Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sweden
Sweden: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 32.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sweden, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 32.0% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sweden peaked at 32.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.7%, in 1950.
That places Sweden 131st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17.7% | — |
| 1955 | 19.5% | +10.5% |
| 1960 | 20.1% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 22.5% | +12.0% |
| 1970 | 24.0% | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 23.2% | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 23.1% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 23.1% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 23.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 23.4% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 25.5% | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 26.1% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 27.4% | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 29.7% | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 32.0% | +7.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.6% | 17.7% | 19.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 21.3% | 20.1% | 22.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 23.6% | 23.2% | 24.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 23.1% | 23.1% | 23.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 23.3% | 23.1% | 23.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.8% | 25.5% | 26.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.6% | 27.4% | 29.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 32.0% | 32.0% | 32.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 128 Serbia 33.9% compare
- 129 Georgia 33.6% compare
- 130 Austria 32.6% compare
- 132 French Polynesia 31.9% compare
- 133 South Sudan 31.8% compare
- 134 Switzerland 31.7% 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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sweden?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sweden was 32.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 32.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.7% in 1950.
- How does Sweden rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Sweden ranks 131st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.