Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has 2.0 times the population of Sweden: 20.84 million people against 10.60 million (2025).
Sweden's economy is 2.2 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $669.00B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Sweden is the wealthier of the two: $63,133 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $669.00B | 2025 | $288.41B / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 8.8% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.8% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $4,783 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 10.60 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 96% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.5%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 0.7%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 9.5 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 74.5).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 6.1 times the size of Sweden: 2,724,900 km² versus 450,295 km².
Sweden is far more densely settled: 24 people per km² against 8.
Military
Sweden spends 10.0 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $12.04B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Sweden carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Sweden?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so Kazakhstan is 6.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Sweden?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sweden is richer: $63,133 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Sweden?
- Sweden spends more: $12.04B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).