Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Swedish Armed Forces - Statistics & Facts
The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) is an authority in Sweden with the responsibility to defend the country, support peacekeeping military operations, provide humanitarian aid, and protect broader national interests. It is led by the Supreme Commander and consists of the Navy, the Air Forces and the Army, including the Home Guard (Hemvärnet). In 2023, the Swedish Armed Forces was the most trusted authority in Sweden, with two thirds percent of the population declaring their confidence in the organization.
For a long time, Sweden practiced a policy of neutrality, through which it successfully avoided to become involved in any major war since 1814, including WWI and WWII. However, as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the international security order was severely altered, and the Government decided to apply to join the military alliance NATO, together with neighboring Finland. At the end of June 2022, the two countries were formally invited to join the alliance. Following prolonged discussions with NATO-member Turkey, the two finally reached an agreement in July 2023, paving the way for a Swedish NATO-membership. The Government's decision to apply for membership followed the opinion of the population, where 62 percent were in favor of joining NATO as of May 2023. Even though it has not been a member of the alliance, it has been a close ally and cooperated thoroughly with it. Moreover, it works closely together both with the European Union and the other Nordic countries on defense.
One of the major targets of the Swedish Armed Forces is to support international peacekeeping, and it has been involved in several international operations throughout history, including in Kosovo (KFOR), Libya (2011), Afghanistan (ISAF/RSM), and most recently in Mali (MINUSMA/EUTM). After the missions in Afghanistan and Mali ended in 2021 and 2023, respectively, less than 30 people were deployed in international operations, most of them in training and logistics. In total, the Armed Forces' budget for international operations was one billion Swedish kronor in 2022.
For a long time, Sweden practiced a policy of neutrality, through which it successfully avoided to become involved in any major war since 1814, including WWI and WWII. However, as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the international security order was severely altered, and the Government decided to apply to join the military alliance NATO, together with neighboring Finland. At the end of June 2022, the two countries were formally invited to join the alliance. Following prolonged discussions with NATO-member Turkey, the two finally reached an agreement in July 2023, paving the way for a Swedish NATO-membership. The Government's decision to apply for membership followed the opinion of the population, where 62 percent were in favor of joining NATO as of May 2023. Even though it has not been a member of the alliance, it has been a close ally and cooperated thoroughly with it. Moreover, it works closely together both with the European Union and the other Nordic countries on defense.
Personnel and international operations
In 2010, military conscription in Sweden was suspended. However, due to the increase of Russian activities in the Baltic Region and unsuccessful efforts to fill the ranks, Sweden reintroduced conscription for both men and women in 2017. In total, the Swedish Armed Forces’ personnel amounted to 25,000 employees in 2022, of which around 9,500 were officers. The large majority of the personnel is men, but there are differences between the military and civil employees. Moreover, there are also significant age differences between the different ranks, with 55 to 59 years being the most common age of commissioned officers, whereas those of other ranks predominantly were between 25 and 29 years of age.One of the major targets of the Swedish Armed Forces is to support international peacekeeping, and it has been involved in several international operations throughout history, including in Kosovo (KFOR), Libya (2011), Afghanistan (ISAF/RSM), and most recently in Mali (MINUSMA/EUTM). After the missions in Afghanistan and Mali ended in 2021 and 2023, respectively, less than 30 people were deployed in international operations, most of them in training and logistics. In total, the Armed Forces' budget for international operations was one billion Swedish kronor in 2022.
Increasing military spending
Due to Russia's war in Georgia in 2008, and then the annexation of Crimea and the following war in Eastern Ukraine in 2014, the Swedish Government decided to increase military spending, and the share of Swedes who thought that the country needs a military defense increased in the following years. Indeed, military spending is expected to continue to rise in the coming years, partly as a result of increasing Russian activity in the Baltic Sea. By far, the highest share of the Swedish Armed Forces' expenditure in 2022 went to organizing and developing the organization.
