Imagine a nation where urban living meets vast forested landscapes, more than 20% are foreign-born adding vibrant diversity, and a forward-thinking society thrives with one of the world’s highest life expectancies; this is Sweden, a country of fascinating contrasts revealed through its numbers.
Key Takeaways
- Sweden's population as of 31 December 2022 was 10,452,326 people
- The median age in Sweden in 2023 was 41.1 years
- Sweden's population density in 2023 was 25 people per square kilometer
- Sweden's GDP in 2023 was 593.1 billion USD nominal
- Sweden's GDP per capita in 2023 was 56,424 USD
- Unemployment rate in Sweden in 2023 was 7.7%
- Life expectancy at birth in Sweden in 2023 was 82.8 years overall
- Sweden's healthcare expenditure as % of GDP in 2022 was 11.2%
- Infant mortality rate in Sweden 2022 was 2.1 per 1,000 live births
- Sweden's air quality PM2.5 average 2022: 6.5 μg/m³
- Forest cover in Sweden 2023: 69.8% of land area
- Sweden's CO2 emissions in 2022: 33.8 million tonnes
- Tertiary education attainment rate 25-34 in Sweden 2023: 52%
- PISA math score Sweden 2022: 482
- Public expenditure on education % GDP Sweden 2022: 6.3%
Sweden has an aging population with high urban density and strong immigration.
Demographics
1Sweden's population as of 31 December 2022 was 10,452,326 people
Verified2The median age in Sweden in 2023 was 41.1 years
Verified3Sweden's population density in 2023 was 25 people per square kilometer
Verified4In 2022, 20.2% of Sweden's population was aged 65 and over
Directional5Sweden's total fertility rate in 2022 was 1.52 children per woman
Single source6As of 2023, 20.1% of Sweden's population were foreign-born
Verified7The largest city in Sweden, Stockholm, had a population of 981,660 in 2022
Verified8Sweden's net migration rate in 2022 was 4.7 migrants per 1,000 population
Verified9In 2023, 52% of Sweden's population was female
Directional10Life expectancy at birth for males in Sweden in 2023 was 81.3 years
Single source11The urban population percentage in Sweden in 2023 was 88.1%
Verified12Sweden's infant mortality rate in 2022 was 2.1 deaths per 1,000 live births
Verified13In 2022, the largest age group in Sweden was 30-34 years old with 467,000 people
Verified14Sweden's population growth rate in 2022 was 0.57%
Directional15As of 2023, there were 2,487,000 households in Sweden
Single source16The proportion of single-person households in Sweden in 2022 was 40%
Verified17Sweden's youth population (0-14 years) in 2023 was 17.2% of total population
Verified18In 2022, 1.9 million people in Sweden were born abroad from non-Western countries
Verified19Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city, had 590,000 residents in 2022
Directional20Sweden's dependency ratio in 2023 was 59.5%
Single source21Malmö's population in 2022 was 347,000
Verified22In 2023, 85% of Sweden's population lived in southern regions
Verified23Sweden's sex ratio at birth in 2023 was 105 males per 100 females
Verified24The number of people aged 80+ in Sweden in 2022 was 320,000
Directional25Sweden's working-age population (15-64) percentage in 2023 was 62.8%
Single source26In 2022, Finland-born residents in Sweden numbered 152,000
Verified27Uppsala's population in 2022 was 241,000
Verified28Sweden's ethnic Swedes make up approximately 80% of the population in 2023
Verified29The number of Syrian-born in Sweden in 2022 was 201,000
Directional30Västerås population in 2022 was 159,000
Single sourceDemographics Interpretation
Sweden maintains a sophisticated, spacious society where a remarkably urban, aging, and diverse population navigates the delicate balance between welcoming newcomers and supporting its long-living residents.
Economy
1Sweden's GDP in 2023 was 593.1 billion USD nominal
Verified2Sweden's GDP per capita in 2023 was 56,424 USD
Verified3Unemployment rate in Sweden in 2023 was 7.7%
Verified4Sweden's public debt to GDP ratio in 2023 was 33.5%
Directional5Inflation rate in Sweden (CPI) in 2023 was 8.53%
Single source6Sweden's exports in 2023 totaled 282 billion USD
Verified7Imports to Sweden in 2023 were 259 billion USD
Verified8Sweden's current account balance in 2023 was 2.1% of GDP
Verified9Corporate tax rate in Sweden is 20.6%
Directional10Sweden's labor force participation rate in 2023 was 82.3%
Single source11Average monthly salary in Sweden in 2023 was 39,900 SEK before tax
Verified12Sweden's Gini coefficient after taxes in 2022 was 0.277
Verified13Foreign direct investment inflow to Sweden in 2022 was 11.2 billion USD
Verified14Sweden's stock market capitalization in 2023 was 1,200 billion USD
Directional15Tourism contributed 2.5% to Sweden's GDP in 2022
Single source16Sweden's R&D expenditure as % of GDP in 2022 was 3.39%
Verified17Hourly labor cost in Sweden in 2023 was 49.5 EUR
Verified18Sweden's household saving rate in 2023 was 12.4%
Verified19Number of startups in Sweden in 2023 exceeded 15,000
Directional20Sweden's banking assets to GDP in 2023 was 250%
Single source21Energy import dependency in Sweden is 30% in 2022
Verified22Sweden's venture capital investment in 2022 was 2.8 billion EUR
Verified23Retail sales growth in Sweden in 2023 was 1.2%
Verified24Sweden's industrial production index in 2023 averaged 105.2 (2015=100)
Directional25Government budget balance in Sweden 2023 was -0.7% of GDP
Single source26Sweden's minimum wage is not statutory but averages 25,500 SEK/month in 2023
Verified27ICT sector contributes 5.7% to Sweden's GDP in 2022
Verified28Sweden's trade balance in 2023 was 23 billion USD surplus
VerifiedEconomy Interpretation
Sweden appears to be a high-functioning, innovative economy that diligently balances its books, nurtures its startups, and pays its workers well, all while quietly enduring the same inflationary hangover as the rest of us after the global economic party.
