Economy, jobs and prices in Malmö, Sweden: official figures
At SEK 292,900 in 2024, Malmö was below the Swedish level of SEK 311,000 on the median net income of residents aged 20 and over, putting it 2nd lowest among the large Swedish cities.
What is the median salary in Malmö?
Malmö ranked 12th of 13 large Swedish cities on the median earned income of residents aged 20-64 in 2024, at SEK 369,100 against a national figure of SEK 401,400.
Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Malmö?
The share of residents aged 18-65 registered as openly unemployed in Malmö came to 5.6% in 2025, the highest among the large Swedish cities (Sweden: 3.1%), down from 6.9% in 2020.
Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Malmö?
The unemployment rate in Malmö was 9.4% in 2024 (9.2% for women, 9.6% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Malmö?
180,145 jobs were based in Malmö in 2018; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (32% of jobs) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (23%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people commute to Malmö?
53,173 people commuted into Malmö for work in 2018 and 34,764 commuted out.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Malmö?
Tourist accommodation in Malmö recorded 1,878,472 nights in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Malmö?
There were 276 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2018.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- New companies started per 1,000 residents aged 16-64 in Malmö stood at 13.5 in 2025, down from 13.8 in 2020; the figure for Sweden was 11.5. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- In 2024, the employment rate of foreign-born residents aged 20-64 in Malmö was 65.9%, compared with 70.4% for Sweden as a whole; that was 2nd lowest among the large Swedish cities. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- At 6.9% in 2025, Malmö was above the Swedish level of 3.8% on the share of residents aged 25-65 who are long-term unemployed, putting it 2nd highest among the large Swedish cities. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- 73% of people in Malmö were satisfied with public transport (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 39% of people in Malmö agreed that it is easy to find a good job in the city (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Malmö compares with other cities in Sweden
The median net income of residents aged 20 and over (2024)
Malmö ranks 12 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | The median net income of residents aged 20 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Helsingborg | SEK 303,300 |
| 8 | Lund | SEK 301,400 |
| 9 | Borås | SEK 297,300 |
| 10 | Norrköping | SEK 295,300 |
| 11 | Orebro | SEK 294,300 |
| 12 | Malmö | SEK 292,900 |
| 13 | Södertälje | SEK 291,400 |
The share of residents aged 18-65 registered as openly unemployed (2025)
Malmö ranks 1 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | The share of residents aged 18-65 registered as openly unemployed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malmö | 5.6% |
| 2 | Södertälje | 4.9% |
| 3 | Helsingborg | 4.9% |
| 4 | Göteborg | 3.8% |
| 5 | Stockholm | 3.6% |
| 6 | Västerås | 3.5% |
| 7 | Norrköping | 3.5% |
New companies started per 1,000 residents aged 16-64 (2025)
Malmö ranks 2 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | New companies started per 1,000 residents aged 16-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockholm | 15.5 |
| 2 | Malmö | 13.5 |
| 3 | Helsingborg | 13.1 |
| 4 | Göteborg | 12.7 |
| 5 | Västerås | 11.1 |
| 6 | Borås | 11.0 |
| 7 | Södertälje | 11.0 |
Unemployment rate (2024)
Malmö ranks 1 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malmö | 9.4% |
| 2 | Helsingborg | 8.2% |
| 3 | Södertälje | 8.1% |
| 4 | Norrköping | 6.9% |
| 5 | Västerås | 6.2% |
| 6 | Orebro | 5.5% |
| 7 | Borås | 5.3% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2018)
Malmö ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Linköping | 355 |
| 7 | Umeå | 350 |
| 8 | Uppsala | 314 |
| 9 | Lund | 299 |
| 10 | Malmö | 276 |
| 11 | Stockholm | 270 |
| 12 | Göteborg | 218 |
Tourist nights (2018)
Malmö ranks 3 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockholm | 11,442,249 |
| 2 | Göteborg | 4,194,404 |
| 3 | Malmö | 1,878,472 |
| 4 | Helsingborg | 770,992 |
| 5 | Orebro | 710,184 |
| 6 | Umeå | 675,530 |
| 7 | Uppsala | 629,876 |
More on Malmö: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · all cities in Sweden
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada: Kolada key figures for 13 large Swedish municipalities and Sweden (municipal finances, tax rates, schools, social assistance, reported crime, housing, income, jobs, elected representatives), 2015-2026, Kolada API v3, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9dd73cdde6c8…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
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