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POPULATION

Immigration behind record population growth

Sweden is growing faster than ever. Record high immigration has sent population figures soaring, according to Statistics Sweden (Statistiska Centralbyrån), with the country soon expected to have more men than women for the first time in history.

Immigration behind record population growth
Sweden's population is on the rise. Photo: Ola Ericson/Image Bank Sweden

On New Year's Eve last year the total population of Sweden hit 9,747,355 people, up by 102,491 since the year before, it has been revealled.

It is the first time the figures have grown by more than 100,000 in one year and the main reason is record numbers of people immigrating to Sweden, according to Statistics Sweden. 

More boys than girls are born every year in Sweden, but they are outlived by women. But because most new immigrants are men, it looks like Sweden is is line for another first this year as the male population is expected to outgrow the female for the first time in 2015. 

Population figures went up the most in the municipalities of Sundbyberg and Knivsta, both near capital Stockholm. But in Swedish towns Hagfors and Årjäng, the number of residents fell by 150 and 149, respectively, in 2014.

The crisis in Syria has had the biggest effect on population numbers, said Statistics Sweden. 26,113 Syrians emigrated to Sweden in 2014, compared to 5349 in 2012.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has not yet brought more people than normal to Sweden. Last year 694 Ukrainians came to Sweden, up by 107 since 2013.