Sweden vs United States
Sweden vs United States: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 83.3 years in Sweden and 79.3 years in United States, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Sweden, by 4 years, or 1.05 times that in United States.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Sweden has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Sweden ranked 19 and United States ranked 59 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Sweden at 92.2 years and United States at 89.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Sweden | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83.3 | 79.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 83.1 | 78 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 83 | 76.4 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 82.4 | 77 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 83.1 | 78.9 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 82.5 | 78.8 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 82.4 | 78.7 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 82.3 | 78.7 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 82.2 | 78.7 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 82.2 | 78.9 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 81.9 | 78.8 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 81.7 | 78.8 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 81.8 | 78.7 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 81.5 | 78.7 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 81.4 | 78.5 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 81.1 | 78.1 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 81 | 78.1 | 69 |
| 2006 | 80.8 | 77.8 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 80.6 | 77.5 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 80.6 | 77.5 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 80.2 | 77.1 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 79.9 | 77 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 79.8 | 76.9 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 79.7 | 76.8 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 79.5 | 76.7 | 66 |
| 1998 | 79.4 | 76.7 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 79.3 | 76.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 79 | 76.2 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 78.8 | 75.9 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 78.8 | 75.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 78.1 | 75.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 78.1 | 75.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 77.7 | 75.5 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 77.6 | 75.4 | 64 |
| 1989 | 77.7 | 75.1 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 77 | 74.8 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 77.1 | 74.9 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 77 | 74.7 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 76.7 | 74.7 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 76.8 | 74.7 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 76.6 | 74.6 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 76.4 | 74.5 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 76 | 74.1 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 75.7 | 73.7 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 75.5 | 73.8 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 75.5 | 73.4 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 75.4 | 73.2 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 75 | 72.8 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 75 | 72.5 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 75 | 72 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 74.9 | 71.4 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 74.7 | 71.2 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 74.6 | 71.1 | 56 |
| 1970 | 74.7 | 70.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 74.1 | 70.5 | 56 |
| 1968 | 74 | 70.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 74.2 | 70.5 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 74.1 | 70.2 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 73.9 | 70.3 | 54 |
| 1964 | 73.7 | 70.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 73.5 | 69.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 73.4 | 70.1 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 73.5 | 70.3 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 73 | 69.8 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 73.4 | 69.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 73.2 | 69.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 72.5 | 69.4 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 72.7 | 69.6 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 72.6 | 69.6 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 72.4 | 69.5 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 71.9 | 68.7 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 71.9 | 68.4 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 71.4 | 68.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 71.1 | 68.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | 70.8 | 67.6 | – |
| 1948 | 70.7 | 67.2 | – |
| 1947 | 69.5 | 66.8 | – |
| 1946 | 69.5 | 66.1 | – |
| 1945 | 68.3 | 65.6 | – |
| 1944 | 67.7 | 65.1 | – |
| 1943 | 68.7 | 64.4 | – |
| 1942 | 69 | 64.5 | – |
| 1941 | 67 | 63.8 | – |
| 1940 | 66.7 | 63.2 | – |
| 1939 | 66.4 | 63.1 | – |
| 1938 | 65.5 | 62.4 | – |
| 1937 | 64.6 | 61 | – |
| 1936 | 64.6 | 60.4 | – |
| 1935 | 64.9 | 60.9 | – |
| 1934 | 65 | 60.2 | – |
| 1933 | 64.8 | 60.9 | – |
| 1932 | 63.9 | 61 | – |
| 1931 | 62.7 | 60.3 | – |
