicator for Netherlands and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Netherlands | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 18,087,633 | 10,596,620 | +70.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,333 | 669 | +99.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 73,684 | 63,133 | +16.7% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.0 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 41,540 | 528,660 | −92.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 435 | 20 | +2,072.3% |
| Median age (years) | 42.2 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.0 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.9 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.3 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 95.9 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 23,179 | 12,040 | +92.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.92 | 2.00 | −4.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.34 | 4.12 | +5.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,281 | 1,136 | +12.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 41,000 | 15,000 | +173.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.3 | 1.4 | +60.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 0.27 | +55.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Netherlands relative to Sweden; a positive value favors Netherlands. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Netherlands is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in population density, about 22 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Netherlands stands at 435 against Sweden's 20 — roughly 22 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Sweden stands at 528,660 against Netherlands's 41,540 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Netherlands's armed forces personnel (2020) (41,000) is about 2.7 times Sweden's (15,000).
- On gdp (nominal), Netherlands is %99 higher than Sweden: 1,333 against 669.
- On military expenditure (2024), Netherlands is %93 higher than Sweden: 23,179 against 12,040.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Netherlands and Sweden differ most?
Where are Netherlands and Sweden most alike?
On how many indicators is Netherlands 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 Netherlands or Sweden.
Netherlands profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.