Sweden population pyramid 2026
10,701,046 people in 2026 (projected). Sweden’s near-rectangular pyramid is ridged by fertility swings, and immigration keeps it growing even though deaths now slightly outnumber births.
- 2026 population
- 10.7Mrank 91 of 237
- Median age
- 40.4 yearsoldest rank 59
- Fertility rate
- 1.44births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older21.1% age 65+
Sweden population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Sweden age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 16.4% of the population, while 21.1% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 62.5% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Sweden’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 60.0: about 60 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (26.3 children and 33.7 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Sweden’s population pyramid
Boom, bust, boom again
Sweden’s pyramid has had a nearly straight-sided shape for decades: in 1950 life expectancy was already about 71 years and fertility only about 2.3, so even the 1950 chart lacks the wide base of a young population. What marks it instead is a series of ridges, because Swedish fertility has moved in unusually large waves. The 1950 pyramid already shows the first, with the large cohorts of the 1940s sitting below the small cohorts born in the 1930s.
The most visible swing in 2026 dates from around 1990. Fertility rose from about 1.7 in 1980 to 2.1 in 1990, one of the highest levels in Europe at the time, then fell back to about 1.5 by 2000 during and after a deep recession in the early 1990s. The cohorts born 1987–91 now form the widest band, at ages 35–39, about 9% larger than their neighbours, while those born 1997–2001 form a notch about 10% smaller at ages 25–29. A second recovery, to about 2.0 in 2010, is visible as the fuller 10–19 bands, and the latest fall, to about 1.4, has narrowed the 0–4 band again.
Growth carried by immigration
Natural increase has almost stopped. Deaths first exceeded births in 1997, and in 2026 the two are nearly equal, at about 96,000 births and 98,000 deaths. Net migration, about 0.78 million between 1950 and 1999 and 1.35 million between 2000 and 2023, has nevertheless kept the population growing. Arrivals of refugees and other migrants, including the large asylum inflow of 2015, have added mostly young adults. This helps explain why the 25–29 band, though small, has about 112 men per 100 women, a higher ratio than at any other age under 70.
Above 70, women’s longer lives tip the balance the other way, but less sharply than in much of Europe: at 80–84 there are still about 86 men per 100 women, reflecting a gap of only 3.5 years in life expectancy. The structure most closely resembles those of the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark, and its regular, rectangular outline is close to the stationary pyramid model.
The medium scenario has Sweden growing slowly to a peak of about 11.4 million in 2079, with net migration of roughly 0.87 million between 2026 and 2050. Sweden ranks high in the life expectancy ranking, and by 2050 about a quarter of its people are projected to be 65 or older.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Sweden’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
Deaths have exceeded births every year since 2026; they also did so in 1997, but births then outnumbered deaths again. People aged 65 and older came to outnumber children under 15 between 2005 and 2010.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Sweden is projected to record 96,301 births (about 264 births a day) and 97,652 deaths, a natural decrease of 1,351. Net migration adds +42,755 people, ranking #30 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 2,573,332 births, 2,207,909 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +1,354,330. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +866,727 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 85.5 years72.4 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 82.0 years69.8 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 21.3 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 1.7per 1,000 births · 20 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 2.3per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 31.7 yearssex ratio at birth 105.5
Women in Sweden are projected to live 3.5 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 20 to 1.7 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #227 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 31.7 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Sweden
The median age of 40.4 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.44 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 83.7 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,701,046 | #91 | Largest first |
| Median age | 40.4 years | #59 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | #185 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +0.4% | #149 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 83.7 years | #19 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 21.1% | #39 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Sweden
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35–39 | 768,940 | 7.2% | 394.3K / 374.7K |
| 2 | 30–34 | 728,913 | 6.8% | 374.6K / 354.3K |
| 3 | 40–44 | 678,929 | 6.3% | 349.5K / 329.5K |
| 4 | 50–54 | 667,488 | 6.2% | 338.6K / 328.9K |
| 5 | 55–59 | 664,610 | 6.2% | 336K / 328.6K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Sweden has 5,392,632 males and 5,308,414 females. That is 101.6 males per 100 females, ranking #53 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 50.4% of the population and females for 49.6%. There are 84,218 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 88.6 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.5 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Sweden has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 7,016,566 in 1950 to 10,701,046 in 2026, a change of 53%. Over the same span, median age moved from 33.2 to 40.4 years.
