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Sweden

Destination country · migration, permits and visas

Inflow of foreign nationals, 2023 (OECD)
76,254
Largest group, 2023
India
First residence permits, 2025 (Eurostat)
60,237
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
23.6%
DestinationSE2023–2025
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Who moves to Sweden

Inflows of foreign nationals recorded by Sweden, by nationality (OECD).

Inflows by nationality, 2023
  1. India7,461
  2. Poland4,493
  3. Germany3,819
  4. Afghanistan3,125
  5. China2,617
  6. Syria2,515
  7. Pakistan2,383
  8. Romania2,216
  9. Iran1,944
  10. Italy1,842
  11. Denmark1,790
  12. Türkiye1,719
  13. Netherlands1,648
  14. Finland1,623
  15. Spain1,446
  16. Sri Lanka1,415
  17. Norway1,407
  18. France1,341
  19. Greece1,175
  20. Iraq1,134

All inflows by year

67k135k200020032006200920122015201820212023
67k135k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200039,301
200141,342
200245,015
200345,042
200444,764
200548,306
200674,424
200782,356
200881,608
200981,179
201076,746
201173,340
201279,647
201389,770
201498,628
2015107,731
2016134,718
2017119,764
2018111,823
201996,742
202064,995
202173,320
202285,405
202376,254
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Foreign nationals living in Sweden

Stock of foreign nationals by nationality (latest year reported) and acquisitions of Sweden's nationality (OECD).

Foreign nationals, 2024
  1. Poland57,066
  2. Syria44,706
  3. Afghanistan44,683
  4. India38,632
  5. Finland37,793
  6. Germany33,395
  7. Eritrea28,698
  8. Norway28,285
  9. Denmark25,618
  10. China23,392
  11. Romania21,442
  12. Pakistan18,913
  13. Iraq18,373
  14. Lithuania17,307
  15. Iran17,139
Acquisitions of nationality by former nationality, 2023
  1. Syria11,133
  2. Eritrea8,370
  3. Afghanistan3,332
  4. Somalia2,638
  5. India2,624
  6. Poland2,251
  7. Iraq2,088
  8. Finland1,865
  9. Romania1,303
  10. Serbia1,231
  11. Germany1,122
  12. Iran1,116
  13. Denmark1,069
  14. Norway1,047
  15. Türkiye1,039

Acquisitions of nationality by year

43k85k200020032006200920122015201820212023
43k85k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200036,110
200133,099
200233,699
200329,020
200425,572
200534,923
200646,029
200729,764
200826,875
200926,273
201029,541
201132,473
201246,647
201346,611
201440,472
201543,850
201654,563
201760,006
201856,437
201959,546
202074,972
202184,292
202285,365
202363,523
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

International migrants

People living in Sweden who were born in another country, or who hold foreign citizenship where country of birth is not recorded: mid-year estimates (UN DESA).

Largest countries of birth, 2024
  1. Syria243,388
  2. Iraq150,470
  3. Finland129,139
  4. Poland102,889
  5. Iran89,047
  6. Afghanistan79,353
  7. Somalia74,146
  8. India62,598
  9. Bosnia and Herzegovina60,819
  10. Eritrea59,751
  11. Türkiye58,113
  12. Germany56,910

International migrants by year

1.14M2.27M19901995200020052010201520202024
1.14M2.27M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990784,283
1995944,802
20001,022,156
20051,126,971
20101,372,074
20151,638,195
20202,033,902
20242,272,158
International migrants, 2024
2,272,158
Share of the population, 2024
21.4%
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Migrants in the labour market

Labour force survey results for Sweden: residents aged 15 and over who were born abroad, compared with those born in the country (ILOSTAT).

IndicatorBorn in the countryBorn abroad
Employment-to-population ratio, 202561.4%62.3%
Unemployment rate, 20256.1%16.3%
Born abroad: share of all workers, 2025
23.9%
Born abroad: share of high-skill jobs, 2025
19.4%
Born abroad: share of medium-skill jobs, 2025
27.9%
Born abroad: share of elementary jobs, 2025
52.1%
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Earnings by occupation

Mean gross annual earnings of employees in Sweden by major occupation group, in enterprises with 10 or more employees (Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022).

