Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 11 times the population of Sweden: 116.79 million people against 10.60 million (2025).
Sweden's economy is about 35% larger than the Philippines', at $669.00B versus $487.09B.
Per person, Sweden is the wealthier of the two: $63,133 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $669.00B | 2025 | $461.62B / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.7% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 3.2% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $4,783 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 10.60 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 96% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 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
The Philippines is growing faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 0.7% in Sweden.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 14.1 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 69.9).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Sweden (96% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 24% smaller than Sweden: 342,353 km² versus 450,295 km².
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 24.
Military
Sweden spends 2.0 times as much on defence as the Philippines: $12.04B versus $6.12B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Sweden?
- Sweden is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so Sweden is 32% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Sweden?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sweden is richer: $63,133 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Sweden?
- Sweden spends more: $12.04B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).