Updated
Overview
Sweden has about 75% more people than Singapore: 10.60 million against 6.11 million (2025).
Sweden's economy is 11% larger than Singapore's, at $669.00B versus $603.87B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $63,133 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Sweden | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $669.00B | $603.87B | 2025 | $610.12B / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $63,133 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.5% | Higher: 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.7% | 0.9% | 2025 | 2.8% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 8.7% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 87 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,783 | $3,483 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.16 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.60 million | 6.11 million | 2025 | 10.64 million / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.1 yrs | 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 94% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 450,295 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 23.5/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 38 Mt | 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $12.04B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 15,000 | 59,000 | 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
Singapore is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.7% in Sweden and 0.9% in Singapore.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Singapore: a price level of 60 versus 87 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Sweden: $4,783 against $3,483 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Singapore is the younger society: median age 36.2 versus 40.3 years.
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 89%.
Geography
By land area, Sweden is 626 times the size of Singapore: 450,295 km² versus 719 km².
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 24.
Military
Singapore spends 25% more on defence than Sweden: $15.06B versus $12.04B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Singapore carries the heavier military burden: 2.8% of GDP versus 2.0%.
Singapore fields the larger armed forces: 59,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Sweden bigger than Singapore?
- Sweden is larger by land area. Sweden covers 450,295 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so Sweden is 626 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Sweden or Singapore?
- Sweden has the larger population: 10.60 million versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Sweden richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $63,133. Total GDP tells a different story: $669.00B for Sweden versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, Sweden or Singapore?
- Singapore spends more: $15.06B versus $12.04B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).