Sweden vs Greece
Every indicator for Sweden and Greece side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Sweden | Greece | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 10,596,620 | 10,413,962 | +1.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 669 | 281 | +138.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 63,133 | 26,948 | +134.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.1 | 81.8 | — |
| Area (km²) | 528,660 | 131,960 | +300.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 79 | −74.6% |
| Median age (years) | 41.1 | 46.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 86.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.7 | 8.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 2.5 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 89.1 | 79.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 12,040 | 8,022 | +50.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.00 | 3.13 | −36.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.12 | 6.58 | −37.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,136 | 770 | +47.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 147,000 | −89.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 14.1 | −90.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.27 | 3.20 | −91.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Sweden relative to Greece; a positive value favors Sweden. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Sweden is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Greece on 6. The widest separation is in armed forces as a share of the labor force (about 12×); they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Armed forces as a share of the labor force shows the widest gap of all: Greece stands at 3.20 against Sweden's 0.27 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Greece's armed forces per 1,000 people (14.1) is about 10.0 times Sweden's (1.4).
- Greece's armed forces personnel (2020) (147,000) is about 9.8 times Sweden's (15,000).
- Sweden's area (528,660) is about 4.0 times Greece's (131,960).
- Greece's population density (79) is about 3.9 times Sweden's (20).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sweden and Greece differ most?
In armed forces as a share of the labor force. Greece records 3.20 against Sweden's 0.27 — a ratio of roughly 12 to one.
Where are Sweden and Greece most alike?
In population (2025), at 10,596,620 and 10,413,962 — a gap of only %1.8.
On how many indicators is Sweden ahead of Greece?
Sweden is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Greece on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
SwedenGreece
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 Greece.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Greece profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI