Sweden vs Switzerland
Every indicator for Sweden and Switzerland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Sweden | Switzerland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,596,620 | 9,092,436 | +16.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 669 | 1,044 | −35.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 63,133 | 114,769 | −45.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.1 | 84.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 528,660 | 41,291 | +1,180.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 220 | −90.9% |
| Median age (years) | 41.1 | 43.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 97.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.7 | 4.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 0.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 89.1 | 85.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 12,040 | 6,722 | +79.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.00 | 0.72 | +177.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.12 | 2.27 | +81.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,136 | 739 | +53.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 20,000 | −25.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 2.2 | −35.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.27 | 0.40 | −32.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Sweden relative to Switzerland; a positive value favors Sweden. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Sweden is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Switzerland on 6. The widest separation is in area (about 13×); they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Sweden stands at 528,660 against Switzerland's 41,291 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Switzerland stands at 220 against Sweden's 20 — roughly 11 times as much.
- Sweden's military expenditure as a share of gdp (2.00) is about 2.8 times Switzerland's (0.72).
- On gdp per capita, Switzerland is %82 higher than Sweden: 114,769 against 63,133.
- On military expenditure as a share of government spending, Sweden is %81 higher than Switzerland: 4.12 against 2.27.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sweden and Switzerland differ most?
In area. Sweden records 528,660 against Switzerland's 41,291 — a ratio of roughly 13 to one.
Where are Sweden and Switzerland most alike?
In population (2025), at 10,596,620 and 9,092,436 — a gap of only %17.
On how many indicators is Sweden ahead of Switzerland?
Sweden is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Switzerland on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
SwedenSwitzerland
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 Sweden or Switzerland.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Switzerland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI