GDP per capita

The list of purchasing-power adjusted GDP per capita for the OECD countries is a rough measure of a country’s living standards. In the 1970s Sweden was the fourth richest OECD country, measured this way. During the last decades however, Sweden's position has varied between the 10th and the 14th place.

GDP per capita

Purchasing power adjusted prices, SEK, 2008

Chart showing GDP per capita
Source: OECD

OBS: international comparisons should always be made with caution.

Each year the OECD compiles a table ranking the purchasing power adjusted GDP per capita of member countries. The list shows the value of production adjusted for the size of the country's population.

During late 1970s until the early 1990s, Sweden had a weaker GDP growth than the majority of other industrialised countries. During the deep recession of 1991-1993 in Sweden, the GDP growth fell even more. As a consequence, Sweden’s purchasing power adjusted GDP per capita has fallen in relation to other industrial countries over recent decades, from fourth to 14th place. Since late 1990s Sweden has started to climb on in the ranking again. Currently, Sweden has the 8th place. 

Sweden's position in the OECD list of GDP per capita

Sweden's position

Chart showing Sweden's position in the OECD list of GDP per capita

Place

Source: OECD

GDP per capita

Purchasing power adjusted prices, SEK, 2008

SEK
Luxembourg585,188
Norway404,793
United States311,005
Switzerland296,791
Ireland286,632
Netherlands283,659
Austria262,644
Sweden258,896
Australia258,184
Canada256,544
Iceland255,551
Denmark254,268
Finland247,993
United Kingdom246,058
Germany244,761
Belgium243,765
France228,323
Japan223,111
Spain217,289
Italy215,494
Greece199,613
New Zealand192,775
Slovenia192,478
Israel182,236
Korea177,134
Czech Republic170,146
Portugal166,137
Slovak Republic152,946
Estonia142,631
Hungary136,304
Poland119,466
Mexico100,399
Turkey96,425
Chile95,963
Source: OECD

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To increase comparability, the countries’ GDP per capita in the table have been adjusted with respect to the price level, this is called having purchasing power adjusted prices.