Sweden vs Canada
Every indicator for Sweden and Canada side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Sweden | Canada | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,596,620 | 41,651,653 | −74.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 669 | 2,320 | −71.2% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 63,133 | 55,698 | +13.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.1 | 82.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 528,660 | 15,634,410 | −96.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 3 | +652.4% |
| Median age (years) | 41.1 | 40.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.7 | 6.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 89.1 | 82.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 12,040 | 29,347 | −59.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.00 | 1.31 | +52.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.12 | 3.08 | +33.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,136 | 705 | +61.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 72,000 | −79.2% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 1.7 | −18.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.27 | 0.35 | −22.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Sweden relative to Canada; a positive value favors Sweden. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Canada is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 30 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Canada stands at 15,634,410 against Sweden's 528,660 — roughly 30 times as much.
- Sweden's population density (20) is about 7.5 times Canada's (3).
- Canada's armed forces personnel (2020) (72,000) is about 4.8 times Sweden's (15,000).
- Canada's population (2025) (41,651,653) is about 3.9 times Sweden's (10,596,620).
- Canada's gdp (nominal) (2,320) is about 3.5 times Sweden's (669).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sweden and Canada differ most?
In area. Canada records 15,634,410 against Sweden's 528,660 — a ratio of roughly 30 to one.
Where are Sweden and Canada most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 63,133 and 55,698 — a gap of only %13.
On how many indicators is Sweden ahead of Canada?
Sweden is higher on 5 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Canada on 7. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
SwedenCanada
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 Canada.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Canada profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI