In Sweden, the share of elderly of the total population has increased since 1970. Whereas people aged 65 years or more made up below 14 percent of the population in 1970, they made up over 20 percent of the population in 2023. In total, the population in Sweden increased steadily over the past decade and amounted to 10.55 million in 2023.
Aging population
As the average life expectancy at birth in Sweden increased over the past decade, meaning that people live longer, and the birth rate decreased during the same period, the average age of Swedes reached almost 42 years in 2022.
Aging population means smaller labor force
The aging population brings future challenges for the Swedish society. The increasing number of elderly needs care, but simultaneously, there will be fewer people at working age to take care of the elderly. At the same time, there will be fewer people available for other jobs as more people retire. By 2030, it is estimated that the share of the labor force aged 64 years or more will increase by two percent.
Share of population in Sweden aged 65 years or more in selected years from 1970 to 2023, by age group
Characteristic
Elderly population percentage
2023
20.6%
2022
20.4%
2021
20.3%
2020
21.1%
2019
20%
2018
19.9%
2017
19.8%
2016
19.8%
2015
19.8%
2010
18.5%
2000
17.2%
1990
17.8%
1980
16.4%
1970
13.8%
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Statistics Sweden. (February 22, 2024). Share of population in Sweden aged 65 years or more in selected years from 1970 to 2023, by age group [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/525637/sweden-elderly-share-of-the-total-population-by-age-group/
Statistics Sweden. "Share of population in Sweden aged 65 years or more in selected years from 1970 to 2023, by age group." Chart. February 22, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/525637/sweden-elderly-share-of-the-total-population-by-age-group/
Statistics Sweden. (2024). Share of population in Sweden aged 65 years or more in selected years from 1970 to 2023, by age group. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/525637/sweden-elderly-share-of-the-total-population-by-age-group/
Statistics Sweden. "Share of Population in Sweden Aged 65 Years or More in Selected Years from 1970 to 2023, by Age Group." Statista, Statista Inc., 22 Feb 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/525637/sweden-elderly-share-of-the-total-population-by-age-group/
Statistics Sweden, Share of population in Sweden aged 65 years or more in selected years from 1970 to 2023, by age group Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/525637/sweden-elderly-share-of-the-total-population-by-age-group/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Share of population in Sweden aged 65 years or more in selected years from 1970 to 2023, by age group [Graph], Statistics Sweden, February 22, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/525637/sweden-elderly-share-of-the-total-population-by-age-group/
