Sweden vs Norway
Every indicator for Sweden and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Sweden | Norway | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,596,620 | 5,610,870 | +88.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 669 | 531 | +26.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 63,133 | 94,594 | −33.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.1 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 528,660 | 624,500 | −15.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 9 | +123.1% |
| Median age (years) | 41.1 | 40.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 99.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.7 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 3.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 89.1 | 83.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 12,040 | 10,435 | +15.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.00 | 2.09 | −4.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.12 | 4.53 | −9.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,136 | 1,860 | −38.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 25,000 | −40.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 4.5 | −68.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.27 | 0.85 | −68.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Sweden relative to Norway; a positive value favors Sweden. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Norway is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in armed forces as a share of the labor force, about 3.1 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Norway's armed forces as a share of the labor force (0.85) is about 3.1 times Sweden's (0.27).
- Norway's armed forces per 1,000 people (4.5) is about 3.1 times Sweden's (1.4).
- Sweden's population density (20) is about 2.2 times Norway's (9).
- On population (2025), Sweden is %89 higher than Norway: 10,596,620 against 5,610,870.
- On armed forces personnel (2020), Norway is %67 higher than Sweden: 25,000 against 15,000.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sweden and Norway differ most?
Where are Sweden and Norway most alike?
On how many indicators is Sweden ahead of Norway?
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 Norway.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.