Sweden is a neutral country, a fact that has helped keep us out of war for 200 years. We like to think of ourselves as quite moderate people. We even have our own unique word, “lagom“, which means not too much and not too little, rather “just enough”. But we might not be just as average as we would like to think. In many aspects, Sweden is the most progressive and extreme country in the world.

Here are 25 maps that show Sweden being ranked number one or in the very top on various facts. Click on the maps for larger versions.

1. Milk consumption per capita

Via Foodbeast

2. Global AgeWatch Index 2013

Via GlobalAgeWatch

3. Equal distribution of income – Gini coefficient

Via the Atlantic

4. Gender Inequality Index

Via the Atlantic Cities

5. Social Progress Index

Via SPI

6. Number of researchers per million inhabitants

Source

7. Coffee consumption per capita

Source

8. Failed States Index 2013

Source

9. BCG Global Innovation Index 2013

Sweden ranked #2. Via Wikipedia

10. One of only 22 countries Britain has not invaded

Via the Telegraph

11. Average age at first sex

Source

12. Heavy metal bands per 100,000 inhabitants

Via Slate.com

13. Percentage of 15-year-olds who discuss political or social issues with their parents several times per week (Sweden among lowest)

Source

14. Least religious countries

Source

15. Government information transparency

Via Washington Post

16. Global Competitiveness Index

Source

17. Forest area in percent of land area

Via World Bank

18. Corruption index

Source

19. Percentage of Women in National Parliaments

Source

20. World Press Freedom Index

Source

21. The best countries to be a mother

Source

22. Map of world happiness

Source

23. Global Cleantech Index

Source

24. Research and development expenditure as percent of GDP

Via World Bank

25. Fixed broadband internet subscribers per 100 people





Via World Bank

And finally a bonus chart. The result of the World Values Survey shows that Sweden is quite alone in the upper right hand corner. The graph below ranks countries on factors such as self expression values vs survival values and secular-rational values vs traditional values.

Via World Values Survey

Footnote: Inspired by 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World. This is a translated version of my post that was first published in Swedish on my blog “Sociala Medier“.