Education in Malmö, Sweden: official figures
In 2026, the average grade score (meritvärde, 17 subjects) of year 9 pupils at schools in the municipality in Malmö was 235.5, compared with 229.7 for Sweden as a whole; that was 5th highest among the large Swedish cities.
How much does Malmö spend per pupil?
The cost per pupil of compulsory school (F-9) in Malmö came to SEK 134,069 in 2025, 6th highest among the large Swedish cities (Sweden: SEK 138,691), up from SEK 114,688 in 2020.
Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Malmö?
64% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2018 (641 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Malmö have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Malmö in 2025, 50% had a degree-level education, 33% an upper secondary education and 17% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- At 84.4% in 2026, Malmö was above the Swedish level of 83.6% on the share of year 9 pupils eligible for a vocational upper secondary programme, putting it 5th highest among the large Swedish cities. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- Malmö ranked 6th of 13 large Swedish cities on pupils per full-time teacher in compulsory school years 1-9 in 2025, at 12.1 against a national figure of 11.9. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- The share of children aged 1-5 enrolled in preschool in Malmö stood at 84.2% in 2025, up from 83.3% in 2020; the figure for Sweden was 86.4%. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- In 2025, the share of residents aged 25-64 with post-secondary education in Malmö was 56.1%, compared with 48.5% for Sweden as a whole; that was 7th highest among the large Swedish cities. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- 54% of people in Malmö were satisfied with schools and other educational facilities (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Malmö compares with other cities in Sweden
The average grade score (meritvärde, 17 subjects) of year 9 pupils at schools in the municipality (2026)
Malmö ranks 5 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | The average grade score (meritvärde, 17 subjects) of year 9 pupils at schools in the municipality |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Lund | 254.5 |
| 3 | Uppsala | 245.5 |
| 4 | Södertälje | 238.9 |
| 5 | Malmö | 235.5 |
| 6 | Linköping | 232.8 |
| 7 | Umeå | 231.8 |
| 8 | Göteborg | 231.2 |
The share of year 9 pupils eligible for a vocational upper secondary programme (2026)
Malmö ranks 5 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | The share of year 9 pupils eligible for a vocational upper secondary programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Stockholm | 89.2% |
| 3 | Umeå | 88.3% |
| 4 | Uppsala | 85.8% |
| 5 | Malmö | 84.4% |
| 6 | Södertälje | 83.5% |
| 7 | Helsingborg | 82.8% |
| 8 | Linköping | 82.6% |
The cost per pupil of compulsory school (F-9) (2025)
Malmö ranks 6 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | The cost per pupil of compulsory school (F-9) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Södertälje | SEK 144,321 |
| 4 | Lund | SEK 144,154 |
| 5 | Linköping | SEK 139,665 |
| 6 | Malmö | SEK 134,069 |
| 7 | Västerås | SEK 133,291 |
| 8 | Norrköping | SEK 132,828 |
| 9 | Orebro | SEK 132,120 |
Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 (2018)
Malmö ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Helsingborg | 667 |
| 7 | Linköping | 660 |
| 8 | Umeå | 653 |
| 9 | Malmö | 641 |
| 10 | Västerås | 635 |
| 11 | Uppsala | 634 |
| 12 | Göteborg | 527 |
More on Malmö: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · all cities in Sweden
Sources
- 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_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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