Number of shareholders increased over the year

There were 1 223 000 shareholders in the household sector at the end of 2020, which was an increase of 80 000 private individuals in 2020. At the end of 2020, the proportion of shareholders in the population was 11.1 percent, which is an increase of 0.7 percentage points compared with the previous year. Men and young people were the main contributors to the increase.

It was mainly young private individuals who purchased shares in 2020. The proportion of shareholders in the total population increased in all age groups 18-54 years by at least 1 percentage point from December 2019. The age group 25-34 years noted the largest increase in 2020, at 1.7 percentage points. The proportion of shares held by women compared with the total in this age group increased by 0.7 percentage points, while shares held by men increased by 2.5 percentage points.

Major disparities between different groups

The household sector’s share wealth amounted to SEK 1 186 billion at the end of 2020, which is an increase of SEK 230 billion over six months. Households’ median portfolio amounted to SEK 46 000 at the end of the period.

There are disparities between different income groups in terms of share ownership. At the end of December 2020, the largest proportion of shareholders was in the income group SEK 300 000–399 999, at one-sixth of shareholders. The shareholders increased the most in income group SEK 600 000–699 999, by 11 percent, compared with the first six months of 2020. In the statistics, it is not possible to distinguish whether more people in that income group purchased shares or whether the number of people in that income group has changed.

In 2020, the value of the average share portfolio has increased in all income groups in the household sector. The average share portfolio in the income group SEK 900 000–999 999 increased by 25 percent in 2020. This can be compared with an average development of 8 percent in other income groups. At the end of 2020, holdings among those with an income of SEK 900 000–999 999 was 3 percent. This can be compared with the income group of SEK 1 000 000 or more, in which holdings amounted to just under 60 percent.

United States and United Kingdom increase holdings

Historically, shifts in shareholder structure on Swedish marketplaces have been minor. The foreign owners sector remained the largest owner sector, followed by the financial corporations sector. Their holdings accounted for 40 percent and 29 percent respectively of market value on Swedish marketplaces.

At the end of 2020, share wealth on Swedish marketplaces in the foreign owners sector was SEK 3 834 billion, which is an increase of SEK 707 billion in the second half of the year. The United States and the United Kingdom together accounted for half of foreign share wealth on Swedish marketplaces. The United States and the United Kingdom together increased holdings by SEK 373 billion in the second half of the year, which also corresponds to half of the increase of share wealth in the second half of 2020 for the foreign owners sector.