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Comparing Sweden/Finland/Denmark vs. other countries

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Comparing Sweden/Finland/Denmark vs. other countries

from JoeUser Forums

Every few weeks someone writes an article comparing some amazing statistic from the Nordic countries in Europe and then compares that statistic to the United States in total.  It’s always some ridiculous apples and oranges comparison that results in a meaningless comparison.

So just as a reminder, the populations of these countries are:

  • Sweden: 9.5 million
  • Denmark: 5.6 million
  • Finland: 5.4 million
  • Norway: 5 million

In addition, demographically and culturally they are relatively homogenous.

By contrast, the United States has a population of 314 million. 

Next time you see someone playing the stats game with a Nordic vs. USA make it a bit more relevant.

Let’s use a US state that is similar to Nordic countries like say Massachusetts: Population 6.7 million.

  Mass Sweden
Population 6.7m 9.5m
White 84% ~98%
Lifespan 80.1 81.2
GDP per capita $58,108 $57,297
Incarceration rate per 100k 218 67
Dominant Religion Catholic 44% Evangelical Lutheran: 94%
Mean income per person $33,966 $21,1193

Now, I picked Massachusetts originally because it has some similar basic demographics (population and culture).  Though, as you can see even here, while Massachusetts is relatively homogenous for a US state, it can’t touch Sweden.

None of this is meant to make one look better than the other. In fact, the chart above makes it clear that both have their own strengths.  The point is that when someone tries to compare a homogenous nation state with a population of that of a smallish US state with the entire United States, put on your skeptics hat on.

220,301 views 65 replies
Reply #26 from Elemental Forums Top

Sweden that much lower in income per person? 98% "white". Really? Where are those numbers from?

 

I am Norwegian by the way :)

Reply #27 from Elemental Forums Top

@Jafo, Australia is the lucky country. Lucky if you don't get eaten by sharks, crocs, snakes, spiders, stung by jellyfish, burned in massive bush fires, drowned in apocalyptic floods, eaten by biblical swarms of locusts. We have none of that in New Zealand :)

 

Sorry, can't resist hassling big ugly brother Australia.

 

 

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Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ChungasRevenge, reply 27
@Jafo, Australia is the lucky country. Lucky if you don't get eaten by sharks, crocs, snakes, spiders, stung by jellyfish, burned in massive bush fires, drowned in apocalyptic floods, eaten by biblical swarms of locusts. We have none of that in New Zealand



Sorry, can't resist hassling big ugly brother Australia.

You have Earthquakes....;)

Reply #29 from Elemental Forums Top

Finn here.

There is not much left. We fail at politics: we lost our religion, currency, laws..... 

Alcohol is still here so we good...

our leaders tried to take it from us...TRIED

Reply #30 from Stardock Forums Top

 

You guys are all wrong. 

Canada is the greatest place on earth to live.  We have beavers, polar bears and well.......bacon!   Oh and if you happen to be in politics you can be a crack-addict and still run a city!   Does it get any better?   O:)

Reply #31 from Sins Forums Top

You forgot maple syrup and poutine!

Reply #32 from Elemental Forums Top

Canada is just a larger version of Norway. Cold and civilized :)

A Norwegian newspaper "lost" 20 wallets in Oslo (capital of Norway) a few days back. 15 were returned. There are still good people around in this world :)l

Reply #33 from Elemental Forums Top
I live in USA near border with Canada. Canadian bacon is way better tasting and healthier than USA bacon. Really, eh. (Would love to emigrate to a more civil place like Canada - but don't have enough points [not young enough, no cutting edge skills, and not rich] to be accepted.) Lost wallets? My ex husband found a wallet, returned it, and made a wonderful friend for life.
Reply #34 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 33
Would love to emigrate to a more civil place like Canada - but don't have enough points [not young enough, no cutting edge skills, and not rich

I am going to give away Canada's biggest secret  O:)

At the border, just say "USA sucks, I love hockey." and you're in  :P

It's our "OpenSaysAMe"

Reply #35 from Sins Forums Top

Oh, and you wanna really know why the world is obsessed with Canadian beaver? Check this out

Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top

Understandable viewpoint, but why not compare the EU to the US? Would that not 'even up the playing field'?