Occupation groupMean annual earnings, SEKIndex, all occupations = 100
All occupations499,123100
Managers850,418170
Professionals568,725114
Technicians and associate professionals507,891102
Clerical support workers396,19679
Service and sales workers421,60584
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers349,23570
Craft and related trades workers421,82785
Plant and machine operators and assemblers409,01082
Elementary occupations341,77868
Mean gross annual earnings, all employees, 2022
499,123 SEK
Women's mean earnings as a share of men's, 2022
90.3%
Source: Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2022

Residence permits

First residence permits issued by Sweden to non-EU citizens (Eurostat).

First permits by year

68k136k2008201020122014201620182020202220242025
68k136k2008201120142017202020232025
Data table
200881,801
200989,067
201077,405
201173,290
201286,983
201392,398
201499,237
2015103,033
2016136,416
2017121,092
2018118,973
2019103,839
202071,935
202181,141
202283,495
202375,246
202465,739
202560,237
By reason, 2025
  1. Family30,195
  2. Education12,512
  3. Work11,214
  4. Other reasons6,316
By citizenship, 2025
  1. India7,204
  2. Pakistan5,262
  3. China4,524
  4. United States2,931
  5. Thailand2,864
  6. Afghanistan2,380
  7. Türkiye2,073
  8. Bangladesh1,868
  9. Syria1,761
  10. United Kingdom1,647
  11. Eritrea1,472
  12. Iran1,380
  13. Sri Lanka1,195
  14. Philippines1,088
  15. Nigeria1,051
EU Blue Cards granted by citizenship, 2024
  1. Türkiye15
  2. India10
  3. United Kingdom8
  4. South Korea5
  5. United States4
  6. China3
  7. South Africa2
  8. Russia2
  9. Syria2
  10. Vietnam1
  11. Indonesia1
  12. Sri Lanka1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities5,630
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)4,265
  3. Researchers1,190
  4. EU Blue Card129
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
420,014
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
35,996
Changed status into work, 2025
1,473
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
169
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1,517
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Schengen visas issued by Sweden

Short-stay visa applications at Sweden's consulates worldwide.

Applications by year

138k275k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
138k275k200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009196,257
2010206,077
2011220,567
2012215,763
2013200,543
2014191,009
2015192,852
2016227,005
2017248,347
2018253,292
2019275,239
202036,136
202122,260
2022135,946
2023169,151
2024188,623
Country of the consulateApplications 2024Refusal rate
China45,3906.4%
India32,93914.4%
Thailand18,69913.5%
Türkiye18,16029.9%
Bangladesh17,91765.0%
Kenya14,38131.7%
Sweden7,22411.4%
United States4,91517.5%
United Arab Emirates4,69340.8%
Iran4,46840.3%
Saudi Arabia4,26330.8%
Egypt3,69247.3%
Morocco3,20242.2%
Russia2,25920.9%
Colombia2,13845.4%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

National statistics office

Immigrations to Sweden of citizens of non-Nordic countries, by grounds for settlement (Statistics Sweden).

All by year

63k127k20052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
63k127k200520092013201720212025
Data table
200540,361
200667,422
200771,547
200872,104
200973,026
201068,915
201165,703
201272,600
201382,962
201491,172
201599,899
2016126,603
2017112,060
2018104,707
201990,202
202059,475
202168,633
202280,531
202371,217
202491,396
202562,930
By reason, 2025
  1. Work5,547
  2. Study6,273
  3. Family18,190
  4. Protection9,291
  5. Other or unknown23,629
Largest citizenships, 2025
  1. Ukraine6,901
  2. India4,939
  3. Germany3,492
  4. Pakistan3,234
  5. China2,606
  6. Netherlands2,125
  7. Poland2,106
  8. Romania1,708
  9. Afghanistan1,654
  10. Italy1,626
  11. Türkiye1,382
  12. United States1,359
  13. Spain1,358
  14. Syria1,336
  15. Bangladesh1,316
Work-related by citizenship, 2025
  1. India1,598
  2. China602
  3. Türkiye469
  4. United Kingdom320
  5. United States285
  6. Brazil206
  7. Iran139
  8. Canada103
  9. Pakistan103
  10. Philippines102
  11. Australia90
  12. Serbia83
  13. Japan82
  14. Vietnam74
  15. Russia72
Source: SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0)Data as at 2025