The under-15 share changed from 23.3% to 16.4%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 10.2% to 21.1%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Sweden’s population is projected to grow by about 6%, reaching 11,309,630 in 2050. The median age changes from 40.4 to 44.1 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 4.6 percentage points to 25.7%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 14.4%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 11,432,678 in 2079. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7,016,566 | 33.2 | 2.29 | 71.1 | 115,287 | 70,184 | +15,726 | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 7,484,596 | 35.1 | 2.17 | 73.0 | 100,841 | 75,090 | +1,080 | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 8,042,780 | 34.4 | 1.92 | 74.7 | 109,578 | 79,999 | +47,242 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 8,310,469 | 35.1 | 1.67 | 75.7 | 96,593 | 91,771 | +10,040 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 8,558,568 | 37.4 | 2.12 | 77.6 | 122,849 | 95,102 | +35,668 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 8,872,101 | 38.4 | 1.54 | 79.7 | 90,029 | 93,406 | +24,900 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 9,378,232 | 39.7 | 1.97 | 81.5 | 114,261 | 90,681 | +51,175 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 10,353,686 | 39.6 | 1.67 | 82.4 | 112,697 | 98,379 | +37,302 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 10,551,494 | 39.9 | 1.43 | 83.3 | 97,915 | 93,944 | +55,209 | +0.6% |
| 2024* | 10,606,999 | 40.1 | 1.43 | 83.4 | 97,489 | 95,768 | +50,115 | +0.5% |
| 2026* | 10,701,046 | 40.4 | 1.44 | 83.7 | 96,301 | 97,652 | +42,755 | +0.4% |
| 2030* | 10,841,810 | 41.3 | 1.46 | 84.3 | 94,119 | 102,975 | +37,429 | +0.3% |
| 2040* | 11,078,602 | 43.7 | 1.50 | 85.6 | 104,075 | 113,651 | +33,995 | +0.2% |
| 2050* | 11,309,630 | 44.1 | 1.52 | 86.8 | 104,787 | 116,786 | +31,031 | +0.2% |
| 2060* | 11,391,496 | 45.9 | 1.55 | 87.9 | 94,834 | 123,530 | +29,887 | +0.0% |
| 2070* | 11,403,528 | 47.6 | 1.56 | 89.0 | 97,448 | 124,392 | +30,665 | +0.0% |
| 2080* | 11,431,817 | 47.6 | 1.57 | 90.1 | 99,747 | 130,357 | +28,418 | -0.0% |
| 2090* | 11,392,754 | 47.7 | 1.57 | 91.2 | 94,565 | 126,374 | +29,879 | -0.0% |
| 2100* | 11,366,896 | 48.6 | 1.58 | 92.2 | 94,714 | 127,517 | +26,976 | -0.1% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 264,574 | 250,479 | 515,053 | 4.8% |
| 5–9 | 313,165 | 295,955 | 609,120 | 5.7% |
| 10–14 | 326,420 | 307,394 | 633,814 | 5.9% |
| 15–19 | 332,207 | 313,000 | 645,207 | 6.0% |
| 20–24 | 325,565 | 305,794 | 631,359 | 5.9% |
| 25–29 | 324,501 | 288,752 | 613,253 | 5.7% |
| 30–34 | 374,600 | 354,313 | 728,913 | 6.8% |
| 35–39 | 394,261 | 374,679 | 768,940 | 7.2% |
| 40–44 | 349,475 | 329,454 | 678,929 | 6.3% |
| 45–49 | 328,676 | 315,490 | 644,166 | 6.0% |
| 50–54 | 338,560 | 328,928 | 667,488 | 6.2% |
| 55–59 | 336,019 | 328,591 | 664,610 | 6.2% |
| 60–64 | 324,729 | 319,365 | 644,094 | 6.0% |
| 65–69 | 275,356 | 278,296 | 553,652 | 5.2% |
| 70–74 | 249,488 | 261,276 | 510,764 | 4.8% |
| 75–79 | 234,735 | 257,805 | 492,540 | 4.6% |
| 80–84 | 181,087 | 210,566 | 391,653 | 3.7% |
| 85–89 | 83,951 | 115,987 | 199,938 | 1.9% |
| 90–94 | 28,910 | 53,590 | 82,500 | 0.8% |
| 95–99 | 5,827 | 16,368 | 22,195 | 0.2% |
| 100+ | 528 | 2,334 | 2,862 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Sweden’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- United Kingdom98% overlap · median age 40.2
- Norway97% overlap · median age 40.1
- Denmark97% overlap · median age 41.3
- Belgium97% overlap · median age 42.1
- Australia96% overlap · median age 38.5
- New Zealand96% overlap · median age 38.0
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Sweden.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Sweden Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/sweden/
MLA
“Sweden Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/sweden/.
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World Population Pyramid. “Sweden Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/sweden/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sweden in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Sweden's population in 2026 is projected at 10,701,046.
What is the median age in Sweden?
The projected median age in Sweden in 2026 is 40.4 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Sweden?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.44 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Sweden's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 6%, from 10.7M to 11.3M.
What share of Sweden is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 21.1% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 25.7%.
How many babies are born in Sweden each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 96,301 births and 97,652 deaths in 2026, about 264 births a day. Deaths exceed births by 1,351.
What is life expectancy in Sweden for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 85.5 years for women and 82.0 years for men, a gap of 3.5 years in favour of women.
Does Sweden have more immigrants or emigrants?
Sweden is projected to gain about 42,755 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +1,354,330.
What is the sex ratio in Sweden?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 101.6 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.