Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Macedonia instead of Sweden, you would:

Health

live 5.9 years less

In Sweden, the average life expectancy is 83 years (81 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022. In Macedonia, that number is 77 years (75 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

pay a 82.5% lower top tax rate

Sweden has a top tax rate of 57.1% as of 2016. In Macedonia, the top tax rate is 10.0% as of 2016.

make 63.6% less money

Sweden has a GDP per capita of $64,200 as of 2023, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $23,400 as of 2023.

be 72.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Sweden, 7.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 13.1% as of 2023.

be 35.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Sweden, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Macedonia, however, that number is 21.8% as of 2019.

Life

be 40.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Sweden, approximately 5.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Macedonia, 3.0 women do as of 2020.

be 3.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In Sweden, approximately 2.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Macedonia, on the other hand, 7.3 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 30.7% less on healthcare

Sweden spends 11.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Macedonia, that number is 7.9% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Public Revenue Office, Skatteverket.

Macedonia: At a glance

Macedonia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 25,433 sq km. Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004, the US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, improving relations with Bulgaria, carrying out democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.
Read more

How big is Macedonia compared to Sweden? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Macedonia.or Sweden It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.