Spain vs Sweden
Every indicator for Spain and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Spain | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 49,355,143 | 10,596,620 | +365.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,906 | 669 | +184.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 38,627 | 63,133 | −38.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.9 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 505,976 | 528,660 | −4.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 98 | 20 | +386.6% |
| Median age (years) | 46.1 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 10.4 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.7 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.5 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 24,615 | 12,040 | +104.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.43 | 2.00 | −28.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.20 | 4.12 | −22.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 499 | 1,136 | −56.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 199,000 | 15,000 | +1,226.7% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.0 | 1.4 | +184.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.87 | 0.27 | +222.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Spain relative to Sweden; a positive value favors Spain. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Spain is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 13 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Spain stands at 199,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Spain's population density (98) is about 4.9 times Sweden's (20).
- Spain's population (2025) (49,355,143) is about 4.7 times Sweden's (10,596,620).
- Spain's armed forces as a share of the labor force (0.87) is about 3.2 times Sweden's (0.27).
- Spain's gdp (nominal) (1,906) is about 2.8 times Sweden's (669).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Spain and Sweden differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Spain records 199,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — a ratio of roughly 13 to one.
Where are Spain and Sweden most alike?
In area, at 528,660 and 505,976 — a gap of only %4.5.
On how many indicators is Spain ahead of Sweden?
Spain 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.
SpainSweden
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 Spain or Sweden.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI