Sweden Falls to 20th in Global Economic Equality Ranking Amid Growing Concerns
Sweden drops to 20th place on global economic equality index, marking a troubling trend for the Nordic nation.
Key Points
- • Sweden dropped ten places to 20th in Oxfam's global equality ranking.
- • The country is now the lowest-ranked in the Nordic region for economic equality.
- • Oxfam warns that growing inequality leads to social unrest and political instability.
- • Sweden held the top rank in 2017 but has since declined due to ineffective tax policies.
In a significant decline, Sweden has plummeted ten places in the global economic equality ranking, now sitting at 20th according to the latest report by Oxfam. This places Sweden at the lowest position among Nordic countries regarding economic equality, a worrying trend that has experts voicing their concerns over potential social unrest and political instability.
The analysis from Oxfam, released on July 19, 2025, illustrates a drastic reversal for a nation that was ranked first in the equality index in 2017. The report evaluates 161 countries based on welfare, taxation, and workers' rights, highlighting Sweden's decline due to ineffective tax policies and political decisions made in recent years that have exacerbated wealth inequality. Oxfam's general secretary, Suzanne Standfast, emphasized the dire implications of increasing inequality, stating, "An unequal world leads to increased social unrest, political instability, violence, and crime."
The decline in Sweden's ranking reflects broader concerns during the period analyzed, from 2020 to 2021, with the report revealing that half of the poorest countries slashed their healthcare budgets as a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Standfast pointed out that 95% of the countries assessed either froze or reduced taxes for the wealthy and corporations, further entrenching the disparities in wealth. The trends indicated in the report serve as a wake-up call, suggesting that without immediate and effective measures to restore economic equity, the repercussions for Swedish society could be severe.