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Dwelling stock 2020-12-31

Just over 5 million dwellings in Sweden

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2021-04-22 9.30

At the end of December 2020 there were 5 037 444 dwellings in Sweden. Among these, 2 104 946 (42 percent) were in one- or two-dwelling buildings, 2 585 221 (51 percent) were in multi-dwelling buildings, 266 608 (5 percent) were in special housing, and 80 669 (2 percent) were in other buildings.

Rented dwellings most common in 258 of 290 municipalities

In multi-dwelling buildings, rented dwellings is the most common form of tenure, at 58 percent of the total dwelling stock, while owner-occupied dwellings accounted for 42 percent. Rented dwellings were most common in 258 out of the 290 municipalities in Sweden. Only 32 municipalities have more owner-occupied dwellings than rented dwellings. More than half of these municipalities are located in Stockholm County.

Among one- or two-dwelling buildings, ownership rights is the most common form of tenure, at 91 percent. Rented dwellings and owner-occupied dwellings in one- and two-dwelling buildings each accounted for 4 percent.

Housing cooperatives most common owners of multi-dwelling buildings

With regard to dwellings in multi-dwelling buildings, about 42 percent are owned by housing cooperatives, 27 percent are owned by municipal housing companies, and 22 percent are owned by Swedish joint-stock companies. The remaining 9 percent are owned by natural persons and other owners.

With regard to one- or two-dwelling buildings, the vast majority, 91 percent, is owned by natural persons and only 5 percent are owned by housing cooperatives.

Dwellings’ size and age

The average dwelling in multi-dwelling buildings is a flat with two rooms and a kitchen, followed by three rooms and a kitchen. These two types account for 68 percent of the housing stock in multi-dwelling buildings.

The average dwelling in multi-dwellings buildings is 68 square metres, while in one- or two-dwelling buildings, the average size is 122 square metres.

Just over 935 000 (44 percent) of Sweden’s one- or two-dwelling buildings were built between 1961 and 1990. However, one in five (corresponds to 20 percent) one- or two-dwelling buildings were built as early as before 1931.

With regard to multi-dwelling buildings, half of the dwellings (50 percent) were built between 1951 and 1980

Number of dwellings by type of building and period of construction

Special housing

There are 266 608 dwellings in total in special housing, consisting of 141 459 special housing for elderly/disabled, 105 388 housing for students, and 19 761 other special housing. The average size of a flat in a retirement home is 39 square metres, while the average size of a student flat is 28 square metres. Most number of student housing is located, naturally, in the major university towns.

Municipalities with most student housing
Municipality Number of dwellings
Uppsala 11 715
Stockholm 11 645
Göteborg 11 455
Lund 10 013
Umeå 7 162
Linköping 5 385
Växjö 3 943
Örebro 3 208
Malmö 3 046
Jönköping 2 924

Definitions and explanations

The statistics are based on the apartments register, which is a national register of all dwellings in Sweden. This register is managed by Lantmäteriet (the Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority). Statistics Sweden receives data from Lantmäteriet for the production of current household and housing statistics.

One- or two-dwelling buildings refers to detached one- and two-dwelling buildings, as well as semi-detached, row and linked buildings.

Multi-dwelling buildings refers to buildings with three or more apartments, including balcony access housing.

Other buildings refers to buildings that are not intended for residential purposes, but that nonetheless contain regular apartments, for example, buildings intended for business or public activities.

Special housing refers to dwellings for the elderly/disabled, student housing, and other special housing.

The type of tenure of the apartments is based on ownership, rather than residents’ use of the apartments.

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency and producer

Statistics Sweden, Urban Management and Tourism

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Martin Verhage

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