Sweden's embassies and consulates abroad

Countries in which Sweden has an embassy or consulate, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Afghanistan1——
Albania1——
Algeria1——
Argentina1——
Armenia1——
Australia1——
Austria1——
Azerbaijan1——
Bangladesh1——
Belarus1——
Belgium—1—
Bolivia1——
Bosnia and Herzegovina1——
Brazil1——
Burkina Faso1——
Canada1——
Chile1——
China11—
Colombia1——
Comoros1——
Croatia1——
Cuba1——
Cyprus1——
Czechia1——
DR Congo1——
Egypt1——
Estonia1——
Eswatini1——
Ethiopia1——
Finland1——
France1——
Georgia1——
Germany1——
Gibraltar——1
Greece1——
Guatemala1——
Hungary1——
Iceland1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Iran1——
Iraq1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Jordan1——
Kazakhstan1——
Kenya1——
Kosovo1——
Latvia1——
Lebanon1——
Liberia1——
Lithuania1——
Malaysia1——
Mali1——
Mexico1——
Moldova1——
Morocco1——
Mozambique1——
Nigeria1——
North Korea1——
North Macedonia1——
Norway1——
Pakistan1——
Philippines1——
Poland1—1
Portugal1——
Qatar1——
Romania1——
Russia11—
Rwanda1——
San Marino1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Serbia1——
Singapore1——
South Africa1——
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Sudan1——
Switzerland1——
Syria1——
Tanzania1——
Thailand1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye11—
Uganda1——
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom1——
United States113
Vietnam1——
Zambia1——
Zimbabwe1——
Countries
93
Missions
101
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances sent abroad

Personal remittances paid from Sweden to other countries, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances paid by year, US$ million

2,0954,1892000200320062009201220152018202120242025
2,0954,189200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000539
2001578
2002508
2003568
2004660
2005729
2006930
20071,056
20081,206
20091,071
20101,160
20111,390
20121,387
20131,745
20141,792
20152,429
20162,858
20173,572
20183,689
20193,368
20203,152
20213,844
20223,939
20234,044
20244,060
20254,189
Remittances paid, 2025
US$4,189 million
Average cost of sending US$200 from Sweden, 2023
4.9%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Corridors into Sweden

Nationalities with a dedicated corridor page.

  • India → Sweden
  • Pakistan → Sweden
  • China → Sweden
  • United States → Sweden
  • Thailand → Sweden
  • Afghanistan → Sweden
  • Poland → Sweden
  • Türkiye → Sweden
  • Germany → Sweden
  • Bangladesh → Sweden
  • Syria → Sweden
  • United Kingdom → Sweden
  • Eritrea → Sweden
  • Kenya → Sweden
  • Iran → Sweden
  • Sri Lanka → Sweden
  • Romania → Sweden
  • Philippines → Sweden
  • Nigeria → Sweden
  • Iraq → Sweden
  • Italy → Sweden
  • DR Congo → Sweden
  • Denmark → Sweden
  • Brazil → Sweden
  • Albania → Sweden
  • Netherlands → Sweden
  • Finland → Sweden
  • Canada → Sweden
  • Vietnam → Sweden
  • Spain → Sweden
  • Norway → Sweden
  • Australia → Sweden
  • Japan → Sweden
  • Russia → Sweden
  • France → Sweden
  • Nepal → Sweden
  • Serbia → Sweden
  • Greece → Sweden
  • Ethiopia → Sweden
  • Morocco → Sweden
  • Ukraine → Sweden
  • Singapore → Sweden
  • Kosovo → Sweden
  • Egypt → Sweden
  • Lithuania → Sweden
  • Latvia → Sweden
  • Croatia → Sweden
  • Somalia → Sweden
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more