Land use in proximity to shoreline
More than 90 000 persons live on islands without a mainland connection by bridge
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2019-11-28 9.30
There are permanent residents on more than 500 Swedish islands that do not have a mainland connection by bridge. Most of these islands are located in Sweden’s coastal areas. In the period from 2010 to 2018, the number of residents on islands without a bridge connection increased by nearly 3 000 persons.
At the end of 2018, Stockholm County accounted for the largest number of populated islands without a mainland connection by bridge; there were nearly 230 islands in total. This is followed by Västra Götaland County, Östergötland County, and Norrbotten County. All 21 counties in Sweden had some populated island with no mainland connection.
Most populated islands without a mainland connection are located in the sea; 14 percent are located in inland water.
Population on islands without a mainland connection rose
In the period from 2010 to 2018, the number of populated islands without a mainland connection decreased by 39 islands. The largest decrease, 19 islands, was in Stockholm County.
In 2018, Gotland County was the county with most inhabitants living on islands without a mainland connection. Gotland is a county that consists entirely of islands without mainland connections. This was followed by Västra Götaland County and Stockholm County.
The largest population increase on this type of island occurred in Gotland County, where the number of persons registered in the population increased by nearly 2 000 between 2010 and 2018. In eight counties, the population on islands without a mainland connection dropped. The largest decrease occurred in Uppsala County, where the island population declined by 75 persons between 2010 and 2018.
400 islands have fewer than 10 residents
Most of Sweden’s populated islands without a mainland connection have a very small population. Among the 541 islands included in the statistics, just over 400 islands had fewer than 10 residents at the end of 2018.
The islands with the largest population were located mainly in Göteborg municipality and Öckerö municipality. However, Gotland municipality tops the list.
| Island area | Municipality | Population in 2018 | Difference in population 2010-2018 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gotland | Gotland | 56 718 | 58 744 | 2 026 | |
| Hönö | Öckerö | 5 119 | 5 540 | 421 | |
| Öckerö | Öckerö | 3 494 | 3 594 | 100 | |
| Ljusterö | Österåker | 1 487 | 1 597 | 110 | |
| Björkö | Öckerö | 1 485 | 1 538 | 53 | |
| Rindö | Vaxholm | 1 072 | 1 474 | 402 | |
| Donsö | Göteborg | 1 407 | 1 453 | 46 | |
| Styrsö | Göteborg | 1 342 | 1 350 | 8 | |
| Brännö och Galterö | Göteborg | 800 | 922 | 122 | |
| Adelsön | Ekerö | 764 | 763 | ‑1 | |
Definitions and explanations
The statistics only refer to islands in Sweden that do not have a mainland connection by bridge, and had permanent residents in the reference years 2010, 2015, or 2018.
Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.