Sweden vs Portugal
Every indicator for Sweden and Portugal side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Sweden | Portugal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,596,620 | 10,804,871 | −1.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 669 | 347 | +92.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 63,133 | 32,082 | +96.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.1 | 82.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 528,660 | 92,230 | +473.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 117 | −82.9% |
| Median age (years) | 41.1 | 46.9 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 88.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.7 | 6.2 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 2.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 89.1 | 61.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 12,040 | 4,642 | +159.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.00 | 1.53 | +30.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.12 | 3.57 | +15.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,136 | 430 | +164.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 52,000 | −71.2% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 4.8 | −70.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.27 | 1.01 | −73.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Sweden relative to Portugal; a positive value favors Sweden. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Sweden is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Portugal leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in population density, about 5.8 times; they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Portugal's population density (117) is about 5.8 times Sweden's (20).
- Sweden's area (528,660) is about 5.7 times Portugal's (92,230).
- Portugal's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.01) is about 3.7 times Sweden's (0.27).
- Portugal's armed forces personnel (2020) (52,000) is about 3.5 times Sweden's (15,000).
- Portugal's armed forces per 1,000 people (4.8) is about 3.4 times Sweden's (1.4).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sweden and Portugal differ most?
In population density. Portugal records 117 against Sweden's 20 — a ratio of roughly 5.8 to one.
Where are Sweden and Portugal most alike?
In population (2025), at 10,804,871 and 10,596,620 — a gap of only %2.0.
On how many indicators is Sweden ahead of Portugal?
Sweden is higher on 7 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Portugal on 5. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
SwedenPortugal
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 Portugal.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Portugal profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI