Updated
Overview
India has 138 times the population of Sweden: 1.46 billion people against 10.60 million (2025).
India's economy is 5.9 times the size of Sweden's, at $3.96T versus $669.00B.
Per person, Sweden is the wealthier of the two: $63,133 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $3.96T | $669.00B | 2025 | $3.91T / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.4% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 5.0% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $4,783 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 10.60 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 million | 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
India is growing much faster: 7.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 0.7% in Sweden.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 11.8 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 72.2).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in Sweden (96% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 7.3 times the size of Sweden: 3,287,590 km² versus 450,295 km².
India is far more densely settled: 445 people per km² against 24.
Military
India spends 7.2 times as much on defence as Sweden: $86.13B versus $12.04B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than Sweden?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so India is 7.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or Sweden?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sweden is richer: $63,133 against $2,702. Total GDP tells a different story: $3.96T for India versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, India or Sweden?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $12.04B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).