GeoRealityMatch
Twilight view of Riddarholmen Church and surrounding architecture in Stockholm, reflecting in calm waters.Historic sailboats moored in Stockholm Harbor on a cloudy day, capturing maritime heritage.

Sweden

Europe · Northern Europe

High safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

People live long, and essential health services reach most people. Youth unemployment is high for Europe.

ExpatCombines very high development and high safety.
vs United Statesvs Netherlandsvs Germany
Safety

40th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.732lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#40 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.1per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
52.1Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€28,574per adult, a year, after tax and transfersHigh
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
22.6New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
7.6years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 36% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 14% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$72,529 PPP$63,133Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $46,531 a person, $37,671 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2007, $53,568 a person, $40,813 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2008, $55,817 a person, $41,907 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2009, $46,708 a person, $40,094 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2010, $52,543 a person, $41,951 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2011, $60,379 a person, $44,332 at PPP, inflation 3%2012, $57,750 a person, $45,207 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2013, $60,844 a person, $46,098 at PPP2014, $59,583 a person, $46,841 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $51,188 a person, $48,763 at PPP2016, $51,704 a person, $50,176 at PPP, inflation 1%2017, $53,210 a person, $51,387 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2018, $54,018 a person, $52,962 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $51,649 a person, $56,910 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $52,569 a person, $57,396 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2021, $60,648 a person, $62,191 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2022, $54,837 a person, $66,518 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2023, $54,950 a person, $68,458 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2024, $57,223 a person, $71,222 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2025, $63,133 a person, $72,529 at PPP, inflation 0.7%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $46,531 a person, $37,671 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2007, $53,568 a person, $40,813 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2008, $55,817 a person, $41,907 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2009, $46,708 a person, $40,094 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2010, $52,543 a person, $41,951 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2011, $60,379 a person, $44,332 at PPP, inflation 3%2012, $57,750 a person, $45,207 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2013, $60,844 a person, $46,098 at PPP2014, $59,583 a person, $46,841 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $51,188 a person, $48,763 at PPP2016, $51,704 a person, $50,176 at PPP, inflation 1%2017, $53,210 a person, $51,387 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2018, $54,018 a person, $52,962 at PPP, inflation 2%2019, $51,649 a person, $56,910 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $52,569 a person, $57,396 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2021, $60,648 a person, $62,191 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2022, $54,837 a person, $66,518 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2023, $54,950 a person, $68,458 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2024, $57,223 a person, $71,222 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2025, $63,133 a person, $72,529 at PPP, inflation 0.7%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
84.1years, at birthVery high
#7 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
85WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
4.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Among the highest youth unemployment in Europe

Youth unemployment
24.3%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
208 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
609EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet208 MbpsVery fast
Mobile159 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Historic sailboats moored in Stockholm Harbor on a cloudy day, capturing maritime heritage.
How it changed

Sweden's Human Development Index

0.959Very high human development

5th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 6th of 44 in Europe.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #4Denmark0.962
  2. #5Germany0.959
  3. #5Sweden0.959
  4. #7Australia0.958
  5. #8Netherlands0.955
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.818 in 1990 to 0.959 in 2023.

0.750.881.000.95919902000201020231990: 0.8181991: 0.8211992: 0.8291993: 0.8501994: 0.8621995: 0.8691996: 0.8771997: 0.8881998: 0.9011999: 0.9062000: 0.9122001: 0.9152002: 0.9182003: 0.9232004: 0.9082005: 0.9112006: 0.9152007: 0.9172008: 0.9132009: 0.9122010: 0.9182011: 0.9202012: 0.9202013: 0.9402014: 0.9432015: 0.9452016: 0.9472017: 0.9492018: 0.9502019: 0.9552020: 0.9512021: 0.9582022: 0.9592023: 0.9590.750.881.0019902000201020231990: 0.8181991: 0.8211992: 0.8291993: 0.8501994: 0.8621995: 0.8691996: 0.8771997: 0.8881998: 0.9011999: 0.9062000: 0.9122001: 0.9152002: 0.9182003: 0.9232004: 0.9082005: 0.9112006: 0.9152007: 0.9172008: 0.9132009: 0.9122010: 0.9182011: 0.9202012: 0.9202013: 0.9402014: 0.9432015: 0.9452016: 0.9472017: 0.9492018: 0.9502019: 0.9552020: 0.9512021: 0.9582022: 0.9592023: 0.959

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
84.1 years2024at birthUp 3.5 years from 80.5 years in 2005
Internet users
96%2025of people onlineUp 8 points from 88% in 2006
Urban population
89%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 84% in 2006
Births per woman
1.432024births per womanDown 0.34 from 1.77 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
58%2021of energy usedUp 22 points from 36% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
22024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 3 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.5 t from 6 t in 2005
Forest area
69%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Best work-life balance in Europe, where high taxes fund exceptional public services. The case for living here is long lives, wide access to essential health services and clean air. The case against is high youth unemployment for Europe and a high cost of living.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalStockholm
  • LanguagesSwedish
  • CurrencySwedish krona (SEK)
  • Area407,270 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

FinlandNorway

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Quick answers

What is Sweden's Human Development Index?

Sweden's Human Development Index is 0.959 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #5 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Sweden safe?

Sweden scores 1.73 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #40 of 161 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.