The number of deaths in Sweden in 2020 amounted to over 98,000. A high share of the deaths in 2020 were related to the coronavirus pandemic. However, in 2021, the number sank below 92,000, before increasing to over 94,000 in 2022 and 2023. The highest number of coronavirus deaths were among individuals age 70 and older. Sweden is the Nordic country that has reported the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The most common causes of death

The most common cause of death in 2022 was diseases of the circulatory system (cardiovascular diseases). This cause was followed by cancerous tumors.

 Ischemic heart disease

Among the diseases in the circulatory system, the one that caused the most deaths was chronic ischemic heart disease. Chronic ischemic heart disease is when the blood flow to the heart is reduced because the arteries of the heart are blocked. In 2020, ischemic heart disease caused more than 50,000 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

In 2022, the most common cause of death in Sweden was diseases of the circulatory system. More than 28,000 people died because of these diseases. Cancer was the second most common cause of death in Sweden. Furthermore, diseases of the respiratory system caused over 6,000 deaths in Sweden in 2022.

Ischemic heart disease most common cause

Chronic ischemic heart disease is the circulation system disease that causes the most number of deaths. When ischemic heart disease occurs, the arteries of the heart are blocked and the blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced. Heart attacks caused the second most deaths of the circulatory system diseases.

 COVID-19

From 2019 to 2020, the total number of deaths in Sweden increased by around 10,000, almost reaching 100,000 in total. This can be explained by the more than 9,400 deaths caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19). At the beginning of the pandemic, the Swedish government tried a different approach than most other European countries, avoiding strict lockdowns and regulations. However, it has recorded a higher number of deaths and cases than the other Nordic countries. As of January 2023, nearly 23,000 people had died of COVID-19 in Sweden.

Sweden SE: Cause of Death: by Injury: % of Total data was reported at 4.900 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.200 % for 2015. Sweden SE: Cause of Death: by Injury: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 4.900 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.200 % in 2015 and a record low of 4.500 % in 2000. Sweden SE: Cause of Death: by Injury: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Cause of death refers to the share of all deaths for all ages by underlying causes. Injuries include unintentional and intentional injuries.; ; Derived based on the data from WHO's Global Health Estimates.; Weighted average;

The number of deaths per week in Sweden was higher from week 12 to week 26 in 2020 than it was in the years 2015 to 2019. Moreover, it increased from week 46 in 2020 and fell below the average of 2015 to 2019 in week five in 2021. Several of the deaths in 2020 were related to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, the number of deaths per week decreased from week seven, but was high in the last weeks of the year and the first weeks of 2023, before falling again. Causes of death In 2022, diseases of the circulatory system were the most common cause of death in Sweden. Over 28,000 deaths were caused by this type of disease that year. Cancerous tumors caused the second highest number of deaths in Sweden. COVID-19 in Sweden Sweden is the Nordic country that has reported the highest number of COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic. All in all, the number of deaths in Sweden in 2023 amounted to nearly 95,000.

Sweden SE: Completeness of Death Registration with Cause-of-Death Information data was reported at 100.000 % in 2011. This stayed constant from the previous number of 100.000 % for 2010. Sweden SE: Completeness of Death Registration with Cause-of-Death Information data is updated yearly, averaging 100.000 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2011, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 % in 2011 and a record low of 100.000 % in 2011. Sweden SE: Completeness of Death Registration with Cause-of-Death Information data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Completeness of death registration is the estimated percentage of deaths that are registered with their cause of death information in the vital registration system of a country.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics (http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.1?lang=en).; Weighted average;

Actual value and historical data chart for Sweden Death Rate Crude Per 1 000 People

Sweden SE: Completeness of Total Death Reporting data was reported at 98.297 % in 2010. This records a decrease from the previous number of 98.774 % for 2008. Sweden SE: Completeness of Total Death Reporting data is updated yearly, averaging 98.774 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.784 % in 2007 and a record low of 98.297 % in 2010. Sweden SE: Completeness of Total Death Reporting data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Completeness of total death reporting is the number of total deaths reported by national statistics authorities to the United Nations Statistics Division's Demography Yearbook divided by the number of total deaths estimated by the United Nations Population Division.; ; The United Nations Statistics Division's Population and Vital Statistics Report and the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects.; Weighted average;

Total Covid deaths per million in Sweden, March, 2023 The most recent value is 2262 total Covid deaths as of March 2023, an increase compared to the previous value of 2251 total Covid deaths. Historically, the average for Sweden from March 2020 to March 2023 is 1356 total Covid deaths. The minimum of 23 total Covid deaths was recorded in March 2020, while the maximum of 2262 total Covid deaths was reached in March 2023. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

The crude death rate in Sweden was down at the lowest point in 2019, when 8.6 deaths occurred per thousand mid-year population. In 2020, however, the crude death rate increased and amounted to 9.5 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants. Over 98,000 individuals died during 2020 in Sweden. In 2020, the crude death rate in Sweden was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the crude death rate in the country was at nine.

Actual value and historical data chart for Sweden Tuberculosis Death Rate Per 100000 People

Sweden SE: Number of Death: Under-5 data was reported at 342.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 341.000 Person for 2016. Sweden SE: Number of Death: Under-5 data is updated yearly, averaging 752.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,112.000 Person in 1960 and a record low of 337.000 Person in 2013. Sweden SE: Number of Death: Under-5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Number of children dying before reaching age five.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Sum;

Sweden SE: Cause of Death: by Non-Communicable Diseases: % of Total data was reported at 89.900 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 89.100 % for 2015. Sweden SE: Cause of Death: by Non-Communicable Diseases: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 89.950 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.700 % in 2010 and a record low of 89.100 % in 2015. Sweden SE: Cause of Death: by Non-Communicable Diseases: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Cause of death refers to the share of all deaths for all ages by underlying causes. Non-communicable diseases include cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, digestive diseases, skin diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and congenital anomalies.; ; Derived based on the data from WHO's Global Health Estimates.; Weighted average;

Actual value and historical data chart for Sweden Cause Of Death By Non Communicable Diseases Percent Of Total

Forecast: Maternal Death Rate (Lifetime Risk) in Sweden 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Sweden SE: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 9.200 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.300 Ratio for 2015. Sweden SE: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 10.500 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.500 Ratio in 1988 and a record low of 9.200 Ratio in 2016. Sweden SE: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude death rate indicates the number of deaths occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Actual value and historical data chart for Sweden Cause Of Death By Injury Percent Of Total

Sweden recorded 24166 Coronavirus Deaths since the epidemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, Sweden reported 2708122 Coronavirus Cases. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Sweden Coronavirus Deaths.

Historical dataset showing Sweden death rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

As of January 11, 2023, the highest number of deaths due to the coronavirus in Sweden was among individuals aged 80 to 90 years old. In this age group there were 9,124 deaths as a result of the virus. The overall Swedish death toll was 22,645 as of January 11, 2023.

The first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Sweden was confirmed on February 4, 2020. The number of cases has since risen to over 2.68 million, as of January 2023. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

UNICEF's country profile for Sweden, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.