Education in Umeå, Sweden: official figures
The average grade score (meritvärde, 17 subjects) of year 9 pupils at schools in the municipality in Umeå stood at 231.8 in 2026, down from 236.9 in 2021; the figure for Sweden was 229.7.
How much does Umeå spend per pupil?
Umeå ranked 11th of 13 large Swedish cities on the cost per pupil of compulsory school (F-9) in 2025, at SEK 126,318 against a national figure of SEK 138,691.
Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Umeå?
65% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2018 (653 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Umeå have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Umeå in 2025, 52% had a degree-level education, 39% an upper secondary education and 9% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- In 2026, the share of year 9 pupils eligible for a vocational upper secondary programme in Umeå was 88.3%, compared with 83.6% for Sweden as a whole; that was 3rd highest among the large Swedish cities. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- At 12.4 in 2025, Umeå was above the Swedish level of 11.9 on pupils per full-time teacher in compulsory school years 1-9, putting it 3rd most among the large Swedish cities. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- The share of children aged 1-5 enrolled in preschool in Umeå came to 88.2% in 2025, 4th highest among the large Swedish cities (Sweden: 86.4%), up from 87.2% in 2020. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
- The share of residents aged 25-64 with post-secondary education in Umeå stood at 59.2% in 2025, up from 56.7% in 2020; the figure for Sweden was 48.5%. Source: RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada · saved copy
How Umeå compares with other cities in Sweden
The average grade score (meritvärde, 17 subjects) of year 9 pupils at schools in the municipality (2026)
Umeå ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Södertälje | 238.9 |
| 5 | Malmö | 235.5 |
| 6 | Linköping | 232.8 |
| 7 | Umeå | 231.8 |
| 8 | Göteborg | 231.2 |
| 9 | Helsingborg | 229.4 |
| 10 | Västerås | 226.7 |
The share of year 9 pupils eligible for a vocational upper secondary programme (2026)
Umeå ranks 3 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | The share of year 9 pupils eligible for a vocational upper secondary programme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lund | 90.4% |
| 2 | Stockholm | 89.2% |
| 3 | Umeå | 88.3% |
| 4 | Uppsala | 85.8% |
| 5 | Malmö | 84.4% |
| 6 | Södertälje | 83.5% |
| 7 | Helsingborg | 82.8% |
The cost per pupil of compulsory school (F-9) (2025)
Umeå ranks 11 of 13, highest first. Among the 13 largest municipalities
| Rank | City | The cost per pupil of compulsory school (F-9) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Västerås | SEK 133,291 |
| 8 | Norrköping | SEK 132,828 |
| 9 | Orebro | SEK 132,120 |
| 10 | Borås | SEK 131,933 |
| 11 | Umeå | SEK 126,318 |
| 12 | Uppsala | SEK 125,182 |
| 13 | Helsingborg | SEK 122,682 |
Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 (2018)
Umeå ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Borås | 668 |
| 6 | Helsingborg | 667 |
| 7 | Linköping | 660 |
| 8 | Umeå | 653 |
| 9 | Malmö | 641 |
| 10 | Västerås | 635 |
| 11 | Uppsala | 634 |
More on Umeå: overview · economy and jobs · 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_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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