Sweden: population by origin 2022

The number of foreign citizens as a share of the total population in Sweden increased steadily from 2012 to 2022. While 1.92 million foreign inhabitants lived in the country in 2012, the number had increased to 2.83 million in 2023. Over the same period, the number of Swedish inhabitants increased from 7.64 million to 7.69 million. Syrians made up the largest group of foreign-born citizens in the Nordic country that year.

Population in Sweden from 2012 to 2022, by origin (in millions)

Characteristic	Swedish origin	Foreign background
2022	7.69	2.83
2021	7.7	2.75
2020	7.69	2.67
2019	7.69	2.63
2018	7.69	2.54
2017	7.68	2.43
2016	7.67	2.32
2015	7.66	2.19
2014	7.66	2.09
2013	7.64	2
2012	7.64	1.92

Loading statistic...

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Source

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

March 2023

More information

Region

Sweden

Survey time period

2012 to 2022

Supplementary notes

Inhabitants with foreign background are defined as people born outside of Sweden or people born in Sweden but whose both parents are foreign. Inhabitants of Swedish origin are defined as people who were born in Sweden and whose one or both parents are born in the country.

For this statistic, the values reported by the source have been rounded.

Numbers show the population on the 31st of December each year.

Citation formats