Sweden Population

Sweden is the largest and most populous country in the Nordic countries. The country has large resources in the form of timber, minerals and hydropower. This has made it possible to develop industry, which in turn has given Sweden a high standard of living and a good welfare system.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Stockholm
• Ethnic groups: Swedes, with Finnish-Swedish and Sami minorities Most common ethnicity among immigrants: Finns, Syrians, Iraqis, Poles, Iranians
• Language: Swedish (official), official minority languages ​​include Finnish, Sami, Yiddish and Meänkieli
• Religion: Protestants 63%, others (including Catholics, Orthodox, Baptists, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists) 17% (2016)
• Population: 9 911 000
• Control Form: Constitutional monarchy
• Area: 447 420 km²
• Currency: Swedish kroner
• GNP per capita: 48 905 PPP $
• National Day: June 6th

Population of Sweden

In January 2017, Sweden’s population exceeded 10 million. In recent years, growth has been relatively high, 10 percent in the period 2000 to 2015, compared to 2 percent for Europe as a whole. In the same period, Norway saw 16 percent growth in population. The settlement shows a high degree of regional concentration to southern and central regions. Norrland, with 60 percent of the area, has only 12 percent of the population.

Population of Sweden by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	10,099,154	0.630%	24.6119	91
2019	10,036,268	0.650%	24.4587	91
2018	9,971,527	0.670%	24.3009	89
2017	9,904,785	0.700%	24.1383	89
2016	9,835,896	0.730%	23.9704	89
2015	9,764,839	0.790%	23.7972	90
2010	9,390,057	0.770%	22.8839	89
2005	9,038,512	0.350%	22.0272	88
2000	8,881,529	0.100%	21.6446	82
1995	8,836,309	0.620%	21.5344	81
1990	8,567,273	0.500%	20.8787	78
1985	8,357,541	0.100%	20.3676	74
1980	8,316,227	0.290%	20.2669	70
1975	8,197,229	0.350%	19.9769	65
1970	8,054,805	0.790%	19.6299	65
1965	7,745,562	0.690%	18.8762	64
1960	7,482,432	0.600%	18.2350	60
1955	7,262,512	0.710%	17.6990	55
1950	7,009,801	0.000%	17.0832	52

