The population density in Sweden increased over the past 10 years, reaching 25.9 inhabitants per square kilometer in 2023. During that year, the population of Sweden reached 10.55 million.

Stockholm county had the highest population density

Sweden consists of 21 counties, administrative regions that primarily control public healthcare, public transport, and culture within the county. Among these, the most populated county is the capital region, Stockholm county, with a population density of 375 inhabitants per square kilometer in 2022. Stockholm county is followed by Skåne, with 129 inhabitants per square kilometer. The least populated county is Norrbotten, with only 2.6 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Land area of the Scandinavian countries

Though the population density in Sweden is increasing, the country still has a lot of surface area compared to its population. Of the Scandinavian countries, Sweden is the largest with a land area of over 447,000 square kilometers, but Norway is larger if the islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen are taken into account.

Chart and table of Sweden population density from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Among the regions in Sweden, the the capital region Stockholm county had the highest population density in 2022, with 374.6 inhabitants per square kilometers. In 2021, more than 2.4 million people lived in Stockholm. In terms of highest population density, Stockholm county was followed by Skåne, with 129 inhabitants per square kilometer. The least populated county was Norrbotten, with only 2.6 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Increasing population density

The population in Sweden is increasing steadily and reached 10.52 million inhabitants in 2022. Because of the growing population, the population density in Sweden increased as well over the past 10 years. In 2012, there were 23.4 inhabitants per square kilometer and in 2022 the number had increased to 25.8. Despite this, Sweden is a relatively sparsely populated country.

Highest rent per square meter in Stockholm

As the most densely populated county, the rents for rented dwellings in Stockholm were higher than in Sweden’s other counties. In 2020, the average rent per square meter in Stockholm county amounted to almost 1,300 Swedish kronor, while the rent in Norrbotten, the least populated county, reached an average of 999 Swedish kronor per square meter.

Of the total population in Sweden of 10.55 million people, around half resided in the counties Stockholm, Västra Götaland or Skåne. This is also the three counties where the three largest cities in Sweden, Stockholm, Göteborg, and Malmö, are located. In the capital region Stockholm county, there lived nearly 2.5 million inhabitants in 2023. Västra Götaland county had close to 1.8 million inhabitants, while Skåne county, the southernmost region, had roughly 1.4 million inhabitants. The island Gotland had the lowest number of inhabitants with only 60,000.

The highest population density

Stockholm, Skåne and Västra Götaland were also the three counties in Sweden with the highest population density. In 2022, 374.6 inhabitants per square kilometer lived in Stockholm county, while the corresponding figures for Skåne and Västra Götaland were 129 and 73.9, respectively.

The highest rents

Unsurprisingly. Stockholm county is the county in Sweden with the highest rents for rented dwellings, with average prices for one square meter amounting to over 1,400 Swedish kronor in 2022. The lowest average renting prices were in the northwestern region Jämtland, one square meter costing 1,000 Swedish kronor.

Sweden SE: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 24.718 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 24.362 Person/sq km for 2016. Sweden SE: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 20.697 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24.718 Person/sq km in 2017 and a record low of 18.326 Person/sq km in 1961. Sweden SE: Population Density: People per Square Km 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

Sweden population density for 400m H3 hexagons.

Built from Kontur Population: Global Population Density for 400m H3 Hexagons Vector H3 hexagons with population counts at 400m resolution.

Fixed up fusion of GHSL, Facebook, Microsoft Buildings, Copernicus Global Land Service Land Cover, Land Information New Zealand, and OpenStreetMap data.

WorldPop produces different types of gridded population count datasets, depending on the methods used and end application. Please make sure you have read our Mapping Populations overview page before choosing and downloading a dataset.

Datasets are available to download in Geotiff and ASCII XYZ format at a resolution of 30 arc-seconds (approximately 1km at the equator)

-Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020: Population density datasets for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 – derived from the corresponding Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 population count datasets by dividing the number of people in each pixel by the pixel surface area. These are produced using the unconstrained top-down modelling method.
-Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 UN adjusted: Population density datasets for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 – derived from the corresponding Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 population UN adjusted count datasets by dividing the number of people in each pixel, adjusted to match the country total from the official United Nations population estimates (UN 2019), by the pixel surface area. These are produced using the unconstrained top-down modelling method.

Data for earlier dates is available directly from WorldPop.

WorldPop (www.worldpop.org - School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton; Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Louisville; Departement de Geographie, Universite de Namur) and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University (2018). Global High Resolution Population Denominators Project - Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1134076). https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00674

The population density in Stockholm increased steadily since 2010, reaching 5,260 inhabitants per square kilometer in 2022. This corresponds with the constant population growth in the city during the same period.

Over the past 23 years, the total population of Sweden increased steadily. In 2000, there were nearly 8.9 million people living in the Scandinavian country, and this had increased to 10.55 million in 2023. The population growth is expected to continue over the next decades, and it is estimated that the population of Sweden will reach over 13 million by 2080.

Immigration drove the population growth

One main reason for the steadily increasing is the number of immigrants arriving in the country. Even though the number of immigrants fell since the peak in 2016, the population with a foreign background increased steadily over the past 10 years.

