Norway vs Sweden
Norway leads on 2 of 6 metrics, Sweden on 4. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Norway vs Sweden: the verdict
Sweden is the more populous of the two, home to 10.6 million people — about 1.9× the population of Norway (5.61 million).
On the economy, Sweden has the larger nominal GDP at $669B. But measured per person, Norway comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($94,594), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Sweden is the larger country, spanning 450,295 km².
Norway records the higher Human Development Index (0.970), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall, Sweden leads on more headline metrics in this comparison, though "which country is better" depends entirely on which measures matter to you.
Full breakdown
Norway
NorwayNorwayGovernment & politics
NorwayNorway
Norway is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The monarch is a ceremonial head of state, and executive power lies with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, accountable to the Storting, Norway's single-chamber parliament. Governed by consensus and proportional representation, Norway consistently ranks among the world's strongest democracies.
Sweden
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch's role is purely ceremonial — since 1974 the King has held no formal political powers, not even the nominal ones common elsewhere. Executive power rests entirely with the Prime Minister and government, who answer to the single-chamber Riksdag, elected by proportional representation.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Norway or Sweden?
Sweden has the higher nominal GDP at $669B, compared with $530.76B for Norway (World Bank).
Is Norway bigger than Sweden by population?
Sweden has the larger population with 10,596,620 people, versus 5,610,870 for Norway.
Which is larger in area, Norway or Sweden?
Sweden is larger, covering 450,295 km² compared with 323,802 km² for Norway.