Sweden vs United Kingdom: Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax

Sweden
8.96 Percentage of GDP
in 2024
United Kingdom
6.07 Percentage of GDP
in 2024
Sweden rank
22nd
United Kingdom rank
24th

Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax over time

  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
468101214196519942024

How they compare

Sweden currently reports 8.96 Percentage of GDP against 6.07 Percentage of GDP in United Kingdom, a difference of 2.89 Percentage of GDP.

That makes Sweden's figure about 1.5 times United Kingdom's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 60 shared years of data; in 1965 it was United Kingdom ahead.

Sweden ranks 22nd and United Kingdom ranks 24th of 33 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, Sweden averaged higher in 6 and United Kingdom in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Sweden United Kingdom Difference Ahead
1960s 4.61 Percentage of GDP 4.68 Percentage of GDP 0.0774 Percentage of GDP United Kingdom
1970s 8.22 Percentage of GDP 5.47 Percentage of GDP 2.75 Percentage of GDP Sweden
1980s 12.07 Percentage of GDP 6.1 Percentage of GDP 5.97 Percentage of GDP Sweden
1990s 12.78 Percentage of GDP 5.43 Percentage of GDP 7.35 Percentage of GDP Sweden
2000s 12.17 Percentage of GDP 5.84 Percentage of GDP 6.33 Percentage of GDP Sweden
2010s 9.86 Percentage of GDP 6.11 Percentage of GDP 3.74 Percentage of GDP Sweden
2020s 8.99 Percentage of GDP 6.69 Percentage of GDP 2.3 Percentage of GDP Sweden

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax, Sweden or United Kingdom?
Sweden, at 8.96 Percentage of GDP against 6.07 Percentage of GDP in United Kingdom as of 2024.
What is the difference in financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax between Sweden and United Kingdom?
2.89 Percentage of GDP, with Sweden ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Sweden and United Kingdom?
60 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2024.
How do Sweden and United Kingdom rank globally for financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax?
Sweden ranks 22nd and United Kingdom ranks 24th of 33 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax revenue. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Sweden vs United Kingdom: Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/financing-of-social-security-benefits-in-oecd-member-countries-tax-revenue/sweden/united-kingdom/

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<a href="https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/financing-of-social-security-benefits-in-oecd-member-countries-tax-revenue/sweden/united-kingdom/">Sweden vs United Kingdom: Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax revenue
Unit
Percentage of GDP
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
36 places, 1,787 data points, 1965–2024
Last refreshed

Compulsory payments conferring entitlement to future social benefits These are usually earmarked to finance social benefits and paid to institutions of general government.