Updated
Overview
Australia has 2.6 times the population of Sweden: 27.61 million people against 10.60 million (2025).
Australia's economy is 2.7 times the size of Sweden's, at $1.80T versus $669.00B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Australia | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.80T | $669.00B | 2025 | $1.75T / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $65,130 | $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 3.2% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.1% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 90 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $4,436 | Higher: $4,783 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,655 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.95 | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 27.61 million | 10.60 million | 2025 | 27.49 million / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | 1.5% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.3 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.1 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 96% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 7,692,024 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 3.6/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 387 Mt | Lower: 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.5 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $33.82B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 60,000 | 15,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.4% for Australia, 1.5% for Sweden).
Australia runs the hotter price environment: 2.9% inflation versus 0.7%.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $4,436 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Australia is the younger society: median age 38.3 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 83.1).
Geography
By land area, Australia is 17 times the size of Sweden: 7,692,024 km² versus 450,295 km².
Sweden is far more densely settled: 24 people per km² against 4.
Military
Australia spends 2.8 times as much on defence as Sweden: $33.82B versus $12.04B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Australia fields the larger armed forces: 60,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Australia bigger than Sweden?
- Australia is larger by land area. Australia covers 7,692,024 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so Australia is 17 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Australia or Sweden?
- Australia has the larger population: 27.61 million versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Australia richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $63,133. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.80T for Australia versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, Australia or Sweden?
- Australia spends more: $33.82B versus $12.04B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).