Education
1Tertiary education attainment rate 25-34 in Sweden 2023: 52%
Verified2PISA math score Sweden 2022: 482
Verified3Public expenditure on education % GDP Sweden 2022: 6.3%
Verified4Student-teacher ratio primary Sweden 2022: 12.2
Directional5University enrollment rate Sweden 2023: 65% of 19-24 year olds
Single source6Literacy rate adult Sweden: 99%
Verified7Number of universities in Sweden: 40 public
Verified8Early childhood education enrollment 3-5 years: 95% in 2022
Verified9Sweden's education index HDI 2022: 0.950
Directional10PISA reading score Sweden 2022: 487
Single source11Vocational education graduates % upper secondary: 45% in 2022
Verified12R&D personnel in higher education per million: 6,500 in 2022
Verified13Sweden's NEET rate 15-29 2023: 6.2%
Verified14Patent applications per million Sweden 2022: 450
Directional15Graduation rate upper secondary 25-34: 87% in 2023
Single source16Sweden spends 1.5% GDP on tertiary education 2022
Verified17PISA science score Sweden 2022: 485
Verified18Number of international students in Sweden 2023: 40,000
Verified19Teachers' statutory salary progression index primary: 80% in 2022
Directional20Sweden's adult learning participation rate: 33% in 2022
Single source21PhD graduates % of 25-34: 1.6% in 2023
Verified22School autonomy index Sweden: high at 0.7
Verified23Digital learning devices per student Sweden: 1.1 in 2023
Verified24Sweden's TIMSS math score grade 8 2023: 509
Directional25Funding per student primary Sweden 2022: 11,200 USD
Single sourceEducation Interpretation
Sweden’s education system paints a picture of a nation that has, with remarkable consistency, achieved high enrollment and literacy, yet seems to be gently patting itself on the back with decent PISA scores while its neighbors sprint ahead, proving that excellence can sometimes be a very comfortable plateau.
Environment
1Sweden's air quality PM2.5 average 2022: 6.5 μg/m³
Verified2Forest cover in Sweden 2023: 69.8% of land area
Verified3Sweden's CO2 emissions in 2022: 33.8 million tonnes
Verified4Renewable energy share in Sweden 2022: 59.4% of gross final energy consumption
Directional5Protected areas cover 13.9% of Sweden's land in 2023
Single source6Sweden's annual precipitation average: 653 mm
Verified7Recycling rate for municipal waste in Sweden 2022: 99.4%
Verified8Number of bears in Sweden 2023: 3,300
Verified9Sweden's average temperature 2023: 6.5°C
Directional10Wind power capacity in Sweden 2023: 16 GW
Single source11Freshwater withdrawal as % of resources in Sweden: 0.8%
Verified12Sweden's nitrogen oxide emissions 2022: 62,000 tonnes
Verified13Wolf population in Sweden 2023: 400
Verified14Hydropower generation share 2022: 38% of electricity
Directional15Sweden's biodiversity index score: 0.75 in 2022
Single source16Annual forest growth in Sweden: 120 million m³/year
Verified17Sweden's energy intensity 2022: 0.11 koe per USD GDP
Verified18Moose population in Sweden 2023: 300,000
Verified19Sweden GHG emissions reduction since 1990: 27% by 2022
Directional20Solar power capacity Sweden 2023: 3 GW
Single source21Threatened species in Sweden 2023: 2,200
Verified22Sweden's peatland area: 15% of land
Verified23Biofuel share in transport 2022: 30%
Verified24Reindeer population managed: 250,000 in 2023
Directional25Sweden's carbon footprint per capita 2022: 4.5 tonnes CO2e
Single source26Number of lynx in Sweden 2023: 1,600
VerifiedEnvironment Interpretation
Sweden seems to have cracked the code of being an environmental overachiever, diligently tending its vast forests and near-perfect recycling while still maintaining enough bears, wolves, and moose to convincingly star in a Nordic fairy tale.
Healthcare
1Life expectancy at birth in Sweden in 2023 was 82.8 years overall
Verified2Sweden's healthcare expenditure as % of GDP in 2022 was 11.2%
Verified3Infant mortality rate in Sweden 2022 was 2.1 per 1,000 live births
Verified4Number of hospital beds per 1,000 people in Sweden 2022 was 2.1
Directional5Physicians per 1,000 people in Sweden 2022 was 4.3
Single source6Obesity rate among adults in Sweden 2022 was 20.6%
Verified7Cancer incidence rate in Sweden 2022 was 300 per 100,000
Verified8Suicide rate in Sweden 2022 was 12.5 per 100,000
Verified9Vaccination coverage for DTP3 in Sweden 2022 was 97%
Directional10Maternal mortality ratio in Sweden 2020-2022 was 5 per 100,000 live births
Single source11Sweden has 290 hospitals as of 2023
Verified12Alcohol consumption per capita in Sweden 2022 was 7.5 liters pure alcohol
Verified13Smoking prevalence among adults in Sweden 2022 was 6.4%
Verified14Mental health treatment seekers in Sweden 2023: 1.2 million
Directional15COVID-19 vaccination rate full doses in Sweden 2023: 86%
Single source16Average waiting time for specialist care in Sweden 2023: 92 days
Verified17Sweden's universal healthcare covers 100% of population
Verified18Incidence of tuberculosis in Sweden 2022: 4.5 per 100,000
Verified19HIV prevalence in Sweden 2022: 0.1%
Directional20Number of pharmacists per 1,000 in Sweden 2022: 0.9
Single source21Diabetes prevalence in adults Sweden 2022: 5.0%
Verified22Emergency room visits per capita in Sweden 2022: 0.45
Verified23Organ transplants in Sweden 2022: 500 kidneys
Verified24Antidepressant consumption in Sweden 2022: 45 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day
Directional25Child vaccination coverage MMR1 Sweden 2022: 97%
Single source26Long-term care beds per 1,000 elderly in Sweden 2022: 45
VerifiedHealthcare Interpretation
Sweden’s healthcare system demonstrates that you can achieve remarkably long, healthy lives not by pouring excessive money or beds into the system, but by consistently prioritizing prevention, access, and public trust, even if it means sometimes waiting your turn.
Sources & References
- Reference 1SCBscb.seVisit source
- Reference 2CIAcia.govVisit source
- Reference 3ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 4DATAdata.un.orgVisit source
- Reference 5WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 6DATAdata.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 7DATAdata.unicef.orgVisit source
- Reference 8MACROTRENDSmacrotrends.netVisit source
- Reference 9DATAdata.oecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 10TRADINGECONOMICStradingeconomics.comVisit source
- Reference 11OECoec.worldVisit source
- Reference 12DATAdata.imf.orgVisit source
- Reference 13DATAdata.unctad.orgVisit source
- Reference 14WTTCwttc.orgVisit source
- Reference 15ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 16SUPERSUEDEsupersuede.seVisit source
- Reference 17INVESTEUROPEinvesteurope.euVisit source
- Reference 18UNIONENunionen.seVisit source
- Reference 19PTSpts.seVisit source
- Reference 20GCOgco.iarc.who.intVisit source
- Reference 21DATAdata.who.intVisit source
- Reference 22SOCIALSTYRELSENsocialstyrelsen.seVisit source
- Reference 23OURWORLDINDATAourworldindata.orgVisit source
- Reference 24HEALTHSYSTEMSFACTShealthsystemsfacts.orgVisit source
- Reference 25COMMONWEALTHFUNDcommonwealthfund.orgVisit source
- Reference 26UNAIDSunaids.orgVisit source
- Reference 27OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 28IQAIRiqair.comVisit source
- Reference 29SLUslu.seVisit source
- Reference 30GLOBALCARBONPROJECTglobalcarbonproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 31CBDcbd.intVisit source
- Reference 32LANSSTYRELSENlansstyrelsen.seVisit source
- Reference 33SMHIsmhi.seVisit source
- Reference 34ENERGIMYNDIGHETENenergimyndigheten.seVisit source
- Reference 35EEAeea.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 36VILTRAPPORTENviltrapporten.seVisit source
- Reference 37SVERIGESVATTENKRAFTCENTRUMsverigesvattenkraftcentrum.seVisit source
- Reference 38IUCNiucn.orgVisit source
- Reference 39SKOGSSTYRELSENskogsstyrelsen.seVisit source
- Reference 40IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 41JAGAREFORBUNDETjagareforbundet.seVisit source
- Reference 42NATURVARDSVERKETnaturvardsverket.seVisit source
- Reference 43ARTDATABANKENartdatabanken.seVisit source
- Reference 44SGUsgu.seVisit source
- Reference 45SAMERsamer.seVisit source
- Reference 46GLOBALCARBONATLASglobalcarbonatlas.orgVisit source
- Reference 47UKAuka.seVisit source
- Reference 48HDRhdr.undp.orgVisit source
- Reference 49STUDYINSWEDENstudyinsweden.seVisit source
- Reference 50TIMSS2023timss2023.orgVisit source