Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Sweden instead of United States, you would:

Health

live 2.1 years longer

In United States, the average life expectancy is 80 years (78 years for men, 82 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 43.1% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Sweden, that number is 20.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 14.4% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $59,800 as of 2017, while in Sweden, the GDP per capita is $51,200 as of 2017.

be 52.3% more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Sweden, that number is 6.7% as of 2017.

pay a 44.2% higher top tax rate

United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. In Sweden, the top tax rate is 57.1% as of 2016.

Life

be 78.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 19.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Sweden, 4.0 women do as of 2017.

be 50.9% less likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.3 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.

Expenditures

spend 54.0% more on education

United States spends 5.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2014. Sweden spends 7.7% of total GDP on education as of 2016.

Geography

see 83.8% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Sweden, that number is 3,218 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Service, 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.
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How big is Sweden compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.

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