| 1930 | 63.2 | 59.6 | – |
| 1929 | 62.3 | 58.5 | – |
| 1928 | 62.2 | 58.3 | – |
| 1927 | 61.6 | 59.4 | – |
| 1926 | 62.7 | 57.9 | – |
| 1925 | 62.5 | 58.5 | – |
| 1924 | 61.9 | 58.5 | – |
| 1923 | 62.9 | 57.5 | – |
| 1922 | 61.1 | 58.1 | – |
| 1921 | 61 | 58.2 | – |
| 1920 | 58.9 | 55.4 | – |
| 1919 | 56.4 | 55.3 | – |
| 1918 | 49.7 | 47.2 | – |
| 1917 | 58.8 | 54 | – |
| 1916 | 58.1 | 54.2 | – |
| 1915 | 57.1 | 55.1 | – |
| 1914 | 58.2 | 54.6 | – |
| 1913 | 58.6 | 53.5 | – |
| 1912 | 57.7 | 54.1 | – |
| 1911 | 58 | 53.4 | – |
| 1910 | 57.7 | 51.8 | – |
| 1909 | 58.3 | 52.8 | – |
| 1908 | 56.3 | 51.9 | – |
| 1907 | 56.9 | 50.2 | – |
| 1906 | 56.6 | 50.1 | – |
| 1905 | 54.4 | 50.3 | – |
| 1904 | 55.3 | 49.6 | – |
| 1903 | 55 | 50.6 | – |
| 1902 | 54.7 | 50.5 | – |
| 1901 | 52.9 | 49.3 | – |
| 1900 | 52.2 | – | – |
| 1899 | 50.9 | – | – |
| 1898 | 54.6 | – | – |
| 1897 | 54 | – | – |
| 1896 | 53.3 | – | – |
| 1895 | 54 | – | – |
| 1894 | 51.9 | – | – |
| 1893 | 51.2 | – | – |
| 1892 | 50.5 | – | – |
| 1891 | 51 | – | – |
| 1890 | 50.4 | 45.2 | – |
| 1889 | 52.2 | – | – |
| 1888 | 52.3 | – | – |
| 1887 | 51.4 | – | – |
| 1886 | 50.5 | – | – |
| 1885 | 48.8 | – | – |
| 1884 | 49 | – | – |
| 1883 | 48.8 | – | – |
| 1882 | 48.4 | – | – |
| 1881 | 48.4 | – | – |
| 1880 | 47.7 | 39.4 | – |
| 1879 | 49 | – | – |
| 1878 | 46.8 | – | – |
| 1877 | 46.1 | – | – |
| 1876 | 44.8 | – | – |
| 1875 | 44.5 | – | – |
| 1874 | 44.2 | – | – |
| 1873 | 48.6 | – | – |
| 1872 | 49.9 | – | – |
| 1871 | 48.9 | – | – |
| 1870 | 45 | – | – |
| 1869 | 41 | – | – |
| 1868 | 43.3 | – | – |
| 1867 | 46.3 | – | – |
| 1866 | 44.8 | – | – |
| 1865 | 45.5 | – | – |
| 1864 | 44.8 | – | – |
| 1863 | 45.5 | – | – |
| 1862 | 42.7 | – | – |
| 1861 | 47.2 | – | – |
| 1860 | 48.5 | – | – |
| 1859 | 44.3 | – | – |
| 1858 | 42 | – | – |
| 1857 | 34.6 | – | – |
| 1856 | 42.1 | – | – |
| 1855 | 43.1 | – | – |
| 1854 | 44.5 | – | – |
| 1853 | 40 | – | – |
| 1852 | 41.4 | – | – |
| 1851 | 43.6 | – | – |
| 1850 | 44.7 | – | – |
| 1849 | 44.5 | – | – |
| 1848 | 45.1 | – | – |
| 1847 | 40.1 | – | – |
| 1846 | 42 | – | – |
| 1845 | 46 | – | – |
| 1844 | 44 | – | – |
| 1843 | 42.8 | – | – |
| 1842 | 42.8 | – | – |
| 1841 | 45.1 | – | – |
| 1840 | 44 | – | – |
| 1839 | 39.9 | – | – |
| 1838 | 40 | – | – |
| 1837 | 39.6 | – | – |
| 1836 | 45.2 | – | – |
| 1835 | 47.2 | – | – |
| 1834 | 38.6 | – | – |
| 1833 | 42.5 | – | – |
| 1832 | 40.9 | – | – |
| 1831 | 39 | – | – |
| 1830 | 41 | – | – |
| 1829 | 36.2 | – | – |
| 1828 | 37.8 | – | – |
| 1827 | 42.7 | – | – |
| 1826 | 43.1 | – | – |
| 1825 | 45.3 | – | – |
| 1824 | 45 | – | – |
| 1823 | 45.2 | – | – |
| 1822 | 42.8 | – | – |
| 1821 | 38.2 | – | – |
| 1820 | 40.2 | – | – |
| 1819 | 37 | – | – |
| 1818 | 40 | – | – |
| 1817 | 40.3 | – | – |
| 1816 | 41.8 | – | – |
| 1815 | 40.5 | – | – |
| 1814 | 38.6 | – | – |
| 1813 | 36.5 | – | – |
| 1812 | 35.1 | – | – |
| 1811 | 34.6 | – | – |
| 1810 | 32 | – | – |
| 1809 | 26.9 | – | – |
| 1808 | 30.2 | – | – |
| 1807 | 38.8 | – | – |
| 1806 | 36.2 | – | – |
| 1805 | 41.1 | – | – |
| 1804 | 39.7 | – | – |
| 1803 | 40.2 | – | – |
| 1802 | 40.2 | – | – |
| 1801 | 36.9 | – | – |
| 1800 | 32.2 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Sweden | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 83.482.6–84.3 | 79.578.5–80.5 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 83.682.3–84.8 | 79.678.2–80.9 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 83.782.2–85.3 | 79.878.1–81.4 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 83.982.1–85.6 | 79.978–81.7 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 8482.1–85.9 | 80.177.8–82.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 84.282.1–86.2 | 80.277.7–82.4 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 84.382.2–86.5 | 80.477.7–82.8 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 84.482.2–86.8 | 80.577.7–83.1 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 84.582.1–87.1 | 80.777.6–83.4 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 84.782.2–87.4 | 80.877.5–83.7 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 84.882.2–87.7 | 8177.5–84 | 75 |
| 2035 | 84.982.1–88 | 81.177.5–84.3 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 85.182.1–88.1 | 81.377.5–84.6 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 85.282.3–88.4 | 81.477.4–84.8 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 85.382.4–88.7 | 81.677.4–85 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 85.482.3–88.9 | 81.777.5–85.3 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 85.682.4–89.2 | 81.877.5–85.4 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 85.782.4–89.4 | 8277.5–85.7 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 85.882.5–89.6 | 82.177.5–85.9 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 85.982.5–89.7 | 82.377.6–86.1 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 86.182.5–90.1 | 82.477.5–86.4 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 86.282.5–90.3 | 82.577.8–86.6 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 86.382.6–90.6 | 82.777.7–86.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 86.482.7–90.8 | 82.877.7–87 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 86.582.6–90.9 | 8377.9–87.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 86.782.7–91.1 | 83.177.8–87.2 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 86.882.6–91.2 | 83.277.9–87.5 | 77 |
