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.

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.

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

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

The death rate in Sweden increased by 0.2 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants (+2.27 percent) compared to the previous year. In total, the death rate amounted to nine deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022. The crude death rate is the annual number of deaths divided by the total population, expressed per 1,000 people.Find more statistics on other topics about Sweden with key insights such as infant mortality rate, total fertility rate, and total life expectancy at birth.

Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.

The infant mortality rate in Sweden decreased by 0.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (-4.76 percent) in 2022 in comparison to the previous year. In 2022, the infant mortality rate thereby reached its lowest value in recent years. The infant mortality rate is the number of newborns who do not survive past the first 12 months of life. This is generally expressed as a value per 1,000 live births, and also includes neonatal mortality (deaths within the first 28 days of life).Find more statistics on other topics about Sweden with key insights such as total fertility rate, total life expectancy at birth, and death rate.

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in Sweden was reported at 2.2 % in 2022, 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 March of 2025.

Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 2.300 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.400 Ratio for 2016. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 6.100 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.300 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 2.300 Ratio in 2017. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Infant: 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. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given 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 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.

Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: 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: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 2.700 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.500 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 2.600 Ratio in 2017. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate: Infant: 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: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate, male is the number of male infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 male live births in a given 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, under-5, female (per 1,000 live births) in Sweden was reported at 2.3 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Mortality rate, under-5, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

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: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data was reported at 14.800 Number in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.700 Number for 2015. Sweden SE: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 15.600 Number from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.400 Number in 2005 and a record low of 14.800 Number in 2016. Sweden SE: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population 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. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted Average;

Forecast: Maternal Mortality in Sweden 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Mortality rate, under-5, male (per 1,000 live births) in Sweden was reported at 2.7 % in 2022, 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 March of 2025.

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

Sweden SE: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Male: per 100,000 Male Population data was reported at 0.500 Ratio in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.500 Ratio for 2015. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Male: per 100,000 Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.500 Ratio from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.500 Ratio in 2016 and a record low of 0.500 Ratio in 2016. Sweden SE: Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning: Male: per 100,000 Male Population 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. Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisonings is the number of male deaths from unintentional poisonings in a year per 100,000 male population. Unintentional poisoning can be caused by household chemicals, pesticides, kerosene, carbon monoxide and medicines, or can be the result of environmental contamination or occupational chemical exposure.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

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

The statistic shows the adult mortality rate in Sweden from 2012 to 2022, 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 2022, the mortality rate for women was at 35.78 per 1,000 female adults, while the mortality rate for men was at 56.85 per 1,000 male adults in Sweden.