UK vs Sweden: inflation, energy prices and GDP per person compared
On IMF figures, the UK's inflation rate in 2025 was 3.4%; Sweden's was 2.6%. In 2025 the OECD gives 1.6% for the UK's household energy price inflation and 6.1% for Sweden. IMF figures for 2025 put the UK's GDP per head at $65,758, lower than Sweden's $74,651.
Inflation, average consumer prices
On IMF figures, the UK's inflation rate in 2025 was 3.4%; Sweden's was 2.6%. From 2015 to 2025 the UK's figure was the higher of the two in 8 of 11 years.
| Year | UK | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.4% | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | 2.0% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | 2.7% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | 2.0% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | 1.9% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | 0.7% |
The IMF measures inflation as the percentage change in the average level of each country's consumer price index over a calendar year compared with the year before.
Inflation in household energy prices
In 2025 the OECD gives 1.6% for the UK's household energy price inflation and 6.1% for Sweden. From 2015 to 2025 the UK's figure was the higher of the two in 5 of 11 years.
| Year | UK | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.6% | 6.1% |
| 2024 | minus 18.7% | minus 6.1% |
| 2023 | 15.0% | minus 14.4% |
| 2022 | 64.4% | 31.8% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | 17.1% |
| 2020 | minus 4.6% | minus 9.7% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | 3.3% |
| 2018 | 6.8% | 11.2% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| 2016 | minus 2.9% | 3.1% |
| 2015 | minus 3.5% | minus 3.8% |
The OECD republishes each country's consumer price index for electricity, gas and other fuels used in the home (COICOP group 04.5).
GDP per head, purchasing power parity
IMF figures for 2025 put the UK's GDP per head at $65,758, lower than Sweden's $74,651. The UK's figure was not higher than Sweden's in any year from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | UK | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,758 | $74,651 |
| 2024 | $63,492 | $72,334 |
| 2023 | $61,899 | $69,388 |
| 2022 | $60,180 | $67,209 |
| 2021 | $54,009 | $62,362 |
| 2020 | $48,881 | $57,253 |
| 2019 | $50,729 | $56,641 |
| 2018 | $47,780 | $52,678 |
| 2017 | $46,556 | $51,069 |
| 2016 | $44,511 | $49,860 |
| 2015 | $43,480 | $49,067 |
The IMF's GDP per head at purchasing power parity is GDP divided by population, converted into international dollars using purchasing power parities: rates that adjust for differences in price levels between countries, so that a dollar buys the same amount everywhere.
More figures for the UK and Sweden
| Figure | UK | Sweden | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price-to-income ratio, standardised | 115.7 (100 = long-term average) | 118.7 (100 = long-term average) | 2025 | OECD |
| Real GDP growth | 1.2% | 1.4% | 2025 | IMF |
| GDP, current prices | $4.01 trillion | $676.5 billion | 2025 | IMF |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 8.9% | 2025 | IMF |
| General government gross debt | 102.1% of GDP | 34.5% of GDP | 2025 | IMF |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.4 years | 84.1 years | 2024 | World Bank |
| Total tax revenue | 34.4% of GDP | 41.4% of GDP | 2024 | OECD |
| Current health expenditure | 11.4% of GDP | 10.9% of GDP | 2025 | OECD |
| General government expenditure | 43.5% of GDP | 48.9% of GDP | 2025 | IMF |
| Employment rate, ages 15 to 64 | 75.1% | 76.4% | 2025 | OECD |
| Core defence expenditure | 2.56% of GDP | 3.22% of GDP | 2026 | NATO |
| Gross domestic spending on research and development | 2.8% of GDP | 3.6% of GDP | 2023 | OECD |
Each value is for the latest year both the UK and Sweden have in that body's data. International bodies adjust national figures so that countries can be compared, so UK values can differ from the ONS's.
Ranked tables with the UK and Sweden
- UK inflation compared with EU countries
- UK GDP per head compared with other countries
- UK household energy price inflation compared with Europe
More about Sweden: Sweden in figures. Compare any two countries with the country comparison tool.
Sources and receipts
- International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
e36fb78dc58c5b50…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
e65b928246b385b5…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
53bd8a1de156c848…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
7f602aa3372de03a…· publisher's page - OECD: Consumer price indicesread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
ee244608acd0fa96…· publisher's page - International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
50bf0fd1cc9a9b57…· publisher's page
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