Fertility rate: births per woman in Sweden
Sweden: Fertility rate: births per woman was 1.43 live births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.43 live births per woman
Change on year
down 7.0%
World rank
188th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.14 live births per woman
in 1891
All-time low
1.43 live births per woman
in 2023
Years of data
133
1891–2023
Fertility rate: births per woman in Sweden, 1891–2023
Source: Human Fertility Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in live births per woman.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 1.43 live births per woman for fertility rate: births per woman in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 133 years on record.
The figure is down 7.0% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate: births per woman in Sweden peaked at 4.14 live births per woman in 1891 and was at its lowest, 1.43 live births per woman, in 2023.
That places Sweden 188th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 133 years of available data.
Fertility rate: births per woman in Sweden, year by year
| Year | live births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1891 | 4.14 live births per woman | — |
| 1892 | 3.97 live births per woman | -4.2% |
| 1893 | 4.04 live births per woman | +1.8% |
| 1894 | 4.02 live births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1895 | 4.08 live births per woman | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 4.05 live births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1897 | 3.98 live births per woman | -1.8% |
| 1898 | 4.04 live births per woman | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 3.93 live births per woman | -2.8% |
| 1900 | 4.01 live births per woman | +2.1% |
| 1901 | 4.01 live births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1902 | 3.93 live births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1903 | 3.81 live births per woman | -2.9% |
| 1904 | 3.81 live births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1905 | 3.8 live births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1906 | 3.79 live births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1907 | 3.75 live births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1908 | 3.75 live births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 3.73 live births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1910 | 3.57 live births per woman | -4.2% |
| 1911 | 3.45 live births per woman | -3.4% |
| 1912 | 3.4 live births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1913 | 3.29 live births per woman | -3.3% |
| 1914 | 3.23 live births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1915 | 3.03 live births per woman | -6.1% |
| 1916 | 2.96 live births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1917 | 2.9 live births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1918 | 2.8 live births per woman | -3.3% |
| 1919 | 2.71 live births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1920 | 3.2 live births per woman | +18.2% |
| 1921 | 2.9 live births per woman | -9.3% |
| 1922 | 2.63 live births per woman | -9.4% |
| 1923 | 2.52 live births per woman | -4.0% |
| 1924 | 2.4 live births per woman | -4.9% |
| 1925 | 2.31 live births per woman | -3.8% |
| 1926 | 2.19 live births per woman | -5.0% |
| 1927 | 2.08 live births per woman | -5.2% |
| 1928 | 2.05 live births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1929 | 1.93 live births per woman | -6.2% |
| 1930 | 1.93 live births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1931 | 1.85 live births per woman | -4.4% |
| 1932 | 1.8 live births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1933 | 1.69 live births per woman | -6.2% |
| 1934 | 1.68 live births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1935 | 1.68 live births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 1.73 live births per woman | +3.0% |
| 1937 | 1.75 live births per woman | +1.1% |
| 1938 | 1.8 live births per woman | +3.4% |
| 1939 | 1.86 live births per woman | +3.2% |
| 1940 | 1.82 live births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1941 | 1.89 live births per woman | +3.8% |
| 1942 | 2.16 live births per woman | +14.2% |
| 1943 | 2.38 live births per woman | +10.1% |
| 1944 | 2.57 live births per woman | +7.9% |
| 1945 | 2.59 live births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1946 | 2.54 live births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1947 | 2.48 live births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1948 | 2.45 live births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1949 | 2.37 live births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1950 | 2.29 live births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1951 | 2.21 live births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1952 | 2.23 live births per woman | +0.9% |
| 1953 | 2.25 live births per woman | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 2.18 live births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1955 | 2.25 live births per woman | +3.0% |
| 1956 | 2.29 live births per woman | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 2.28 live births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 2.25 live births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1959 | 2.23 live births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1960 | 2.17 live births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 2.2 live births per woman | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 2.24 live births per woman | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 2.31 live births per woman | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 2.45 live births per woman | +5.7% |
| 1965 | 2.4 live births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 2.36 live births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1967 | 2.27 live births per woman | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 2.07 live births per woman | -8.5% |
| 1969 | 1.93 live births per woman | -6.9% |
| 1970 | 1.92 live births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 1.96 live births per woman | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 1.91 live births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 1.87 live births per woman | -2.2% |
| 1974 | 1.87 live births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 1.77 live births per woman | -5.4% |
| 1976 | 1.68 live births per woman | -4.8% |
