Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Sweden instead of China, you would:

Health

live 6.3 years longer

In China, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Sweden, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2020.

be 3.3 times more likely to be obese

In China, 6.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Sweden, that number is 20.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.8 times more money

China has a GDP per capita of $18,200 as of 2018, while in Sweden, the GDP per capita is $51,200 as of 2017.

be 71.8% more likely to be unemployed

In China, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Sweden, that number is 6.7% as of 2017.

be 4.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In China, 3.3% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Sweden, however, that number is 15.0% as of 2014.

pay a 26.9% higher top tax rate

China has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2016. In Sweden, the top tax rate is 57.1% as of 2016.

Life

be 86.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In China, approximately 29.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Sweden, 4.0 women do as of 2017.

be 77.2% less likely to die during infancy

In China, approximately 11.4 children die before they reach the age of one as of 2020. In Sweden, on the other hand, 2.6 children do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 69.7% more likely to have internet access

In China, approximately 54.3% of the population has internet access as of 2018. In Sweden, about 92.1% do as of 2018.

Geography

see 77.8% less coastline

China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In Sweden, that number is 3,218 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, State Administration of Taxation, Skatteverket.

Sweden: At a glance

Sweden is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 410,335 sq km. A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both world wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in 2000-02 and 2009 by the global economic downturns, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.
Read more

How big is Sweden compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Sweden. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.