Updated
Overview
Sweden has about 95% more people than Ireland: 10.60 million against 5.48 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $669.00B for Sweden and $721.70B for Ireland.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $63,133 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Sweden | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $669.00B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $610.12B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $63,133 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.5% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.7% | 2.2% | 2025 | 2.8% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 8.7% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 87 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $4,783 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $2,579 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.16 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.60 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 10.64 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 97% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 450,295 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 23.5/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 38 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $12.04B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 15,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.7% in Sweden and 2.2% in Ireland.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $4,783 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.3 (Sweden) and 39.0 (Ireland).
Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Sweden (84.1 vs 83.0).
Sweden is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Sweden is 6.4 times the size of Ireland: 450,295 km² versus 70,273 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Ireland is far more densely settled: 78 people per km² against 24.
Military
Sweden spends 9.0 times as much on defence as Ireland: $12.04B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Sweden carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Sweden fields the larger armed forces: 15,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Sweden bigger than Ireland?
- Sweden is larger by land area. Sweden covers 450,295 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Sweden is 6.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Sweden or Ireland?
- Sweden has the larger population: 10.60 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Sweden richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $63,133. Total GDP tells the same story: $669.00B for Sweden versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Sweden or Ireland?
- Sweden spends more: $12.04B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).