Syrians make up the largest group of foreigners

The high number of immigrants arriving in Sweden in 2016 was caused by the high number or refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War. As of 2022, Syrians made up the largest foreign group residing in the country. Next to refugees from the Middle East, immigrants from other EU-members such as Poland and neighboring Finland constituted a high number of the foreign-born citizens living in the country.

Sweden SE: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data was reported at 25.750 Person in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 25.570 Person for 2021. Sweden SE: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data is updated yearly, averaging 22.290 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.750 Person in 2022 and a record low of 21.010 Person in 1990. Sweden SE: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: OECD Member: Annual.

Dataset

This dataset was created by Göran Nybom

Contents

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Sweden town by race. It includes the population of Sweden town across racial categories (excluding ethnicity) as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Sweden town across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

The percent distribution of Sweden town population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 89.85% are white, 5.07% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.63% are Asian, 1.06% are some other race and 3.38% are multiracial.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race: This column displays the racial categories (excluding ethnicity) for the Sweden town
• Population: The population of the racial category (excluding ethnicity) in the Sweden town is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Sweden town total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Sweden town Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Non-Hispanic population of Sweden town by race. It includes the distribution of the Non-Hispanic population of Sweden town across various race categories as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the Non-Hispanic population distribution of Sweden town across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

With a zero Hispanic population, Sweden town is 100% Non-Hispanic. Among the Non-Hispanic population, the largest racial group is White alone with a population of 425 (89.85% of the total Non-Hispanic population).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race: This column displays the racial categories (for Non-Hispanic) for the Sweden town
• Population: The population of the racial category (for Non-Hispanic) in the Sweden town is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Sweden town total Non-Hispanic population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Sweden town Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Sweden town population distribution across 18 age groups. It lists the population in each age group along with the percentage population relative of the total population for Sweden town. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Sweden town by age. For example, using this dataset, we can identify the largest age group in Sweden town.

Key observations

The largest age group in Sweden, Maine was for the group of age 60 to 64 years years with a population of 55 (11.63%), according to the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. At the same time, the smallest age group in Sweden, Maine was the 80 to 84 years years with a population of 6 (1.27%). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group in consideration
• Population: The population for the specific age group in the Sweden town is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the population of each age group as a proportion of Sweden town total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Sweden town Population by Age. You can refer the same here

The number of foreign citizens as a share of the total population in Sweden increased steadily from 2010 to 2023. While 1.8 million foreign inhabitants lived in the country in 2010, the number had increased to 2.87 million in 2023. Over the same period, the number of Swedish inhabitants increased from 7.62 million to 7.69 million. Syrians made up the largest group of foreign-born citizens in the Nordic country that year.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Sweden town by gender, including both male and female populations. This dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Sweden town across both sexes and to determine which sex constitutes the majority.

Key observations

There is a slight majority of female population, with 51.16% of total population being female. Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Scope of gender :

Please note that American Community Survey asks a question about the respondents current sex, but not about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. The question is intended to capture data for biological sex, not gender. Respondents are supposed to respond with the answer as either of Male or Female. Our research and this dataset mirrors the data reported as Male and Female for gender distribution analysis. No further analysis is done on the data reported from the Census Bureau.

Variables / Data Columns

• Gender: This column displays the Gender (Male / Female)
• Population: The population of the gender in the Sweden town is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each gender as a proportion of Sweden town total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Sweden town Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

In 2023, people from 30 to 39 years of age made up the largest age group in Sweden. There were nearly 1.5 million people who belonged to this age group. People aged 50 to 59 years made up the second largest age group in Sweden, followed by people between 40 and 49 years. Moreover, there were nearly 1.2 million children between zero and nine, and 3,000 people aged 100 years or more.

Increasing population

Since 2000, the Swedish population increased steadily. This is mainly explained by the country's positive migration flow, but also that more people are being born than people dying.

Decreasing fertility rate

Even though the Swedish population increased steadily during this century, the country's fertility rate decreased steadily since 2010. In 2023, the number of babies born reached a record low. In Europe, however, Sweden's fertility rate is higher than the average.

Sweden - Distribution of population by household types: Single person was 22.20% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Distribution of population by household types: Single person - last updated from the EUROSTAT on March of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Distribution of population by household types: Single person reached a record high of 24.10% in December of 2023 and a record low of 19.80% in December of 2012.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Sweden town by race. It includes the population of Sweden town across racial categories (excluding ethnicity) as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Sweden town across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

The percent distribution of Sweden town population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 83.20% are white, 6.61% are Black or African American, 0.17% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.06% are Asian, 0.03% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 1.47% are some other race and 6.47% are multiracial.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race: This column displays the racial categories (excluding ethnicity) for the Sweden town
• Population: The population of the racial category (excluding ethnicity) in the Sweden town is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Sweden town total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Sweden town Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

The share of urban population in Sweden saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 88.74 percent. Nevertheless, 2023 still represents a peak in the share in Sweden. A population may be defined as urban depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the village, town, or city. The urbanization rate then refers to the share of the total population who live in an urban setting. International comparisons may be inconsistent due to differing parameters for what constitutes an urban center.Find more key insights for the share of urban population in countries like Greenland and Faroe Islands.