Updated
Overview
Portugal and Sweden are nearly matched in population: 10.80 million versus 10.60 million people (2025).
Sweden's economy is about 95% larger than Portugal's, at $669.00B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Sweden is the wealthier of the two: $63,133 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Portugal | Sweden | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $346.64B | Higher: $669.00B | 2025 | $308.68B / $610.12B |
| GDP per capita | $32,082 | Higher: $63,133 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.9% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.3% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 2.4% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.2% | 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 60 | 87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,426 | Higher: $4,783 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,147 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.16 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.80 million | 10.60 million | 2025 | 10.19 million / 10.64 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 46.9 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.4 yrs | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 61% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 88% | Higher: 96% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 92,090 km² | 450,295 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 117.3/km² | 23.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 36 Mt | 38 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.4 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.64B | $12.04B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.5% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 52,000 | 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 (1.9% for Portugal, 1.5% for Sweden).
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.3% in Portugal and 0.7% in Sweden.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Sweden is the younger society: median age 40.3 versus 46.9 years.
Life expectancy is 1.7 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 82.4).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Geography
By land area, Portugal is 80% smaller than Sweden: 92,090 km² versus 450,295 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Portugal is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 24.
Military
Sweden spends 2.6 times as much on defence as Portugal: $12.04B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Portugal fields the larger armed forces: 52,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Portugal bigger than Sweden?
- Sweden is larger by land area. Portugal covers 92,090 km² while Sweden covers 450,295 km², so Sweden is 4.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Portugal or Sweden?
- Portugal has the larger population: 10.80 million versus 10.60 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Portugal richer than Sweden?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sweden is richer: $63,133 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $346.64B for Portugal versus $669.00B for Sweden.
- Who spends more on their military, Portugal or Sweden?
- Sweden spends more: $12.04B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).