Average HDL cholesterol levels in Sweden
Sweden: Average HDL cholesterol levels was 1.5 in 2018. ▲ Rising
Average HDL cholesterol levels in Sweden, 1980–2018
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, average hdl cholesterol levels in Sweden stood at 1.5. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hdl cholesterol levels in Sweden peaked at 1.5 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 1.4, in 1980.
That places Sweden 3rd out of 191 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Average HDL cholesterol levels in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.4 | — |
| 1981 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.5 | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 1.5 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.4, 1.1× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 1.5 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.4, 1.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.49 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 1 Japan 1.6 compare
- 1 Luxembourg 1.6 compare
- 3 Australia 1.5 compare
- 3 Austria 1.5 compare
- 3 Belgium 1.5 compare
- 3 Czechia 1.5 compare
- 3 Finland 1.5 compare
- 3 France 1.5 compare
- 3 Germany 1.5 compare
- 3 Iceland 1.5 compare
- 3 Ireland 1.5 compare
- 3 Latvia 1.5 compare
- 3 Switzerland 1.5 compare
- 3 United Kingdom 1.5 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 average hdl cholesterol levels in Sweden?
- Average hdl cholesterol levels in Sweden was 1.5 in 2018, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hdl cholesterol levels recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5 in 2011.
- What is the lowest average hdl cholesterol levels recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4 in 1980.
- How does Sweden rank for average hdl cholesterol levels?
- Sweden ranks 3rd out of 191 countries with data for 2018.
- Is average hdl cholesterol levels rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average HDL cholesterol levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated average level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, commonly known as "good cholesterol". Healthy levels are considered to be 1mmol/L or above for men or 1.2mmol/L or above for women.