Major Cities in Sweden by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Stockholm	1,514,906
2	Goeteborg	572,688
3	Malmoe	301,595
4	Uppsala	149,134
5	Sollentuna	139,495
6	Soedermalm	127,212
7	Vaesteras	117,635
8	OErebro	115,654
9	Linkoeping	106,391
10	Helsingborg	104,139
11	Joenkoeping	93,686
12	Norrkoeping	93,654
13	Huddinge	90,071
14	Lund	87,133
15	Umea	83,138
16	Haninge	74,857
17	Gaevle	74,773
18	Boras	71,589
19	Soedertaelje	70,666
20	Kungsholmen	69,252
21	Eskilstuna	67,248
22	Solna	66,798
23	Halmstad	66,013
24	Vaexjoe	65,272
25	Karlstad	61,381
26	Bromma	60,889
27	Moelndal	59,319
28	Vasastan	58,347
29	Taby	58,012
30	Sundsvall	57,495
31	OEstersund	49,695
32	Trollhaettan	48,462
33	Lulea	43,463
34	Lidingoe	42,355
35	Borlaenge	41,844
36	Tumba	40,721
37	Kristianstad	39,651
38	Kalmar	38,297
39	Falun	36,889
40	Skoevde	36,731
41	Upplands Vaesby	36,423
42	Karlskrona	36,366
43	OEstermalm	36,307
44	Skelleftea	35,405
45	Uddevalla	34,670
46	Sundbyberg	34,418
47	Varberg	34,137
48	Akersberga	32,548
49	OErnskoeldsvik	32,382
50	Landskrona	32,118
51	Nykoeping	32,113
52	Vallentuna	31,826
53	Motala	30,833
54	Trelleborg	29,205
55	Majorna	29,143
56	Partille	28,537
57	Karlskoga	27,379
58	Maersta	26,923
59	Lerum	26,802
60	Alingsas	26,218
61	Nacka	25,059
62	Sandviken	24,613
63	Kungaelv	23,990
64	Falkenberg	23,988
65	Boo	23,941
66	Jakobsberg	23,935
67	Visby	23,291
68	Katrineholm	23,172
69	AEngelholm	23,129
70	Vaenersborg	23,008
71	Bjoerlanda	22,977
72	Pitea	22,956
73	Lidkoeping	22,877
74	Enkoeping	22,442
75	Huskvarna	21,389
76	Vaestervik	21,067
77	Gustavsberg	20,663
78	Karlshamn	20,001
79	Norrtaelje	19,254
80	Haessleholm	19,198
81	Vaernamo	18,950
82	Ystad	18,695
83	Kungsbacka	18,587
84	Esloev	18,481
85	Kristinehamn	18,446
86	Haernoesand	18,315
87	Koeping	18,244
88	Oskarshamn	18,176
89	Naessjoe	17,608
90	Moelnlycke	17,468
91	Falkoeping	17,059
92	Tensta	16,972
93	Kiruna	16,926
94	Rasunda	16,766
95	Boden	16,719
96	Arsta	16,696
97	Kumla	16,552
98	Gamla Uppsala	16,120
99	Mariestad	16,011
100	Hudiksvall	15,970
101	Tullinge	15,889
102	Ljungby	15,674
103	Staffanstorp	15,262
104	Ludvika	15,134
105	Kinna	14,908
106	Hoellviken	14,778
107	Billdal	14,763
108	Hoeganaes	14,667
109	Tranas	14,439
110	Nynaeshamn	14,421
111	Arvika	13,815
112	Bollnaes	13,605
113	Straengnaes	13,582
114	Skoghall	13,494
115	Vetlanda	13,319
116	Balsta	13,027
117	Stenungsund	12,982
118	Sala	12,976
119	Bunkeflostrand	12,937
120	Nybro	12,928
121	Mjoelby	12,747
122	Finspang	12,696
123	Oxie	12,554
124	Ronneby	12,501
125	Mora	12,491
126	Lomma	12,257
127	Onsala	12,164
128	Soederhamn	12,148
129	Hoeoer	12,041
130	Avesta	11,838
131	Fagersta	11,825
132	Svedala	11,685
133	Handen	11,413
134	Ekeroe	11,394
135	Skara	11,326
136	Alby	11,289
137	Oxeloesund	11,046
138	Noedinge-Nol	11,006
139	Lindome	10,831
140	Arboga	10,730
141	Hallstahammar	10,676
142	Jordbro	10,646
143	Ulricehamn	10,518
144	Bjuv	10,491
145	Segeltorp	10,425
146	Timra	10,384
147	Gaellivare	10,251
148	Kista	10,143
149	Gislaved	10,069
150	Eksjoe	10,046
151	Kungsaengen	10,040
152	Torslanda	10,018
153	Bjaerred	9,733
154	Ahus	9,729
155	Saevja	9,612
156	Lindesberg	9,460
157	AElmhult	9,384
158	Saltsjoebaden	9,366
159	Amal	9,262
160	Kaevlinge	9,209
161	Alta	9,163
162	Astorp	9,104
163	Saeffle	9,039
164	Arloev	8,997
165	Sigtuna	8,963
166	Soelvesborg	8,861
167	Torshaella	8,817
168	Djursholm	8,745
169	Landvetter	8,728
170	Kvissleby	8,674
171	Alvesta	8,516
172	Lycksele	8,434
173	Bankeryd	8,395
174	Klippan	8,300
175	Tibro	8,285
176	Bro	8,155
177	Tidaholm	8,064
178	Akalla	8,042
179	Hallsberg	8,035
180	Fisksaetra	8,006
181	Skurup	7,929
182	Vimmerby	7,926
183	Gardsten	7,914
184	Brevik	7,913
185	Knivsta	7,866
186	Hammarkullen	7,803
187	Sjoebo	7,799
188	Bromoella	7,743
189	Habo	7,629
190	Lysekil	7,623
191	Kil	7,516
192	Osby	7,443
193	Olofstroem	7,415
194	Fittja	7,389
195	Kalix	7,384
196	Hoerby	7,348
197	Soederkoeping	7,307
198	Solleftea	7,288
199	Hedemora	7,260
200	Nykvarn	7,216
201	Bergshamra	7,189
202	Ljusdal	7,148
203	Degerfors	7,079
204	Stroemstad	7,065
205	Valbo	7,036
206	Loevgaerdet	7,002
207	Skanoer med Falsterbo	6,966
208	Atvidaberg	6,903
209	Aby	6,806
210	Tomelilla	6,715
211	Kallered	6,673
212	Simrishamn	6,668
213	Ljungsbro	6,652
214	Haparanda	6,568
215	Nora	6,486
216	Flen	6,483
217	Kramfors	6,471
218	Laholm	6,416
219	Vellinge	6,385
220	Loeddekoepinge	6,370
221	Forshaga	6,250
222	Storvreta	6,229
223	Soedra Sandby	6,195
224	Dalby	6,191
225	Skutskaer	6,168
226	Surahammar	6,159
227	Hjo	6,092
228	Filipstad	6,008
229	Leksand	5,996
230	Hofors	5,979
231	Asa	5,973
232	Jaerna	5,927
233	Nykvarn	5,921
234	Grabo	5,910
235	Malmberget	5,906
236	Surte	5,892
237	Holmsund	5,851
238	Akarp	5,848
239	Sodra Sandby	5,830
240	Rydebaeck	5,793
241	Kungsoer	5,774
242	Perstorp	5,736
243	Vi	5,730
244	Trosa	5,725
245	Tierp	5,715
246	Gnesta	5,661
247	Lindsdal	5,598
248	Vadstena	5,563
249	Faerjestaden	5,534
250	Mullsjoe	5,473
251	Hultsfred	5,399
252	Skare	5,333
253	Fristad	5,298
254	Akarp	5,282
255	Vargarda	5,273
256	Saevsjoe	5,263
257	Orsa	5,238
258	Hoenoe	5,182
259	Smedjebacken	5,147
260	OEdakra	5,120
261	OErkelljunga	5,082
262	Skare	5,062
263	Raettvik	5,049
264	Bastad	5,035
265	Vaggeryd	5,011
266	Anderstorp	4,965
267	Malmslaett	4,963
268	Krokek	4,942
269	Grums	4,929
270	Goetene	4,916
271	Sunne	4,915

