Sweden: health and care

What is life expectancy in Sweden?

Life expectancy at birth in Sweden was 83.8 years in 2024, up from 83.2 in 2023 and 83.0 in 2021 and 2022, according to Eurostat.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if that year's death rates at each age stayed the same. It is not a forecast. Eurostat publishes figures by sex and for every age. Life expectancy also feeds into Sweden's pension system: the target retirement age is linked to it.

Official sources: Eurostat: Life expectancy by age and sex (demo_mlexpec)

What is the fertility rate in Sweden?

Sweden's total fertility rate was 1.43 children per woman in 2024, down from 1.45 in 2023 and 1.67 in 2021, according to Eurostat.

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would have if she experienced that year's birth rates at each age throughout her life. About 2.1 is needed to keep a population stable without migration. Sweden's population was 10,621,103 in August 2026, according to Statistics Sweden.

Official sources: Eurostat: Fertility indicators (demo_find) · Statistics Sweden

How much does Sweden spend on health?

Current health spending in Sweden was 11.2% of GDP in 2024, according to the World Bank, which uses WHO estimates. It was 10.9% in 2022.

The figure covers public and private spending on health care, including long-term care, but not investment in buildings and equipment. The World Bank also lists 4.4 doctors per 1,000 people in 2021.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP) · World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people

How long do people live in Sweden?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Sweden was 84.1 years in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 79.5 years, and Sweden placed 6th highest of 52. Worldwide: 7th of 193.

What is Sweden's infant mortality rate?

2.0 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in Sweden for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 43rd highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.4 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 183rd of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Sweden?

According to the WHO, the maternal mortality ratio in Sweden was 4.0 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 6.0 per 100,000, and Sweden placed 36th highest of 51. Worldwide: 171st of 192.

What share of GDP does Sweden spend on health care?

11.2% of GDP: that is current health spending in Sweden for 2024, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 11.4% of GDP; its low point was 2007, at 8.0% of GDP. It is 4th highest of 17 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 9.4% of GDP.

How much do people in Sweden pay for health care themselves?

The WHO puts out-of-pocket health spending in Sweden at 13.4% in 2024. The peak was 16.9% in 2005 and the low 12.9% in 2020. Europe & Central Asia median: 14.1%; Sweden is 11th highest of 17.

How many doctors per person does Sweden have?

In 2021, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Sweden was 4.4 per 1,000, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.7 per 1,000; Sweden is 14th highest of 44. World rank, highest first: 17th of 123.

How many hospital beds does Sweden have?

According to the WHO, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Sweden was 1.9 per 1,000 in 2022. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 4.3 per 1,000; Sweden is 42nd highest of 42. Worldwide: 79th of 110.

How many children in Sweden are vaccinated against measles?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 93.0%. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 28th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 94.0%. Worldwide: 74th of 191.