Updated
Overview
Sweden has about 75% more people than Denmark: 10.60 million against 6.01 million (2025).
Sweden's economy is about 45% larger than Denmark's, at $669.00B versus $462.53B.
Per person, Denmark is the wealthier of the two: $76,970 against $63,133 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Sweden | Denmark | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $669.00B | $462.53B | 2025 | $610.12B / $429.46B |
| GDP per capita | $63,133 | Higher: $76,970 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.5% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.7% | 1.9% | 2025 | 2.8% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 8.7% | Lower: 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 87 | 92 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $4,783 | Higher: $6,992 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.16 | $7.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.60 million | 6.01 million | 2025 | 10.64 million / 6.05 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 41.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 100% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 450,295 km² | 43,094 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 23.5/km² | 139.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 38 Mt | Lower: 28 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $12.04B | $9.96B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 2.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 15,000 | 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
Denmark is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.7% in Sweden and 1.9% in Denmark.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $4,783 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.3 (Sweden) and 41.3 (Denmark).
Life expectancy is 1.8 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 82.3).
Geography
By land area, Sweden is 10 times the size of Denmark: 450,295 km² versus 43,094 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Denmark is far more densely settled: 139 people per km² against 24.
Military
Sweden spends 21% more on defence than Denmark: $12.04B versus $9.96B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Sweden fields the larger armed forces: 15,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Sweden bigger than Denmark?
- Sweden is larger by land area. Sweden covers 450,295 km² while Denmark covers 43,094 km², so Sweden is 10 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Sweden or Denmark?
- Sweden has the larger population: 10.60 million versus 6.01 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Sweden richer than Denmark?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Denmark is richer: $76,970 against $63,133. Total GDP tells a different story: $669.00B for Sweden versus $462.53B for Denmark.
- Who spends more on their military, Sweden or Denmark?
- Sweden spends more: $12.04B versus $9.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).