| 2051 | 86.982.6–91.5 | 83.478.1–87.8 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 8782.8–91.8 | 83.578–88.1 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 87.182.8–91.9 | 83.778–88.3 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 87.282.9–92.1 | 83.878.1–88.6 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 87.382.8–92.2 | 83.978.4–88.7 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 87.482.9–92.5 | 84.178.2–88.9 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 87.583–92.5 | 84.278.4–89.4 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 87.783.1–92.6 | 84.378.6–89.5 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 87.883.3–92.9 | 84.478.5–89.7 | 78 |
| 2060 | 87.983.2–93.1 | 84.678.7–90 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 8883.2–93.3 | 84.778.6–90.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 88.183–93.5 | 84.878.7–90.4 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 88.283.1–93.5 | 8578.8–90.5 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 88.383.2–93.8 | 85.178.9–90.7 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 88.483.3–94.1 | 85.278.8–90.7 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 88.583.2–94 | 85.379.1–90.8 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 88.683.2–94.2 | 85.579.4–90.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 88.883.2–94.3 | 85.679.3–91 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 88.983.2–94.4 | 85.779.3–91.4 | 79 |
| 2070 | 8983.3–94.7 | 85.879.6–91.8 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 89.183.3–94.9 | 85.979.4–91.9 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 89.283.4–95 | 8679.5–92.1 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 89.383.5–95.1 | 86.279.6–92.1 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 89.483.7–95.3 | 86.379.6–92.3 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 89.683.7–95.5 | 86.479.9–92.4 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 89.783.8–95.9 | 86.579.7–92.6 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 89.883.9–95.9 | 86.679.7–92.7 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 89.983.9–96.1 | 86.779.9–93 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 9084–96.3 | 86.879.8–93.3 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 90.184.1–96.6 | 8780.2–93.5 | 80 |
| 2081 | 90.284.2–96.6 | 87.180–93.7 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 90.384.1–96.8 | 87.280.1–93.7 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 90.484.2–96.9 | 87.380.3–93.9 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 90.584.3–97.1 | 87.480.3–94 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 90.684.4–97.5 | 87.580.3–94.2 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 90.784.4–97.6 | 87.680.6–94.5 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 90.884.3–97.6 | 87.880.6–94.7 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 90.984.6–97.6 | 87.980.2–94.7 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 9184.5–97.9 | 8880.7–95 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 91.284.4–98.1 | 88.180.9–95.1 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 91.384.4–98.3 | 88.280.7–95.4 | 81 |
| 2092 | 91.384.5–98.5 | 88.381–95.6 | 81 |
| 2093 | 91.484.3–98.5 | 88.481–95.8 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 91.684.4–98.6 | 88.581.3–95.9 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 91.784.5–98.7 | 88.681.5–96 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 91.884.8–99.1 | 88.781.4–96.2 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 91.984.7–99.2 | 88.981.1–96.3 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 9284.6–99.3 | 8981.5–96.6 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 92.184.8–99.4 | 89.181.5–96.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 92.284.9–99.6 | 89.281.5–96.7 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Sweden vs United States
Health
- Child mortalitySweden: 0.2 per 100 live births in 2024United States: 0.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySweden: 1.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United States: 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterSweden: 99.7% in 2022United States: 97.5% in 2022
- DepressionSweden: 4.49% in 2017United States: 4.84% in 2017
- Suicide rateSweden: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017United States: 12.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSweden: 10.6 million people in 2023United States: 344 million people in 2023
- Population growthSweden: 0.56% a year in 2023United States: 0.58% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSweden: 1.43 births per woman in 2023United States: 1.62 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSweden: 89.1% in 2025United States: 80.2% in 2025
- Median ageSweden: 39.9 years in 2023United States: 38 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSweden: 20.5% in 2023United States: 17.4% in 2023
- Net migration rateSweden: 5.2 per 1,000 people in 2023United States: 3.9 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSweden: 2.47% of GDP in 2025United States: 3.12% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSweden: $15B in 2025United States: $929B in 2025
- Military spending per personSweden: $1,549 in 2025United States: $2,755 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSweden: 5% of government spending in 2025United States: 8.3% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSweden: 15,000 people in 2020United States: 1.4 million people in 2020
- National powerSweden: 0.19% of world capability in 2022United States: 12.36% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSweden: 0.27% of the labour force in 2020United States: 0.84% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSweden: 146 million TIV in 2025United States: 745 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSweden: 235 million TIV in 2025United States: 14 billion TIV in 2025