EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Finland vs Sweden
Side-by-side comparison of Finland and Sweden from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Finland
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 109 years
Sweden
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,031 years
In short
Sweden scores 75.5 in the NationsTree Index (20th in the world) and Finland scores 73.3 (26th), a gap of 2.2 points. Their trees are 13 m and 19 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sweden has 88% more people than Finland. Sweden has 56% more land area than Finland. Sweden has an economy 2.1 times the size of Finland (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Finland 5.6 million and Sweden 10.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $72,529 in Sweden and $65,884 in Finland (2025, international dollars). People in Sweden live on average 1.7 years longer (84.1 vs 82.3 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Finland ranks higher in the world on 15 and Sweden on 20. Sweden is clearly stronger in tourism, economy and trade.
As a nation, Sweden is the older of the two (statehood since 995, 1,031 years), compared with Finland (since 1917). Over the last five years Sweden improved faster (direction score 23 vs 20 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Finland and Sweden.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Sweden overtook Finland in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Sweden has been ahead of Finland in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
FinlandSweden All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Finland | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 338,48566th/216 · 2024 | 528,86050th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 304,00071st/216 · 2024 | 407,27059th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.6 m117th/217 · 2025 | 10.6 m92nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.47%138th/217 · 2025 | 0.25%157th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 18.5191st/216 · 2024 | 26.0180th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 74.5%75th/217 · 2025 | 89.1%35th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 14.3%192nd/217 · 2025 | 16.7%156th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 24.2%7th/217 · 2025 | 20.9%29th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $317.04 bn48th/210 · 2025 | $669.00 bn25th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $372.01 bn61st/199 · 2025 | $768.56 bn41st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $314.71 bn62nd/199 · 2025 | $671.43 bn41st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $56,14929th/210 · 2025 | $63,13320th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $65,88431st/199 · 2025 | $72,52926th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $55,25024th/201 · 2025 | $63,01017th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.2%193rd/210 · 2025 | 1.5%160th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.3%21st/180 · 2025 | 0.7%27th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 9.5%148th/187 · 2025 | 8.7%140th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 58.3%1994 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 88.4%157th/189 · 2025 | 34.5%45th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.8%125th/192 · 2025 | -1.3%59th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 2.6%136th/197 · 2025 | 1.5%157th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 22.5%109th/200 · 2025 | 21.0%121st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 14.2%52nd/192 · 2025 | 12.5%73rd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 62.1%72nd/200 · 2025 | 67.0%46th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $134.19 bn41st/182 · 2025 | $356.10 bn28th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $130.21 bn42nd/182 · 2025 | $341.90 bn28th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 42.3%71st/183 · 2025 | 53.2%50th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 41.1%99th/183 · 2025 | 51.1%80th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 83.4%90th/183 · 2025 | 104.3%56th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 8.2%57th/170 · 2025 | 6.0%68th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 66.0%45th/171 · 2025 | 72.2%37th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 3.1%147th/171 · 2025 | 7.2%129th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.1%52nd/171 · 2025 | 5.9%57th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 9.3%70th/168 · 2024 | 17.7%40th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.0%69th/191 · 2025 | 6.7%26th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.1%171st/196 · 2025 | 2.6%80th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.4%134th/209 · 2021 | 1.2%113th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.05%85th/197 · 2021 | 0.03%94th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.11%68th/209 · 2021 | 1.00%46th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.29%81st/209 · 2021 | 0.18%94th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 7.4%118th/206 · 2024 | 6.2%127th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 19,25831st/183 · 2022 | 16,30637th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 896,000102nd/194 · 2020 | 2.0 m67th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.76 bn55th/175 · 2020 | $10.67 bn2010 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.8%134th/168 · 2020 | 4.8%2010 |
| Outbound trips departures | 2.7 m44th/107 · 2020 | 6.1 m26th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.330th/217 · 2024 | 84.19th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 2.46th/196 · 2024 | 2.46th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.6142nd/174 · 2021 | 4.4120th/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.669th/145 · 2022 | 1.990th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 96%48th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 91.7%42nd/153 · 2023 | 95.4%28th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 142.4%3rd/173 · 2024 | 132.0%7th/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 39.4%6th/217 · 2025 | 33.5%22nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.5%24th/193 · 2023 | 11.2%15th/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 110.3%6th/150 · 2024 | 84.0%19th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.94812th/193 · 2023 | 0.9595th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 27.412th/108 · 2023 | 29.320th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.2%18th/108 · 2023 | 0.8%43rd/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 99.6%22nd/150 · 2024 | 99.8%18th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 90.1%37th/144 · 2024 | 95.4%23rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 93.7%36th/186 · 2024 | 95.8%21st/186 · 2025 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12674th/210 · 2024 | 14138th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 36.538th/208 · 2024 | 40.624th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 5,91824th/82 · 2021 | 9,71418th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 10.8 m47th/161 · 2023 | 19.6 m35th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 5.54159th/203 · 2024 | 3.57122nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 50.2%48th/212 · 2021 | 57.9%40th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 4.68th/200 · 2023 | 5.316th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 74.2%13th/214 · 2024 | 68.6%19th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 5,64712th/149 · 2024 | 4,32920th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 92.16th/205 · 2025 | 89.59th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 91.22nd/207 · 2025 | 87.55th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 91.81st/207 · 2025 | 87.34th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 82.345th/207 · 2025 | 80.553rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 83.67th/205 · 2025 | 82.511th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 88.83rd/205 · 2025 | 87.64th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.041st/145 · 2023 | 1.149th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $8.08 bn36th/156 · 2025 | $16.47 bn24th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.6%39th/156 · 2025 | 2.5%42nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.4%96th/154 · 2025 | 5.0%80th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 22,000100th/170 · 2020 | 15,000117th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.80%88th/168 · 2020 | 0.27%147th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 51.0 m65th/163 · 2025 | 146.0 m41st/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 115.0 m24th/65 · 2025 | 235.0 m15th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.09%11th/110 · 2023 | 3.60%4th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1,77023rd/137 · 2024 | 1,85121st/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 11,22440th/197 · 2023 | 21,24424th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Finland or Sweden?
Sweden has the larger population: 10.6 m (2025) compared with 5.6 m for Finland (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Finland or Sweden?
Sweden is larger: 528,860 km² (2024) compared with 338,485 km² for Finland (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Finland or Sweden?
Sweden has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $768.56 bn intl. (2025) compared with $372.01 bn intl. for Finland (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Finland or Sweden?
Sweden has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $72,529 intl. (2025) compared with $65,884 intl. for Finland (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Finland or Sweden?
Sweden has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.1 years (2024) compared with 82.3 years for Finland (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Finland or Sweden?
Sweden spends more on the military: $16.47 bn (2025) compared with $8.08 bn for Finland (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Finland or Sweden?
Sweden: 75.5 points (20th in the world); Finland: 73.3 points (26th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Belarus
Bulgaria
Greece
Hungary
Belgium
Ireland
Norway
UkraineSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Finland vs Sweden — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/finland-vs-sweden. Data as of 26 October 2026.