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.

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.

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

In 2023, the infant mortality rate in deaths per 1,000 live births in Sweden amounted to two. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 14.3, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in Sweden was reported at 9 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Death rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Mortality rate, under-5, male (per 1,000 live births) in Sweden was reported at 2.7 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Mortality rate, under-5, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 3.100 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.200 Ratio for 2015. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 3.300 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.700 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 3.100 Ratio in 2017. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births 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. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

The statistic shows the adult mortality rate in Sweden from 2013 to 2023, by gender. According to the source, the adult mortality rate is the probability of dying between the ages of 15 and 60 - that is, the probability of a 15-year-old dying before reaching age 60, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of the specified year between those ages. In 2023, the mortality rate for women was at ***** per 1,000 female adults, while the mortality rate for men was at ***** per 1,000 male adults in Sweden.

Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 2.800 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.900 Ratio for 2016. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 7.250 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.600 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 2.800 Ratio in 2017. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births 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: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 2.600 Ratio in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.600 Ratio for 2015. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 2.800 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.200 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 2.600 Ratio in 2017. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births 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. Under-five mortality rate, female is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn female baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to female age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) in Sweden was reported at 1.8 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Forecast: Perinatal Mortality Rate in Sweden 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Graph and download economic data for Infant Mortality Rate for Sweden (SPDYNIMRTINSWE) from 1960 to 2023 about mortality, infant, Sweden, and rate.

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in Sweden was reported at 2.2 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The child mortality rate in Sweden, for children under the age of five, was 381 deaths per thousand births in 1800. This means that approximately 38 percent of all children born in 1800 did not make it to their fifth birthday. Over the course of the next 220 years, this number has dropped drastically, particularly from 1880 onwards, and the rate has dropped to its lowest point ever in 2020 where it is just two deaths per thousand births, which is the lowest in the world.

Child mortality rate of Sweden remained stable at 2.5 deaths per 1,000 live births over the last 2 years. Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to current age-specific mortality rates.

Infant mortality rate of Sweden remained constant at 2.0 deaths per 1,000 live births over the last 1 years. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.

Female adult mortality rate of Sweden climb by 3.15% from 35.8 deaths per 1,000 female adults in 2022 to 36.9 deaths per 1,000 female adults in 2023. Since the 0.06% decrease in 2021, female adult mortality rate increased by 0.73% in 2023. Adult mortality rate is the probability of dying between the ages of 15 and 60--that is, the probability of a 15-year-old dying before reaching age 60, if subject to current age-specific mortality rates between those ages.

Maternal mortality ratio of Sweden sank by 20.00% from 5.0 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 4.0 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023. Since the 25.00% jump in 2020, maternal mortality ratio plummeted by 20.00% in 2023. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth, per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on fertility, birth attendants, and HIV prevalence.

Mortality rate, adult, male (per 1,000 male adults) in Sweden was reported at 56.05 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Mortality rate, adult, male (per 1,000 male adults) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.