Sweden’s population growth is driven entirely by residents with a foreign background. At the same time, the group with a Swedish background is shrinking—and today, more than one in three residents has roots in another country, according to new figures from Statistiska centralbyrån.
New data from Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB; Statistics Sweden) show that 35.7 percent of Sweden’s population at the end of 2025 were either foreign-born or born in Sweden to one or two foreign-born parents. This represents a slight increase compared to the previous year, when the figure stood at 35.4 percent.
The so-called third generation—people born in Sweden to two Swedish-born parents who themselves have a foreign background—is not included in these statistics. These individuals are classified as ethnic Swedes.
Population growth driven by immigration
At the same time, the number of people living in Sweden continues to increase, and according to the data, population growth is entirely linked to immigration. SCB writes on its website:
“During 2025, Sweden’s population increased by 17,800 people. The increase consisted entirely of individuals with a foreign background, who grew by 26,000, while those with a Swedish background decreased by 8,100. At the end of the year, 2,936,800 people, or 28 percent of the population, were either born abroad or born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents.”
Large differences between cities
The share of residents with a foreign background varies significantly across different parts of the country.
In 50 of Sweden’s 290 municipalities, the share of people with a foreign background was higher than the national average. Botkyrka has the highest share, at 63 percent, but in Södertälje, Sigtuna, Järfälla, Haparanda, and Burlöv, more than half of residents also have a foreign background.
In major cities, the share is considerably higher than the national average.
In Stockholm, the share stands at 46.1 percent, while the wider Stockholm County reaches 47.3 percent. In Gothenburg, the figure is 49.2 percent, and in Malmö it is the highest in the country at 58.8 percent.
High share among younger age groups
The data also show that the share of people with a foreign background is particularly high among younger age groups.
Among children aged 0–9, the share is 39.7 percent, and among those aged 10–19 it is 39.5 percent. If the third generation is also included, the share in these groups is estimated to be around 44 percent.
In the 20–49 age groups, the share consistently exceeds 40 percent, while it is significantly lower among older populations. In the 50–59 age group, the share is around 22 percent.
Many countries of origin represented
SCB’s data show that people with a foreign background in Sweden have roots in a large number of countries. The largest groups have origins in Finland, followed by Syria, Iraq, and Poland.
Other major countries of origin include the former Yugoslavia, Iran, Germany, Turkey, and Norway. Somalia, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Afghanistan are also among the larger groups.
Strong growth over time
The share of residents with a foreign background has increased steadily over a long period. At the beginning of the 20th century, the share was around 1 percent.
In the post-war period, it gradually increased, reaching 10.6 percent in 1970 and 16.2 percent in 1990.
The increase has been particularly pronounced in the 21st century. In 2010, the share was 25.7 percent, rising to 33.5 percent in 2020. In recent years, the growth has continued, albeit at a somewhat slower pace.
This development means that Sweden today ranks among the countries in the Western world with the highest levels of diversity in terms of population background.