Reply #37 from Elemental Forums Top

The real issue isn't that these countries are small, it's that they are more homogenous, and in Norway's case, has oil riches.

 

That said, just because those countries are small doesn't mean you handwave those ideas.  Just because the US is a large, heterogenous countries doesn't mean those policies won't work, or that our current policies do work.

 

If you took this argument to its logical conclusion- it would state that Massachusetts should consider secession, it would be better off without the rest of the US dragging it down.

 

That said, I do feel that if the South won the Civil War- the differences between the south and the north would be similar to the differences between the two Germanies in 1989, if the South didn't become a failed state by 1900.

 

 

Reply #38 from LittleTinyFrogs Forums Top

Quoting the_Monk, reply 30

 

You guys are all wrong. 

Canada is the greatest place on earth to live.  We have beavers, polar bears and well.......bacon!   Oh and if you happen to be in politics you can be a crack-addict and still run a city!   Does it get any better?  

I do like Canada lot!

Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 38
I do like Canada lot!

So do I.... but almost our sum-total of wildlife in a couple of weeks there was one squirrel.

We DID manage a photo of a bear, though.....took it from a billboard....;p

Reply #40 from WinCustomize Forums Top

We're moving Canada up to 1st place on our list. Is it difficult to gain citizenship there , or at the very least have extended stay privledges ?

Reply #41 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 39

Quoting Frogboy, reply 38I do like Canada lot!

So do I.... but almost our sum-total of wildlife in a couple of weeks there was one squirrel.

We DID manage a photo of a bear, though.....took it from a billboard....

Where were you?

Reply #42 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting AceMatrix, reply 40

We're moving Canada up to 1st place on our list. Is it difficult to gain citizenship there , or at the very least have extended stay privledges ?

http://www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/cometocanada.asp

Getting a skilled trade is probably the easiest way

Reply #43 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting myfist0, reply 42
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/cometocanada.asp

Thanks myfist0    !!  :thumbsup:

Reply #44 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting AceMatrix, reply 40
Is it difficult to gain citizenship there , or at the very least have extended stay privledges ?

 

Hell no!  We let anyone/everyone in!  O:)    Not really a joke either as that has come back to haunt us at times.....

 

Also as far as I know we are one of those easy-going countries that allows dual-citizenship etc. in all but the most obscure of cases (I have several family members that have dual-citizenship) so for most coming here it truly is winning and more winning!  Also 'extended stay' etc. should be a non-issue........hell we (as a country) have issues deporting known criminals even after their 'stay' here has been revoked in a court!  hehe

 

EDIT:  I see myfist linked you the official word.  Feel free to ignore my ramblings......

 

 

@ Jafo

You must have been staying in the wrong places Jafo.   We live in the suburbs of a city and more 'wildlife' than that in our own backyard!  ;)

Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Actually , I'm retired. Is that a problem ?

EDIT : the rest of the family works of course

Reply #46 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting AceMatrix, reply 45
Actually , I'm retired. Is that a problem ?

EDIT : the rest of the family works of course

If you have your own guaranteed income and just want to spend it here, it is almost to easy. The rest of the family just needs to show they will not need 'assistance' beyond a short acclimation period. In other words, have skills in demand, and get a job ASAP. Like I said, we are in short supply of skilled trades, everyone going to school expects to never get their hands dirty.

Reply #47 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting the_Monk, reply 44
You must have been staying in the wrong places Jafo.   We live in the suburbs of a city and more 'wildlife' than that in our own backyard! 

Agreed, I live in Ontario, and even my place in the city is teaming with life, not near as much as it was when I was younger though. I can remember the sky turning black with flocks of birds, I miss that awesome sight. 

Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Wasn't like we just hung out in the 'burbs.....we  did the Red Leaf train trip...and went from Vancouver in the West to Quebec in the East....;)

...and Lake Louise was great.....and Banffffff ...;)

Reply #49 from WinCustomize Forums Top