Humanity Observatory

Sweden: inequality

Sweden's inequality figures from Eurostat, set against the other EU states. Every figure links to the table it was read from; where Eurostat publishes nothing for Sweden, the page says so.

Income inequality (Gini): Sweden is the 15th highest of the 27 EU member states (2025).

0 to 100, higher is more unequal: 28.6 for Sweden, against 29.2 for the EU as a whole.

Sweden against the EU

Each measure with the states ranked next to it. The latest year with a published figure is used.

Income inequality (Gini)

0 to 100, higher is more unequal

Sweden: 28.6 in 2025, against 29.2 for the EU as a whole — the 15th highest of the 27 EU states with a figure for 2025.

Income inequality (Gini): Sweden and the states ranked next to it, 2025
RankCountryFigure
13Hungary29.5
14Malta29.2
15Sweden28.6
16Croatia28.5
17Denmark28.2
—European Union (27, from 2020) (reference, not ranked)29.2
  • Published from 2014 to 2025. Highest: 29.5 in 2023. Lowest: 26.7 in 2015.
  • Average of the latest published figures (2021–2025): 28.0*.
  • Above the EU figure in 0* of 12* years with a figure for both (2014–2025).

Top fifth earns this many times the bottom fifth

income quintile share ratio

Sweden: 4.58 in 2025, against 4.62 for the EU as a whole — the 15th highest of the 27 EU states with a figure for 2025.

Top fifth earns this many times the bottom fifth: Sweden and the states ranked next to it, 2025
RankCountryFigure
joint 13Cyprus4.60
joint 13Luxembourg4.60
15Sweden4.58
16Malta4.49
17Romania4.37
—European Union (27, from 2020) (reference, not ranked)4.62

Ranks compare the 27 EU member states. Eurostat’s figure for Cyprus covers the government-controlled area only.

  • Published from 2004 to 2025. Highest: 4.73 in 2023. Lowest: 3.31 in 2004.
  • Average of the latest published figures (2021–2025): 4.41*.
  • Above the EU figure in 1* of 16* years with a figure for both (2010–2025).

At risk of poverty

share below the national poverty line

Sweden: 15.6% in 2025, the 14th highest of the 27 EU states with a figure for 2025.

At risk of poverty: Sweden and the states ranked next to it, 2025
RankCountryFigure
12Germany16.1%
13Austria15.9%
14Sweden15.6%
15Portugal15.4%
16Cyprus14.9%
—European Union (27, from 2020) (reference, not ranked)no figure published

Ranks compare the 27 EU member states. Eurostat’s figure for Cyprus covers the government-controlled area only.

  • Published from 1997 to 2025. Highest: 17.1% in 2019. Lowest: 8.0% in 1997.
  • Average of the latest published figures (2021–2025): 15.6%*.

At risk of poverty or social exclusion

share of the population

Sweden: 18.6% in 2025, the joint 15th highest of the 27 EU states with a figure for 2025.

At risk of poverty or social exclusion: Sweden and the states ranked next to it, 2025
RankCountryFigure
joint 15Austria18.6%
joint 15Portugal18.6%
joint 15Sweden18.6%
18Luxembourg18.2%
19Denmark17.9%
—European Union (27, from 2020) (reference, not ranked)no figure published
  • Published from 2015 to 2025. Highest: 18.6% in 2022. Lowest: 17.2% in 2017.
  • Average of the latest published figures (2021–2025): 18.1%*.

Keep reading

Modification notice and disclaimer

The counts on this page are published by Eurostat (Statistical Office of the European Union) and are reproduced unchanged. Humanity Observatory has additionally derived the following from them:

  • A country's rank among the 27 EU states for a measure, computed by sorting the published per-country figures.
  • The highest and lowest point of the country's own published annual series.
  • The average of the country's latest published annual figures (up to five years).
  • The number of years in which the country's figure was above the EU figure for the same year.

Source: Eurostat. Reuse terms.

* Calculated by Humanity Observatory from published figures.

Where these numbers come from →