Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Education in Sweden - statistics & facts
Access to free education is a key priority in Sweden, and the population is becoming increasingly more educated. The usual trajectory of education in Sweden starts with preschool and ends with higher education. Nearly one in four of the Swedish population between 16 and 74 years have attained a post-secondary education of three years or more.
After preschool, the next step on the education ladder is primary school. However, before moving on to this, children can attend one year of so-called preschool classes, which prerpare them for primary school. Primary school institutions are overseen by municipalities and consist of nine years of compulsory education. The nine years are divided into three stages: lower school, intermediate school, and junior high school. The number of primary schools decreased over the past decade and amounted to 4,667 institutions in the school year 2023/24. However, the number of pupils attending primary school increased annually over the same period, reaching more than 1.1 million pupils in 2023/24, a development which resulted in a constant increase in the average number of pupils per primary school in the country.
Over the recent years, the number of higher education students in the Scandinavian country increased. In 2023, 383,000 students were registered at higher education institutions in Sweden. Of these, more than 60 percent were women. The most popular field of study among both female and male students is law and social sciences. Among doctoral (PhD) students, however, health and medical studies is the most popular field of study.
Preschool and primary school
Preschools are overseen on a municipal level in Sweden, and attendance is optional and available for children from one year up to the fall semester when they turn six. In 2023, nearly 87 percent of all children of preschool age were attending one of the 9,129 preschools in the country. That was the highest share during the last 10 years. While children can enter preschool from the age of one, preschool attendance is most common among five-year-olds.After preschool, the next step on the education ladder is primary school. However, before moving on to this, children can attend one year of so-called preschool classes, which prerpare them for primary school. Primary school institutions are overseen by municipalities and consist of nine years of compulsory education. The nine years are divided into three stages: lower school, intermediate school, and junior high school. The number of primary schools decreased over the past decade and amounted to 4,667 institutions in the school year 2023/24. However, the number of pupils attending primary school increased annually over the same period, reaching more than 1.1 million pupils in 2023/24, a development which resulted in a constant increase in the average number of pupils per primary school in the country.
Upper secondary and higher education
Contrary to primary school, upper secondary education is optional in Sweden. 367,000 students were registered in the 1,296 upper secondary schools in the school year 2023/24, which was the highest number of students during the last 10 years. Hence, there were 283 students per upper secondary school in Sweden. Upper secondary education in Sweden is divided between programs preparing the students for higher education, and programs preparing them for vocational education. Upper secondary education in Sweden usually lasts three years.Over the recent years, the number of higher education students in the Scandinavian country increased. In 2023, 383,000 students were registered at higher education institutions in Sweden. Of these, more than 60 percent were women. The most popular field of study among both female and male students is law and social sciences. Among doctoral (PhD) students, however, health and medical studies is the most popular field of study.
