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Fact check: Did more people die in sweden from covid than Australia, when comparing population data

Checked on September 15, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that more people died from COVID-19 in Sweden than in Australia when comparing population data [1] [2] [3]. According to the data, Sweden has approximately 1,849.05 deaths per million inhabitants, while Australia has approximately 406.51 deaths per million inhabitants [2]. This is further supported by a source that reports 2355 deaths in Sweden and 88 deaths in Australia, with Sweden having a population of 10.1 million and Australia having a population of 25.5 million [1]. Additionally, a table provided by another source shows that Sweden has a higher number of deaths per million inhabitants compared to Australia [3]. However, it is essential to consider the different strategies employed by each country to control the pandemic, as suggested by a study comparing mortality in Norway and Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic [4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key context missing from the original statement includes the different strategies employed by Sweden and Australia to control the pandemic, which may have contributed to the difference in mortality rates [4]. Another missing context is the mortality rate per 100 confirmed cases or per 100,000 population, which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation [5]. Alternative viewpoints, such as the comparison of mortality rates between Norway and Sweden, suggest that the difference in mortality rates may be due to the different strategies employed by the two countries [4]. It is also crucial to consider the number of confirmed cases in each country, as this could impact the mortality rate [5]. Furthermore, the timeframe of the data is not specified, which could be essential in understanding the progression of the pandemic in each country [1] [2] [3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be biased towards highlighting the difference in mortality rates between Sweden and Australia without considering the underlying factors that contributed to these differences [1] [2] [3]. The statement may also be misleading as it does not provide a comprehensive comparison of the two countries, including factors such as testing rates, hospitalization rates, and vaccination rates [5]. The sources that support the claim of higher mortality rates in Sweden may benefit from emphasizing the importance of strict pandemic control measures, while sources that do not provide direct comparisons may benefit from highlighting the complexity of the issue [4]. Overall, it is essential to consider multiple sources and viewpoints to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation [1] [5] [4] [2] [3].

Want to dive deeper?
What were the Covid-19 death rates per million people in Sweden and Australia in 2020 and 2021?
How did Sweden's Covid-19 response differ from Australia's in terms of lockdowns and restrictions?
What role did population density play in Covid-19 transmission rates in Sweden and Australia?
How did the age demographics of Sweden and Australia impact their respective Covid-19 mortality rates?
Which country had a higher vaccination rate, Sweden or Australia, by the end of 2022?