Sweden Population Pyramid (2026)
Sweden has a population of 10,701,046 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 90th-largest population in the world and 0.13% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 16.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 21.1%, with 101.6 males for every 100 females.
Sweden Demographics
Sweden has 10.7 million people in 2026, up 33.1% from 8.0 million in 1970.
Deaths outnumber births by 1,351 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 21.1% — the 28th-highest of 194 countries.
Median age 40.4 — the 42nd-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Millennials — 21.5% (2,304,772)
All generations in Sweden →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Sweden's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Sweden has 101.6 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 84,218 (0.8% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:5,392,632
- Percentage:50.4%
Female Statistics
- Population:5,308,414
- Percentage:49.6%
- Ratio Format:1:0.984
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Sweden indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 96,301 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 113,236 | 10.9 | 1.67 | estimate |
| 2022 | 104,855 | 10.0 | 1.54 | estimate |
| 2023 | 97,915 | 9.3 | 1.43 | estimate |
| 2024 | 97,489 | 9.2 | 1.43 | projection |
| 2025 | 97,002 | 9.1 | 1.44 | projection |
| 2026 | 96,301 | 9.0 | 1.45 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (96,301 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Sweden's median age is 40.4 years
Half the population is younger than 40.4 years, half is older — indicating a middle-aged society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 515,053 | 4.8% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 609,120 | 5.7% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 633,814 | 5.9% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 645,206 | 6.0% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 631,358 | 5.9% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 613,253 | 5.7% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 728,913 | 6.8% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 768,940 | 7.2% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 678,929 | 6.3% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 644,166 | 6.0% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 667,486 | 6.2% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 664,609 | 6.2% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 644,094 | 6.0% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 553,652 | 5.2% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 510,764 | 4.8% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 492,541 | 4.6% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 391,652 | 3.7% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 199,937 | 1.9% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 82,501 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 22,195 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 100+ | 2,862 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 5 (natural decrease): deaths outnumber births — 9.0 births and 9.1 deaths per 1,000 people in 2026. Read more about Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Sweden Total Fertility Rate: 1.45 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.67 | 10.9 | |
| 2022 | 1.54 | 10.0 | ↓0.13 |
| 2023 | 1.43 | 9.3 | ↓0.11 |
| 2024 | 1.43 | 9.2 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 1.44 | 9.1 | ↑0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.45 | 9.0 | ↑0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.46
Sweden's total fertility rate is 1.45 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Sweden ranks 159 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −36.7% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Sweden's population has increased by 52.5%.
The median age has increased from 33.2 in 1950 to 40.4 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Sweden's Demographics
Sweden has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 16.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 21.1%.
The largest five-year age band is 35–39, at 7.2% of the population, compared with 4.8% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Sweden's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Sweden's working-age share peaked in 1950 at 66.5% and is 62.5% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Sweden is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.45 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Sweden's median age changed by +0.5 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 10,701,046 |
| Male Population | 5,392,632(50.4%) |
| Female Population | 5,308,414(49.6%) |
| Median Age | 40.4 years |
| Sex Ratio | 101.6 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 1,757,987(16.4%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 6,686,955(62.5%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 2,256,104(21.1%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 60.0 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 26.3 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 33.7 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Sweden
How long the average person in Sweden is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Sweden is projected to grow to 11.3 million people by 2050 (+5.7% from 2026).
The median age rises from 40.4 in 2026 to 44.1 by 2050.
Sweden's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 3.3%, growing from 8.0 million in 1970 to 8.3 million by 1980
The median age increased by 0.7 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 1.2 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 2.6 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 8.0M to 8.3M
- • Growth rate of 3.3% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 34.4 to 35.1 years (+0.7y)
- • 65+ share changed by +2.6 points; under-15 share by −1.2 points
How Does Sweden Compare to Its Neighbors?
Sweden has a younger population than Finland, Denmark. Sweden has an older population than Norway.
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Denmark
Frequently Asked Questions About Sweden
How does Sweden rank globally by population?
Sweden ranks 90th in the world by population with 10.7 million people as of 2026, representing 0.13% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Sweden's age structure reveal about its development?
Sweden's age structure — 16.4% under 15, 62.5% working-age (15–64) and 21.1% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 5 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 40.4 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Sweden?
Sweden has 60.0 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Sweden experiencing a demographic dividend?
Sweden has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Sweden's working-age share peaked in 1950 at 66.5% and is 62.5% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Sweden's population?
Sweden has more males than females, with 101.6 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Sweden Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/sweden
View UN World Population Prospects Data →