Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has 17 times the population of Sweden: 175.69 million people against 10.60 million (2025).
Sweden's economy is about 45% larger than Bangladesh's, at $669.00B versus $456.32B.
Per person, Sweden is the wealthier of the two: $63,133 against $2,597 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $456.32B | Higher: $669.00B | 2025 | $450.12B / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | $2,597 | Higher: $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.5% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 10.5% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $4,783 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $108 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 10.60 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 53% | Higher: 96% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 108 Mt | Lower: 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.6 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 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
Bangladesh is growing faster: 3.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.5%.
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 0.7%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bangladesh: a price level of 25 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the far younger society: median age 26.0 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 9.1 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 74.9).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 33%.
Internet adoption is higher in Sweden (96% vs 53% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is 67% smaller than Sweden: 147,570 km² versus 450,295 km².
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 24.
Military
Sweden spends 3.0 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $12.04B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Sweden carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Bangladesh fields the larger armed forces: 227,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than Sweden?
- Sweden is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so Sweden is 3.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or Sweden?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sweden is richer: $63,133 against $2,597. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or Sweden?
- Sweden spends more: $12.04B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).