Percentage of one-person households in Sweden

Sweden: Percentage of one-person households was 42.5% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
42.5%
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
4th
of 67 countries
All-time high
43.4%
in 2009
All-time low
39.5%
in 2007
Years of data
15
2004–2018

Percentage of one-person households in Sweden, 2004–2018

0102030402004201120182004: 41.7 %2005: 41.8 %2006: 41.3 %2007: 39.5 %2008: 40.2 %2009: 43.4 %2010: 41.1 %2011: 40.7 %2012: 40.8 %2013: 41.8 %2014: 41.7 %2015: 41.6 %2016: 41.9 %2017: 41.2 %2018: 42.5 %

Source: UN, national statistical agencies, OECD, and Deutschland in Daten (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for percentage of one-person households in Sweden is 42.5%, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, percentage of one-person households in Sweden peaked at 43.4% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 39.5%, in 2007.

Sweden ranks 4th of 67 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Percentage of one-person households in Sweden, year by year

Annual values for Percentage of one-person households in Sweden, 2004 to 2018.
Year % Change
2004 41.7% —
2005 41.8% +0.2%
2006 41.3% -1.2%
2007 39.5% -4.4%
2008 40.2% +1.8%
2009 43.4% +8.0%
2010 41.1% -5.3%
2011 40.7% -1.0%
2012 40.8% +0.2%
2013 41.8% +2.5%
2014 41.7% -0.2%
2015 41.6% -0.2%
2016 41.9% +0.7%
2017 41.2% -1.7%
2018 42.5% +3.2%

Sweden compared with similar countries

  • Sweden's 42.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.4%, 1.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
  • Sweden's 42.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 32.6%, 1.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 41.3% 39.5% 43.4% 6
2010s 41.5% 40.7% 42.5% 9

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 1 Norway 45.8% compare
  2. 2 Denmark 44.1% compare
  3. 3 Finland 43.0% compare
  4. 5 Germany 41.7% compare
  5. 6 Estonia 40.3% compare
  6. 7 Netherlands 38.3% compare

See the full ranking of 67 places →

More reference data data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is percentage of one-person households in Sweden?
Percentage of one-person households in Sweden was 42.5% in 2018, according to UN, national statistical agencies, OECD, and Deutschland in Daten (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest percentage of one-person households recorded in Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 43.4% in 2009.
What is the lowest percentage of one-person households recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 39.5% in 2007.
How does Sweden rank for percentage of one-person households?
Sweden ranks 4th out of 67 countries with data for 2018.
Is percentage of one-person households rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sweden data come from?
The figures come from UN, national statistical agencies, OECD, and Deutschland in Daten (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Percentage of one-person households. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Percentage of one-person households in Sweden. Statizoid, drawing on UN, national statistical agencies, OECD, and Deutschland in Daten (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/one-person-households/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Percentage of one-person households
Unit
%
Source
UN, national statistical agencies, OECD, and Deutschland in Daten (2021) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
67 places, 726 data points, 1960–2018
Last refreshed

Number of one-person households as a share of the total number of households. Estimates combine multiple sources, including cross-country surveys and census data.