Net migration (UNICEF) in Sweden
Sweden: Net migration was 47,079 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
47,079
Change on year
down 6.1%
World rank
13th
of 74 countries
All-time high
119,234
in 2016
All-time low
-13,519
in 1972
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Sweden, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 47,079 for net migration in 2025.
The figure is down 6.1% on the previous year and down 41.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Sweden peaked at 119,234 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -13,519, in 1972.
That places Sweden 13th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,080 | — |
| 1961 | 14,401 | +1233.4% |
| 1962 | 9,627 | -33.2% |
| 1963 | 11,009 | +14.4% |
| 1964 | 23,581 | +114.2% |
| 1965 | 32,444 | +37.6% |
| 1966 | 24,920 | -23.2% |
| 1967 | 11,075 | -55.6% |
| 1968 | 8,545 | -22.8% |
| 1969 | 48,824 | +471.4% |
| 1970 | 47,242 | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 2,334 | -95.1% |
| 1972 | -13,519 | -679.2% |
| 1973 | -9,551 | -29.4% |
| 1974 | 9,217 | -196.5% |
| 1975 | 16,564 | +79.7% |
| 1976 | 20,324 | +22.7% |
| 1977 | 23,528 | +15.8% |
| 1978 | 13,807 | -41.3% |
| 1979 | 13,895 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 10,040 | -27.7% |
| 1981 | 3,209 | -68.0% |
| 1982 | 2,524 | -21.3% |
| 1983 | 2,105 | -16.6% |
| 1984 | 8,668 | +311.8% |
| 1985 | 11,464 | +32.3% |
| 1986 | 15,211 | +32.7% |
| 1987 | 21,335 | +40.3% |
| 1988 | 30,064 | +40.9% |
| 1989 | 44,565 | +48.2% |
| 1990 | 35,668 | -20.0% |
| 1991 | 25,314 | -29.0% |
| 1992 | 20,507 | -19.0% |
| 1993 | 32,725 | +59.6% |
| 1994 | 51,545 | +57.5% |
| 1995 | 11,621 | -77.5% |
| 1996 | 5,773 | -50.3% |
| 1997 | 6,047 | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 11,325 | +87.3% |
| 1999 | 13,940 | +23.1% |
| 2000 | 24,900 | +78.6% |
| 2001 | 28,856 | +15.9% |
| 2002 | 31,364 | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 29,161 | -7.0% |
| 2004 | 25,842 | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 27,030 | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 51,675 | +91.2% |
| 2007 | 54,907 | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 56,452 | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 63,638 | +12.7% |
| 2010 | 51,175 | -19.6% |
| 2011 | 46,049 | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 52,879 | +14.8% |
| 2013 | 66,760 | +26.3% |
| 2014 | 77,654 | +16.3% |
| 2015 | 80,534 | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 119,234 | +48.1% |
| 2017 | 102,671 | -13.9% |
| 2018 | 87,517 | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 72,619 | -17.0% |
| 2020 | 37,302 | -48.6% |
| 2021 | 51,947 | +39.3% |
| 2022 | 58,955 | +13.5% |
| 2023 | 55,209 | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 50,115 | -9.2% |
| 2025 | 47,079 | -6.1% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 47,079 is above the median for high income countries, which is 9,502, 5.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 47,079 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 158, 298.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Sweden changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | +1233.4% | 1,080 | 14,401 |
| 1972 | -679.2% | 2,334 | -13,519 |
| 1969 | +471.4% | 8,545 | 48,824 |
| 1984 | +311.8% | 2,105 | 8,668 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18,551 | 1,080 | 48,824 | 10 |
| 1970s | 12,384 | -13,519 | 47,242 | 10 |
| 1980s | 14,918 | 2,105 | 44,565 | 10 |
| 1990s | 21,446 | 5,773 | 51,545 | 10 |
| 2000s | 39,382 | 24,900 | 63,638 | 10 |
| 2010s | 75,709 | 46,049 | 119,234 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,101 | 37,302 | 58,955 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More population data for Sweden
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 11,902 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1458 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0422 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 479,660 people (2100)
- Population density 27.91 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1484 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Sweden?
- Net migration in Sweden was 47,079 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 119,234 in 2016.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was -13,519 in 1972.
- How does Sweden rank for net migration?
- Sweden ranks 13th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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