Population trends

Sweden experienced quite a large increase in population in the 19th century, and the agricultural communities of the time were “overpopulated”. Immigration to North America began around 1850. It reached 40,000 emigrants per year in the 1880s, but declined sharply after 1920 with the development of industrial communities and better employment opportunities at home. Since the 1930s, birth rates and mortality in Sweden have been declining.

The decline in birth rates was particularly marked after 1970. Between 1976 and 1986, the annual birth rate was just over 11 per thousand. Then the numbers rose to 1990 with a peak of 14.5 per milliliter, and then to decline again. In 2016, the birth rate was 11.7 per thousand. The death rate dropped sharply between 1930 and 1940. Since then, it has been fairly steady, with fluctuations around 9-11 per thousand. In 2016, the natural population growth (born ÷ dead) amounted to only 3 per thousand. The increase in the population beyond this is due to net immigration.

Over the past fifty years, fertility has shown greater variation than usual in Europe, with low numbers in the 1970s and 1980s, a peak in the 1990s, and then decline. However, overall fertility figures have long been below the level of reproduction. In 2017, the total fertility rate was 1.78.

In the period 2007–2016, the population increased by an average of 0.9 percent annually. The average age in 2017 was calculated to be 84.1 years for women and 80.6 years for men.

Settlement Pattern

Sweden has a generally low population density (24.5 residents per km²), but with significant differences between the different regions and regions. In general, northern Sweden is sparsely populated, but with a somewhat higher population density along the Gulf of Bothnia, while southern and central Sweden (north of Bergslagen) is relatively densely populated.

Regional	Population 2018	Area (km²)	Population/km²
Götaland	4 888 299	87 357	56
Svealand	4 159 178	80 839	51
Norrland	1 182 692	242 735	5
Kingdom	10 230 169	410 931	25

^{Table 1. The population is at most unevenly distributed between the south and the north. Norrland has a tenth of the population and over half the area.}

The country has experienced sustained urbanization throughout the 20th century, and in 2016, 87 percent of the population lived in cities and towns. More than 35 percent live around and within the major metropolitan areas Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö – Helsingborg. Greater Stockholm has 2.2 million residents (2016), Greater Gothenburg with suburbs around 990,000 residents and Greater Malmö 700,000 residents.

Aborigines

The Sami indigenous population constitutes a small minority group in Sweden of about 17,000 people, of which 2500 are reindeer herding. The Sami live mainly in northern Norrbotten’s Län (Lapland), but many also live further south. The southernmost Sami town in Sweden is Idre in Dalarna.

Immigration

Foreign-born people make up an increasing proportion of the Swedish population. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a high labor migration. Since the 1980s, non-Nordic immigration has been largely characterized by family reunification and refugees.

In 1970, foreign-born people made up 7 percent of the total population, in 2016 17 percent. Finns made up 44 percent of foreign-born in 1970, in 2016 their share had dropped to 9 percent. In addition to people from the Nordic countries, the largest immigrant groups come from the former Yugoslavia, Syria, Iraq, Poland, Iran, Somalia, Germany and Turkey. These live mainly in metropolitan areas. In Greater Stockholm, foreign-born make up 24 percent of the population, in Greater Malmö 23 percent.

