Croatia Croatia vs Sweden Sweden development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Croatia
Croatia, Value
Sweden
Sweden, Value
Croatia
Croatia, Rank
Sweden
Sweden, Rank
Croatia Croatia as % of
Sweden Sweden
Current account balance (% of GDP) -1.13 7.42 63 13
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 49.8 54.6 39 34 91.2 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 5.04 4.37 21 22 115 %
GDP per capita (current US$) 23,931 57,723 50 14 41.5 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 48,575 71,030 46 23 68.4 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 52.9 50.2 52 56 105 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 2.97 2.84 80 88 105 %
Net migration -5,186 50,115 139 24
Population, total 3,866,300 10,569,709 129 92 36.6 %

Demography and Health

Croatia's population is approximately 3.9 million, significantly smaller than Sweden’s 10.6 million. The birth rate in Croatia stands at 8.3 per 1,000 people compared to Sweden's 9.5, which indicates a slightly younger population in Sweden. However, Croatia has a higher crude death rate at 13.3 compared to Sweden's 9. This discrepancy contributes to a life expectancy of 78.5 years in Croatia, which is notably lower than the 83.3 years in Sweden. Croatia's under-5 mortality rate is higher as well, with 4.6 per 1,000 live births against Sweden's 2.5. Both countries show a prevalence of undernourishment of 2.5%, indicating similar nutritional standards. Croatia faces a net migration deficit of -5,186, while Sweden attracts a net migration of 50,115, suggesting more robust immigration policies and opportunities in Sweden, enhancing its demographic profile.

Economy

Croatia's GDP per capita stands at $23,931 compared to Sweden's more than double at $57,723, indicating a more developed economy in Sweden. In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), Croatia's GDP per capita is $48,575, which still lags behind Sweden’s $71,030. On the other hand, Croatia has a higher percentage of exports as part of GDP at 49.8% compared to Sweden's 54.6%. This reflects Croatia's reliance on exports, while Sweden maintains a balance. The inflation rate in Croatia is 3%, slightly above Sweden's 2.8%. Croatia shows a relatively strong foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow at 5% as a share of GDP, while Sweden's is slightly lower at 4.4%, indicating healthy investment environments in both nations.

Trade and Investment

Croatia’s logistics performance index rating, at 3, falls behind Sweden's 4.2, indicating that Sweden has a more efficient trade and transport-related infrastructure. High-technology exports from Croatia are significantly low at $1.7 billion compared to Sweden’s dominant $25.2 billion, indicating a disparity in technological advancement and competitiveness. This reflects broader trends in innovation and productivity, where Sweden, with a more extensive R&D expenditure at 3.4% of GDP, outpaces Croatia, which allocates only 1.4%. Croatia's imports as a percentage of GDP (52.9%) are slightly higher than Sweden’s (50.2%), suggesting a more consumption-driven economy.

Governance and Institutions

When it comes to governance, Sweden outperforms Croatia in multiple dimensions of institutional quality. Sweden’s scores for control of corruption (2), government effectiveness (1.6), political stability (0.8), regulatory quality (1.7), and rule of law (1.6) highlight a strong institutional framework, placing it higher in global rankings. In contrast, Croatia's scores, such as a control of corruption score of 0.2 and a government effectiveness score of 0.7, indicate challenges in governance and institutional integrity. Croatia's ranking in terms of the overall effectiveness of its government and rule of law is significantly lower, showing a need for improvements in these critical areas.

Infrastructure and Technology

The difference in technological integration is evident in the percentage of the population using the Internet, with Croatia at 83.2% compared to Sweden's 95.7%. This digital divide can influence economic opportunities and innovation potential. Infrastructure quality is reflected in the logistics performance index, where Croatia ranks lower, indicating room for improvement in trade and transport infrastructure. Moreover, Croatia's patent applications (77) pale in comparison to Sweden's 1,771, which speaks volumes about innovation and research capabilities within the two nations.

Environment and Sustainability

In terms of environmental sustainability, Croatia relies on renewable energy for 34.1% of its total energy consumption, which is significantly lower than Sweden's 57.9%. Notably, both countries reported similar levels of water stress, with Croatia at 1.5% and Sweden at 3.6%. Croatia has higher per capita greenhouse gas emissions (6.5 tons) compared to Sweden (4.7 tons), reflecting differences in industrial practices and energy consumption. The commitment to environmental sustainability appears stronger in Sweden, which is indicative of its comprehensive policies addressing climate change and resource management.