Sweden vs Japan
Every indicator for Sweden and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Sweden | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,596,620 | 123,366,734 | −91.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 669 | 4,435 | −84.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 63,133 | 35,951 | +75.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.1 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 528,660 | 377,969 | +39.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 326 | −93.9% |
| Median age (years) | 41.1 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.7 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 89.1 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 12,040 | 55,274 | −78.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.00 | 1.37 | +46.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.12 | 3.25 | +26.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,136 | 448 | +153.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 261,000 | −94.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 2.1 | −33.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.27 | 0.38 | −28.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Sweden relative to Japan; a positive value favors Sweden. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Japan 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 17 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 261,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — roughly 17 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 326 against Sweden's 20 — roughly 16 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 123,366,734 against Sweden's 10,596,620 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Japan's gdp (nominal) (4,435) is about 6.6 times Sweden's (669).
- Japan's military expenditure (2024) (55,274) is about 4.6 times Sweden's (12,040).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sweden and Japan differ most?
Where are Sweden and Japan most alike?
On how many indicators is Sweden ahead of Japan?
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 Japan.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.