Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Sweden
Sweden: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 1.43 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.43 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
168th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.47 births per woman
in 1964
All-time low
1.43 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Sweden, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Sweden is 1.43 births per woman, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Sweden peaked at 2.47 births per woman in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.43 births per woman, in 2024.
Sweden ranks 168th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Sweden, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.17 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 2.21 births per woman | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 2.25 births per woman | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 2.33 births per woman | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 2.47 births per woman | +6.0% |
| 1965 | 2.39 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 2.37 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 2.28 births per woman | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 2.07 births per woman | -9.2% |
| 1969 | 1.93 births per woman | -6.8% |
| 1970 | 1.92 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 1.96 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 1.91 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.87 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 1.87 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.77 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 1976 | 1.68 births per woman | -5.1% |
| 1977 | 1.64 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 1.6 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 1.66 births per woman | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 1.68 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 1.63 births per woman | -3.0% |
| 1982 | 1.62 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 1.61 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 1.66 births per woman | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 1.74 births per woman | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 1.8 births per woman | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 1.84 births per woman | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 1.96 births per woman | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 2.01 births per woman | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 2.13 births per woman | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 2.11 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 2.09 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 1.99 births per woman | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 1.88 births per woman | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 1.73 births per woman | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 1.6 births per woman | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 1.52 births per woman | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 1.5 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 1.5 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.54 births per woman | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 1.57 births per woman | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 1.65 births per woman | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 1.71 births per woman | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 1.75 births per woman | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.77 births per woman | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 1.85 births per woman | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 1.88 births per woman | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 1.91 births per woman | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 1.94 births per woman | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 1.98 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 1.9 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 1.91 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 1.89 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 1.88 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 1.85 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 1.85 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.78 births per woman | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 1.76 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.71 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 1.67 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 1.67 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.53 births per woman | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 1.45 births per woman | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 1.43 births per woman | -1.4% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 1.43 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 births per woman, 98% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 1.43 births per woman is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.44 births per woman, 100% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.25 births per woman | 1.93 births per woman | 2.47 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.79 births per woman | 1.6 births per woman | 1.96 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.76 births per woman | 1.61 births per woman | 2.01 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.81 births per woman | 1.5 births per woman | 2.13 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.76 births per woman | 1.54 births per woman | 1.94 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.85 births per woman | 1.71 births per woman | 1.98 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.55 births per woman | 1.43 births per woman | 1.67 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 165 Belgium 1.44 births per woman compare
- 165 Mauritius 1.44 births per woman compare
- 165 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 1.44 births per woman compare
- 168 Azerbaijan 1.43 births per woman compare
- 168 Netherlands 1.43 births per woman compare
- 171 Russia 1.42 births per woman compare
More population data for Sweden
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0422 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7238 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0422 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1458 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 11,902 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4642 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1484 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population density 27.91 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 479,660 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Sweden?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Sweden was 1.43 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 2.47 births per woman in 1964.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.43 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Sweden rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- Sweden ranks 168th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.