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Ireland vs Sweden
Side-by-side comparison of Ireland and Sweden from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Sweden
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,031 years
In short
Ireland scores 80.4 in the NationsTree Index (5th in the world) and Sweden scores 75.5 (20th), a gap of 4.9 points. Their trees are 20 m and 19 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sweden has 93% more people than Ireland. Sweden is 7.5 times larger than Ireland by land area. The economy of Ireland is 11% larger than that of Sweden (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Ireland 5.5 million and Sweden 10.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $155,089 in Ireland and $72,529 in Sweden (2025, international dollars). People in Sweden live on average 1.1 years longer (84.1 vs 83.0 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Ireland ranks higher in the world on 13 and Sweden on 24. Ireland is clearly stronger in main industries and economy. Sweden is clearly stronger in military, environment & energy and science & innovation.
As a nation, Sweden is the older of the two (statehood since 995, 1,031 years), compared with Ireland (since 1937). Over the last five years Ireland improved faster (direction score 86 vs 23 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Ireland and Sweden.
Irelandbetter
12.3%
4th of 210
Sweden
1.5%
160th of 210
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Ireland
12.7%
129th of 212
Swedenbetter
57.9%
40th of 212
UnemploymentEconomy
Irelandbetter
4.6%
78th of 187
Sweden
8.7%
140th of 187
Extreme povertySociety & health
Irelandbetter
0.1%
10th of 108
Sweden
0.8%
43rd of 108
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Ireland overtook Sweden in GDP (PPP) in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Ireland overtook Sweden in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Sweden overtook Ireland in life expectancy in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Ireland overtook Sweden in GDP per person (PPP) in 2000 and has stayed ahead since.
Sweden has been ahead of Ireland in 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
IrelandSweden 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 | Ireland | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 70,280121st/216 · 2024 | 528,86050th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 68,890120th/216 · 2024 | 407,27059th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.5 m121st/217 · 2025 | 10.6 m92nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.63%65th/217 · 2025 | 0.25%157th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 78.3126th/216 · 2024 | 26.0180th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 64.6%108th/217 · 2025 | 89.1%35th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 18.1%138th/217 · 2025 | 16.7%156th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 16.2%61st/217 · 2025 | 20.9%29th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $721.70 bn23rd/210 · 2025 | $669.00 bn25th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $850.57 bn40th/199 · 2025 | $768.56 bn41st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $720.31 bn40th/199 · 2025 | $671.43 bn41st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $131,5925th/210 · 2025 | $63,13320th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $155,0893rd/199 · 2025 | $72,52926th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $87,3607th/201 · 2025 | $63,01017th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 12.3%4th/210 · 2025 | 1.5%160th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.2%65th/180 · 2025 | 0.7%27th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.6%78th/187 · 2025 | 8.7%140th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 34.8%48th/189 · 2025 | 34.5%45th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 1.9%24th/192 · 2025 | -1.3%59th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.1%169th/197 · 2025 | 1.5%157th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 37.8%20th/200 · 2025 | 21.0%121st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 33.9%3rd/192 · 2025 | 12.5%73rd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 56.7%113th/200 · 2025 | 67.0%46th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.01 trn8th/182 · 2025 | $356.10 bn28th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $720.92 bn16th/182 · 2025 | $341.90 bn28th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 140.1%5th/183 · 2025 | 53.2%50th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 99.9%9th/183 · 2025 | 51.1%80th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 240.0%5th/183 · 2025 | 104.3%56th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.3%131st/170 · 2025 | 6.0%68th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 91.4%3rd/171 · 2025 | 72.2%37th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 7.4%127th/171 · 2025 | 7.2%129th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.6%149th/171 · 2025 | 5.9%57th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 53.5%8th/168 · 2024 | 17.7%40th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 8.0%24th/191 · 2025 | 6.7%26th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 10.4%18th/196 · 2025 | 2.6%80th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.1%157th/209 · 2021 | 1.2%113th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%111th/197 · 2021 | 0.03%94th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.05%65th/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 | 0.04%77th/209 · 2021 | 1.00%46th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%153rd/209 · 2021 | 0.18%94th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 6.3%126th/206 · 2024 | 6.2%127th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 9,40049th/183 · 2022 | 16,30637th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 11.0 m23rd/194 · 2019 | 2.0 m67th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $4.16 bn35th/175 · 2020 | $10.67 bn2010 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.7%158th/168 · 2020 | 4.8%2010 |
