Norway vs Sweden: Government spending vs. GDP
Norway
110.32 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
Sweden
143.54 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
Norway rank
21st
Sweden rank
18th
Government spending vs. GDP over time
- Norway
- Sweden
How they compare
Sweden currently reports 143.54 billion constant 2015 US$ against 110.32 billion constant 2015 US$ in Norway, a difference of 33.22 billion constant 2015 US$.
That makes Sweden's figure about 1.3 times Norway's.
Across all 56 years both countries report, Sweden has been ahead every year.
Norway ranks 21st and Sweden ranks 18th of 166 countries.
Sweden has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Norway | Sweden | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | 71.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | 43.96 billion constant 2015 US$ | Sweden |
| 1980s | 40.36 billion constant 2015 US$ | 90.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | 50.59 billion constant 2015 US$ | Sweden |
| 1990s | 55.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | 106.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | 51.31 billion constant 2015 US$ | Sweden |
| 2000s | 71.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | 113.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | 41.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | Sweden |
| 2010s | 89.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | 129.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | 39.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | Sweden |
| 2020s | 103.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 139.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | 35.87 billion constant 2015 US$ | Sweden |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher government spending vs. gdp, Norway or Sweden?
- Sweden, at 143.54 billion constant 2015 US$ against 110.32 billion constant 2015 US$ in Norway as of 2025.
- What is the difference in government spending vs. gdp between Norway and Sweden?
- 33.22 billion constant 2015 US$, with Sweden ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Norway and Sweden?
- 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do Norway and Sweden rank globally for government spending vs. gdp?
- Norway ranks 21st and Sweden ranks 18th of 166 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.