Facts about Sweden

Here you will find information about Sweden.

Description and statistics

When it comes to size, Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe, bordering Norway, Finland and Denmark. There are currently approximately 10.5 million people living in Sweden. Roughly 4 million people live in and around the three largest cities in the country: Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Stockholm is Sweden's capital with approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. Approximately 27 percent of the Swedish population is born abroad, which equates to over 2.8 million people.

Tax-financed activities and government

Healthcare, schools and childcare, police and fire departments and other operations are funded through tax. This means that everyone who has an income will need to pay a portion of their income for these purposes.

There are many authorities in Sweden and a lot of activities here are carefully regulated. Some people who come from other countries think that the Swedish bureaucracy is complicated but there are countries in the world that have an even more extensive bureaucracy.

Civil society

Civil society plays a vital role in Sweden’s development and democracy. Civil society is separate from the state and business and involvement in it is voluntary. It consists of individuals, groups and organisations working together based on common interests. Examples of stakeholders in civil society include cultural associations, trade unions, study associations and charities. As a new arrival in Sweden, civil society can help and support you in various ways.

You can find examples of organisations that offer assistance to asylum seekers and people in Sweden under the Temporary Protection Directive on the Swedish Migration Agency website:

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Freedom of religion

Although many of the Swedish laws are based on Christian values, there is currently no formal connection between church and state. In Sweden, we have freedom of religion. That means everyone has a right to their own beliefs, to practice their religion, change religion, or to have no religion at all.

Church and state

In many countries, religion is the central point that holds people together. As one of the world's most secular countries, this is not the case in Sweden. On the other hand, compared to many other countries, there is a high level of trust in the state. The social idea that everyone who can should work, pay taxes and thus contribute to the common good is something many people believe in. The feeling of belonging means that most people have a willingness to pay taxes.