In 2023, the share of urban population in Sweden remained nearly unchanged at around 88.74 percent. Still, the share reached its highest value in the observed period in 2023. The urban population refers to the share of the total population living in urban centers. Each country has their own definition of what constitutes an urban center (based on population size, area, or space between dwellings, among others), therefore international comparisons may be inconsistent.Find more key insights for the share of urban population in countries like Greenland and Faroe Islands.

Urban population (% of total population) in Sweden was reported at 88.74 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Urban population (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Sweden SE: Urban Population data was reported at 8,773,636.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,618,398.000 Person for 2016. Sweden SE: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7,034,187.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,773,636.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 5,425,627.000 Person in 1960. Sweden SE: Urban 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.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Urban population in Sweden was reported at 9349997 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Urban population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

SE: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 1.785 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.601 % for 2016. SE: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 0.701 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.121 % in 1965 and a record low of 0.045 % in 1983. SE: Urban Population Growth 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. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Historical chart and dataset showing Sweden urban population by year from 1960 to 2023.

Urban population growth (annual %) in Sweden was reported at 0.75033 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Urban population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Sweden SE: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data was reported at 17.703 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.683 % for 2016. Sweden SE: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 15.683 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.703 % in 2017 and a record low of 14.346 % in 1981. Sweden SE: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted average;

This dataset is about countries per year in Sweden. It has 64 rows. It features 3 columns: country, and urban population.

Sweden SE: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data was reported at 0.001 % in 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.001 % for 2016. Sweden SE: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.001 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2018, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.001 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.001 % in 2018. Sweden SE: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban 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.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population living in slums is the proportion of the urban population living in slum households. A slum household is defined as a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the following conditions: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient living area, housing durability, and security of tenure, as adopted in the Millennium Development Goal Target 7.D. The successor, the Sustainable Development Goal 11.1.1, considers inadequate housing (housing affordability) to complement the above definition of slums/informal settlements.;United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT);Weighted average;

This scatter chart displays urban population (people) against expense (% of GDP) in Sweden. The data is about countries per year.

Population in largest city in Sweden was reported at 1719604 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - Population in largest city - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, approximately 988,943 people lived in Stockholm, making it not only the capital, but also the biggest city in Sweden. The second biggest city, Gothenburg (Göteborg) had about half as many inhabitants, with about 596,840 people. Move to the citySweden is a country with a very high urbanization rate, the likes of which is usually only seen in countries with large uninhabitable areas, such as Australia, or in nations with very little rural landscape and agrarian structures, like Cuba. So why do so few Swedes live in rural areas, even though based on total area, the country is one of the largest in Europe? The total population figures are the answer to this question, as Sweden has only about 10.3 million inhabitants as of 2018 – that’s only 25 inhabitants per square kilometer. Rural exodus or just par for the course?It is no mystery why most Swedes flock to the cities: Jobs, of course. Over 65 percent of Sweden’s gross domestic product is generated by the services sector, and agriculture only contributes about one percent to the GDP. Employment mirrors this, with 80 percent of the workforce being deployed in services, namely in foreign trade, telecommunications, and manufacturing, among other industries.

Until 2070, the growth of the Swedish-born population in the City of Stockholm is estimated to remain relatively stable, while that of foreign-born citizens is forecast to slow somewhat. By 2070, the Swedish capital is expected to have a total of 1.35 million inhabitants, of which 953,000 were born in Sweden and 406,000 born abroad.

This dataset is about countries per year in Sweden. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, incidence of HIV, and urban population.

Sweden SE: Rural Population data was reported at 1,294,108.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,304,687.000 Person for 2016. Sweden SE: Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1,417,134.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,059,029.000 Person in 1960 and a record low of 1,294,108.000 Person in 2017. Sweden SE: Rural 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.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Stockholm is the Capital of Sweden and in 2023, close to 985,000 people lived in the municipality. Since 2010, the population there has been growing consistently. While more people are moving to Stockholm, the city area is not growing at the same speed, leading the population density to increase as well. Forecasts for the city expect continuous growth of population over the next forty years.

Economy

In Stockholm, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was around 734,000 Swedish kronor in 2021. That was much higher than the average GDP per capita in all of Sweden with around 517,000 SEK in 2021. Though it must be noted that living costs are very high in the city and have been increasing in the last years. For example, the average rent per square meter in Stockholm has been rising every single year.

Employment A high majority of people living in Stockholm have a workplace. The employment rate in Stockholm is at 73.6 percent as of 2021.  The sector with the highest number of employees in Stockholm is professional, scientific, technical, and administrative activities, followed by wholesale and retail trade.

People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban population) in Sweden was reported at 98.82% in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population) in Sweden was reported at 99.76% in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sweden - People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

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.