| 1977 | 1.64 live births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 1.6 live births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 1.65 live births per woman | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 1.67 live births per woman | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 1.63 live births per woman | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 1.62 live births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 1.61 live births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 1.66 live births per woman | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.73 live births per woman | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 1.79 live births per woman | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 1.84 live births per woman | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 1.96 live births per woman | +6.1% |
| 1989 | 2.02 live births per woman | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 2.12 live births per woman | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 2.11 live births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 2.08 live births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 1.99 live births per woman | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 1.88 live births per woman | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 1.73 live births per woman | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 1.6 live births per woman | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 1.53 live births per woman | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 1.51 live births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.5 live births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 1.54 live births per woman | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 1.57 live births per woman | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 1.65 live births per woman | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 1.71 live births per woman | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 1.75 live births per woman | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.77 live births per woman | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 1.85 live births per woman | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.88 live births per woman | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 1.91 live births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 1.93 live births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 1.97 live births per woman | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 1.9 live births per woman | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 1.9 live births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.89 live births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 1.88 live births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 1.85 live births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.85 live births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.78 live births per woman | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 1.75 live births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 1.71 live births per woman | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 1.67 live births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 1.67 live births per woman | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 1.54 live births per woman | -7.8% |
| 2023 | 1.43 live births per woman | -7.0% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 1.43 live births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.5 live births per woman, 95% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 1.43 live births per woman is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.49 live births per woman, 96% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 4.03 live births per woman | 3.93 live births per woman | 4.14 live births per woman | 9 |
| 1900s | 3.84 live births per woman | 3.73 live births per woman | 4.01 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1910s | 3.13 live births per woman | 2.71 live births per woman | 3.57 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.42 live births per woman | 1.93 live births per woman | 3.2 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.78 live births per woman | 1.68 live births per woman | 1.93 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.33 live births per woman | 1.82 live births per woman | 2.59 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.25 live births per woman | 2.18 live births per woman | 2.29 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.24 live births per woman | 1.93 live births per woman | 2.45 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.79 live births per woman | 1.6 live births per woman | 1.96 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.75 live births per woman | 1.61 live births per woman | 2.02 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8 live births per woman | 1.5 live births per woman | 2.12 live births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.76 live births per woman | 1.54 live births per woman | 1.93 live births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.85 live births per woman | 1.71 live births per woman | 1.97 live births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.58 live births per woman | 1.43 live births per woman | 1.67 live births per woman | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 185 Germany 1.44 live births per woman compare
- 186 Cuba 1.44 live births per woman compare
- 187 Switzerland 1.43 live births per woman compare
- 188 Netherlands 1.43 live births per woman compare
- 190 Wallis and Futuna 1.41 live births per woman compare
- 191 Uruguay 1.41 live births per woman compare
More reference data data for Sweden
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4328 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2237 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9766 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.12 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate: births per woman in Sweden?
- Fertility rate: births per woman in Sweden was 1.43 live births per woman in 2023, according to Human Fertility Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate: births per woman recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 4.14 live births per woman in 1891.
- What is the lowest fertility rate: births per woman recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.43 live births per woman in 2023.
- How does Sweden rank for fertility rate: births per woman?
- Sweden ranks 188th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate: births per woman rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Human Fertility Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate: births per woman. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average number of live births a hypothetical cohort of women would have at the end of their reproductive period if they were subject during their whole lives to the fertility rates of a given period and if they were not subject to mortality.