Sweden
Europe · Northern Europe
Best work-life balance in Europe, where high taxes fund exceptional public services.
Expat
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Sweden's Human Development Index
0.952
Very High human development#5 of 191 countries worldwide, #5 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 98% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Sweden
Sweden is a Scandinavian country of forests, lakes, archipelagos, and a culture shaped by its long winters and its deep relationship with the natural world. Stockholm is one of Europe's most beautiful capitals, spread across fourteen islands, and the country has produced a design and music culture that has influenced the world well beyond its size. The Swedish values of equality, openness, and outdoor life suit those who appreciate a society that takes wellbeing seriously.
- Invented dynamite, safety matches, the adjustable spanner, Spotify, and IKEA.
- High taxes fund one of the world's highest living standards — residents mostly don't resent it.
- More than 270,000 lakes — roughly one per 37 people.
Quick Facts
Capital
Stockholm
Language
Swedish
Currency
kr SEK
Area
407,270 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
208Mbps
Mobile
159Mbps
GDP / Capita
$63K
PPP / Capita
$73K
Inflation
0.7%
Unemployment
8.7%
Innovation (GII)
62.6
GNI / Capita
$63K
Tax Revenue
27.2%
FDI Inflows
2.9%
Education Spend
7.3%
Cost of Living
68.0
Price Level Index
9th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.808 → 0.952 (+0.144)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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Sweden head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Sweden's Human Development Index?
Sweden's Human Development Index is 0.952 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #5 of 191 countries.
Is Sweden safe?
Sweden scores 1.73 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #40 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Sweden?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Sweden at 68.0 (New York = 100); that is #126 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Sweden?
Life expectancy at birth in Sweden is 84.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #7 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Sweden?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Sweden at 189.3, ranked #13 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.