Sweden vs Norway
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Sweden and Norway: the larger economy is Sweden ($603.7B vs $483.6B GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Norway ($57,117 vs $86,785). Life expectancy is higher in Sweden (84.1 vs 83.2 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Sweden vs Norway: side by side
| Indicator | Sweden | Norway | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $603.7B | $483.6B | Sweden |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $57,117 | $86,785 | Norway |
| Population, total | 10,569,709 | 5,572,279 | Sweden |
| Population growth (annual %) | 0.3% | 0.9% | Norway |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 0.8% | 2.1% | Norway |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 2.8% | 3.1% | Sweden |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 8.7% | 4.6% | Norway |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 84.1 | 83.2 | Sweden |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 95.8% | 99.0% | Norway |
| Urban population (% of total) | 88.9% | 83.3% | Sweden |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 3.57 | 7.18 | Sweden |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): Sweden
- GDP per capita (income): Norway
- Life expectancy: Sweden
- Internet users: Norway
- Lower inflation: Sweden
- Lower unemployment: Norway
Frequently asked questions
Is Sweden or Norway richer?
Norway is richer on GDP per capita — Sweden at $57,117 versus $86,785 for Norway (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Sweden ($603.7B vs $483.6B).
Which has a bigger economy, Sweden or Norway?
Sweden has the larger economy: Sweden's GDP is $603.7B and Norway's is $483.6B in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Sweden or Norway?
Sweden is more populous: Sweden has about 10.6 million people and Norway about 5.6 million.
Where do people live longer, Sweden or Norway?
Life expectancy is higher in Sweden: 84.1 years in Sweden versus 83.2 in Norway (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20