Religion

Since the Second World War, the religious image has undergone major changes in Sweden. Freedom for all religious communities and the right to be excluded was enacted in 1951. Later immigration created a pluralistic society, which was one of the main motives behind the abolition of the state church on January 1, 2000.

Swedish Church

In the period 1995-2005, the proportion of the population who are members of the Svenska kyrkan has dropped from 86 percent to 77 percent. The Swedish Church consists of 13 dioceses (dioceses): Uppsala with archbishop, Lund, Växjö, Gothenburg, Skara, Karlstad, Gotland, Linköping, Strängnäs, Stockholm, Västerås, Härnösand and Luleå. About 3200 priests serve in 2200 churches in Sweden. The Archbishop is primus inter pares – the first among equals. Since 1960 (Parliamentary resolution in 1958), the church also has female priests.

The Church’s highest decision-making body is the Church Meeting (since 1982). The 251 members are elected for three years and meet once a year. Decisions are implemented by the Central Board, which consists of the Archbishop and members elected by the Church Assembly for three years. The bishops do not have the right to vote at the Church Meeting.

After the revocation of the state church, new bishops are appointed by election in the diocese in question. Although the Church of Sweden is governed by its own law, it is still evangelical-Lutheran, nationwide, democratic and episcopal. Instead of church tax, church activities are funded by a membership fee. Current members continue automatically, while new members must be registered. The Church of Sweden has retained all of its properties and remains responsible for funerals.

History

The Christianization of Sweden began in the 830s (see Ansgar) and ended after 1100. The oldest diocese is Skara, founded around 1014. The country became a separate church province in 1164, when the Archdiocese of Uppsala was established. From the end of the 13th century, the glory of the Swedish medieval church began with many monastic foundations, numerous church buildings, rich literature and great political power for the bishops.

The Reformation era was dramatic, with significant church members such as the brothers Olaus and Laurentius Petri on the evangelical and Archbishop Olaus Magnus and the Jesuit monastery on the Catholic side. Johan 3 represented a middle position. On the parliament in Västerås in 1527 Gustav Vasa broke with Rome. The history of the Reformation ended with the Uppsala meeting in 1597, where the Stones professed to Lutheran domination.

After the Reformation, the Swedish church became more and more of a state church. A special feature for Sweden is that the priesthood had representatives in the Riksdag and there was a stand of their own until 1868. The church constitution was established in the “church collage” of 1686. Folk revivals in the 19th century usually had a free-church feel and led to the evangelical free churches becoming stronger here than in neighboring countries.

A national church revival, the Young Church Movement, broke out in Sweden in the early 1900s. It had a vision of the people of Sweden as a Christian people, but departed from the Free Church’s notion of pure congregations of professing believers. The movement’s leaders were Johan A. Eklund, Nathan Söderblom, Einar M. Billing and Manfred Björkquist.

From the 1960s, Swedish theology has been characterized by efforts to meet the criticism that has been directed at Christianity from philosophical and natural sciences. Unlike other Nordic countries, in Swedish theology and church life there has been a clear element of high church, with, among other things, a certain emphasis on apostolic succession.

Free Churches

In 2005, the Pentecostal movement numbered around 90,000 members, the Swedish Mission Church around 65,000, the newly built around 30,000, the Salvation Army around 25,000, the Baptist community around 17,500, the Alliance Mission around 13,000, and the Methodist Church around 5,000. Many are members of more than one faith community. Most free churches go back; 2.1 percent of the population were members of free churches in 2005, compared with 3.1 percent in 1990.

Other faiths

The Catholic Church had 85,000 members in 2002, the Eastern Orthodox around 95,600, many of them influencers. The Catholics have their bishop in Stockholm. An estimated 250,000 ethnic Muslims exist. There are minorities of Jews (around 20,000), Hindus (around 4,000) and Buddhists (around 4,000).

Language

The official language and mother tongue of the majority of the population is Swedish. Since 2002, Sami, Finnish, Tornedal Finnish (meänkieli), Romani and Yiddish have been given official status as a minority language. Swedish sign language also has official status.

In Norrbotten, northern Sweden, there is a Sami-speaking minority numbering about 9,000 people, and a native Finnish-speaking minority of about 50,000. Finnish is by far the largest minority language. Through refugees and asylum seekers, the country has gained linguistic minorities of Slavic speakers from the Balkans, Spanish speakers from Latin America, Arabic and Persian speakers.