| Outbound trips departures | 2.3 m46th/107 · 2020 | 6.1 m26th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 83.023rd/217 · 2024 | 84.19th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.930th/196 · 2024 | 2.46th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.8835th/174 · 2023 | 4.4120th/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.059th/145 · 2023 | 1.990th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 96%48th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 92.5%40th/153 · 2023 | 95.4%28th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 130.6%9th/173 · 2022 | 132.0%7th/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 24.7%61st/217 · 2025 | 33.5%22nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.9%89th/193 · 2024 | 11.2%15th/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 77.6%33rd/150 · 2022 | 84.0%19th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.94911th/193 · 2023 | 0.9595th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 29.018th/108 · 2023 | 29.320th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.1%10th/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 | 96.1%49th/150 · 2024 | 99.8%18th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 81.3%48th/144 · 2024 | 95.4%23rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 97.2%16th/186 · 2024 | 95.8%21st/186 · 2025 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 113112th/210 · 2024 | 14138th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 32.351st/208 · 2024 | 40.624th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.5038th/164 · 2022 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 1,65058th/82 · 2021 | 9,71418th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 192.5 m3rd/161 · 2023 | 19.6 m35th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 6.04163rd/203 · 2024 | 3.57122nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 12.7%129th/212 · 2021 | 57.9%40th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 7.529th/200 · 2023 | 5.316th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 12.0%158th/214 · 2024 | 68.6%19th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,47046th/149 · 2024 | 4,32920th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 85.715th/205 · 2025 | 89.59th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 78.519th/207 · 2025 | 87.55th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 84.216th/207 · 2025 | 87.34th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 78.762nd/207 · 2025 | 80.553rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 83.38th/205 · 2025 | 82.511th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 87.16th/205 · 2025 | 87.64th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.719th/145 · 2023 | 1.149th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $1.55 bn72nd/156 · 2025 | $16.47 bn24th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.2%151st/156 · 2025 | 2.5%42nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 0.9%150th/154 · 2025 | 5.0%80th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 | 15,000117th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.37%136th/168 · 2020 | 0.27%147th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 14.0 m99th/163 · 2025 | 146.0 m41st/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 24.0 m42nd/65 · 2025 | 235.0 m15th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.59%26th/110 · 2023 | 3.60%4th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 6876th/137 · 2024 | 1,85121st/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 8,72046th/197 · 2023 | 21,24424th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Ireland or Sweden?
Sweden has the larger population: 10.6 m (2025) compared with 5.5 m for Ireland (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Ireland or Sweden?
Sweden is larger: 528,860 km² (2024) compared with 70,280 km² for Ireland (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Ireland or Sweden?
Ireland has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $850.57 bn intl. (2025) compared with $768.56 bn intl. for Sweden (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Ireland or Sweden?
Ireland has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $155,089 intl. (2025) compared with $72,529 intl. for Sweden (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Ireland or Sweden?
Sweden has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.1 years (2024) compared with 83.0 years for Ireland (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Ireland or Sweden?
Sweden spends more on the military: $16.47 bn (2025) compared with $1.55 bn for Ireland (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Ireland or Sweden?
Ireland: 80.4 points (5th in the world); Sweden: 75.5 points (20th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Belgium
Kazakhstan
Romania
Switzerland
Finland
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). Ireland vs Sweden — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/ireland-vs-sweden. Data as of 26 October 2026.