Västra Götalands län: population, economy and official figures
Västra Götalands län is a county in Västsverige, Sweden. Västra Götalands län had 1,772,821 residents on 1 January 2025, 83.7% of Västsverige and 16.74% of Sweden; 2nd largest of 21 counties in Sweden.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Västra Götalands län: GDP per person was 44,400 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 111% of the EU average (111% for Sweden); 3rd highest of 21 counties in Sweden.
- Health in Västra Götalands län: Net health care spending per resident (including medicines) in Västra Götaland County came to SEK 32,982 in 2025, the lowest among the counties (Sweden: SEK 35,574), up from SEK 24,992 in 2020.
- Education in Västra Götalands län: The share of upper secondary students who graduate within four years in Västra Götaland County came to 69.0% in 2025, 9th lowest among the counties (Sweden: 70.1%), up from 62.8% in 2020.
- Poverty and living standards in Västra Götalands län: The share of residents aged 25 and over with persistently low economic standard in Västra Götaland County came to 7.1% in 2023, 6th lowest among the counties (Sweden: 7.3%), down from 7.9% in 2018.
- Government budget and revenue in Västra Götalands län: In 2026, the regional income tax rate in Västra Götaland County was 11.48%, compared with 11.69% for Sweden as a whole; that was 7th lowest among the counties.
- Government and politics in Västra Götalands län: Västra Götaland County ranked 3rd of 20 counties on the share of women in the regional council in 2025, at 52.0% against a national figure of 49.0%.
Is the population of Västra Götalands län growing?
That is 8.6% more people than in 2015 (1,632,012).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Västra Götalands län?
There were 74.4 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Västra Götalands län?
The median age was 40.6 years in 2025, against 41.2 for Sweden; 18th highest of 21 counties in Sweden.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Västra Götalands län?
20.3% of residents were 65 or older and 16.8% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Västra Götalands län?
In 2024 there were 17,114 live births and 15,083 deaths, a natural increase of 2,031.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Västra Götalands län?
It covers 28,778 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Västra Götalands län?
Net migration added 2.1 people per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of +1.1 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyFigures come from Sweden's own official statistics and from Eurostat's regional statistics for NUTS 3 areas. Comparisons with the EU average use purchasing power standards (PPS), which adjust for price differences.
Other county in Västsverige
- Hallands län 345,074
Up a level: Västsverige · all regions of Sweden · how local power works in Sweden
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjangrp3: Population on 1 January (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c748d3cba3a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_d3dens: Population density, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f4b59fe9d121…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Median age of the population (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bf6ade55a0d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Share of people aged 65 or over (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17aa0d08ab9c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_fagec3: Live births (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cfda9b5f4ebd…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset reg_area3: Area, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75302b0aafe9…)
- RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada: Kolada key figures for the 21 Swedish regions/counties and Sweden (about 90 indicators: regional finances, health care costs, use and waiting times, income, jobs, education, elected representatives), 2014-2026, Kolada API v3, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a34b5a7c1091…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB): Regionfullmäktigval - valresultat efter region och parti mm. Antal och andelar. Valår 2014, 2018, 2022 (table ME0104T2), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 84dbad216c0e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_gind3: Population change: demographic balance and crude rates by NUTS 3 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7548e948e15c…)
- Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB): Regionfullmäktigval - erhållna mandat efter regioner och parti. Valår 2014, 2018, 2022 (table Ltmandat), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6267811a98be…)
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