25 maps that show how Sweden is unique

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

Milk-Comsumption-per-Capita

Via Foodbeast

2. Global AgeWatch Index 2013

globalAgeWatch

Via GlobalAgeWatch

3. Equal distribution of income – Gini coefficient

gini map large

Via the Atlantic

4. Gender Inequality Index

Gender_Gap2_thumb

Via the Atlantic Cities

5. Social Progress Index

social-progress-index3

Via SPI

6. Number of researchers per million inhabitants

number_of_researchers_per_million_inhabitants_by_country

Source

7. Coffee consumption per capita

coffee_consumption-3

Source

8. Failed States Index 2013

fsi_basicheatmap_2013_wide

Source

9. BCG Global Innovation Index 2013

800px-Global_Innovation_Index.svg

Sweden ranked #2. Via Wikipedia

10. One of only 22 countries Britain has not invaded

the-only-countries-britain-has-not-invaded

Via the Telegraph

11. Average age at first sex

average_age_at_first_sex_by_country-1

Source

12. Heavy metal bands per 100,000 inhabitants

131112_bi_heavymetal

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)

Print

Source

14. Least religious countries

800px-Irreligion_map

Source

15. Government information transparency

OBI-map-rework-forBlog

Via Washington Post

16. Global Competitiveness Index

Global_Competitiveness_Index

Source

17. Forest area in percent of land area

wb_forestarea

Via World Bank

18. Corruption index

Corruption_around_the_World

Source

19. Percentage of Women in National Parliaments

Percentage_of_Women_in_National_Parliaments

Source

20. World Press Freedom Index

World_Press_Freedom_Index

Source

21. The best countries to be a mother

The_Best_and_Worst_Countries_to_Be_a_Mother

Source

22. Map of world happiness

happiness-map

Source

23. Global Cleantech Index

MAP-OF-OVERALL-GLOBAL-CLEANTECH-INNOVATION-INDEX-SCORES-CLEANTECH-GROUP-ANALYSIS

Source

24. Research and development expenditure as percent of GDP

wb_rnd

Via World Bank

25. Fixed broadband internet subscribers per 100 people

wb_broadband

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.

wvs-culture-map

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“.