Sweden vs Poland
Every indicator for Sweden and Poland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Sweden | Poland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,596,620 | 36,435,861 | −70.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 669 | 1,035 | −35.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 63,133 | 28,420 | +122.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.1 | 78.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 528,660 | 313,930 | +68.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 116 | −82.7% |
| Median age (years) | 41.1 | 42.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 88.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.7 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 3.8 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 89.1 | 60.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 12,040 | 38,001 | −68.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.00 | 4.15 | −51.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.12 | 8.47 | −51.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,136 | 1,043 | +8.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 189,000 | −92.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 5.2 | −72.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.27 | 1.04 | −74.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Sweden relative to Poland; a positive value favors Sweden. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Poland is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Sweden leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 13 times; they are closest on military expenditure per capita.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Poland stands at 189,000 against Sweden's 15,000 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Poland's population density (116) is about 5.8 times Sweden's (20).
- Poland's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.04) is about 3.9 times Sweden's (0.27).
- Poland's armed forces per 1,000 people (5.2) is about 3.7 times Sweden's (1.4).
- Poland's population (2025) (36,435,861) is about 3.4 times Sweden's (10,596,620).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sweden and Poland differ most?
Where are Sweden and Poland most alike?
On how many indicators is Sweden ahead of Poland?
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 Poland.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Poland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.