Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Sweden
Sweden: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 13.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Sweden, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 13.9% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Sweden peaked at 13.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
Sweden ranks 99th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2005 | 11.4% | — |
| 2010 | 12.4% | +8.7% |
| 2015 | 13.1% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 13.9% | +6.5% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 13.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 15.3%, 91% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 13.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.6%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 0.0% | 11.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 12.4% | 13.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
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 share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Sweden?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Sweden was 13.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 13.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Sweden rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Sweden ranks 99th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.