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Demographic analysis: Migration during the Covid -19 pandemic

Immigration was more affected than emigration

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2022-06-16 8.00

When the corona pandemic hit Sweden and the rest of the world at the beginning of 2020, restrictions were introduced limiting international travel. Immigration to Sweden decreased sharply in 2020 compared to 2019 and the pandemic is considered to be a contributing factor to the decrease. Regarding emigration, there have been relatively small changes during the same period.

The corona pandemic brought limited opportunities for immigration to and emigration from Sweden in 2020. Two reports published today describe the most common countries of birth among immigrants and emigrants with a focus on changes during the years 2020 and 2021.

Reduced immigration at the beginning of the pandemic

It is difficult to estimate the impact of the corona pandemic on immigration to Sweden, as a downward trend is already seen before the year 2020. Nevertheless, a breakdown of the statistics per month indicates that the pandemic had a certain impact. It was mainly during April and May 2020 that the number of immigrants was lower compared to the corresponding months in 2018 and 2019. The first wave of the pandemic began around March 2020 in Sweden and various measures, including travel restrictions, were introduced to prevent the spread of the infection. One explanation for the fact that immigration recovered somewhat in 2021 may be that the travel restrictions were largely lifted then. For example, in February 2021, it became possible to travel into Sweden if one could show a negative covid-19 test on arrival.

Number of immigrants per month, 2018–2021

Graph: Number of immigrants per month, 2018–2021

Increased immigration of people born in Germany

Sweden was the most common country of birth among immigrants during both 2020 and 2021, and immigration of people born in Sweden decreased slightly during both of these years. Immigration of people born in the Nordic countries and the EU (excluding Sweden) decreased during the year 2020 and has to some extent recovered in 2021, but the pattern has varied considerably by different countries. Germany, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Romania and Norway were, in this order, the most common countries of birth among people born in the Nordic countries or the EU who immigrated to Sweden in 2021.

Immigration of people born in Germany decreased to a lesser extent in the pandemic year 2020 when compared with other countries such as Poland, Romania, Norway and Finland. In 2021, on the other hand, immigration of people born in Germany increased sharply and was 46 per cent higher than the year before. In 2021, the immigration of people born in Germany was at the highest level since 2008.

Immigration of persons born in Germany, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Romania and Norway, 2016–2021

Graph: Immigration of persons born in Germany, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Romania and Norway, 2016–2021

Increased labour immigration of natives from India

The total immigration of persons born outside of the Nordic region and the EU decreased in 2020 and increased in 2021. The decrease in 2020 was largest among refugees and their families, but also evident in other groups, such as labour migrants, students, and family members to non-refugees. The fact that the total immigration of people born outside the Nordic countries and the EU increased in 2021 is largely due to increased labour immigration. India, Turkey, Brazil, Iran, China, the United States and Ukraine were the most common countries of birth among people born outside the Nordic countries and the EU who immigrated to Sweden on a work permit in 2021. These seven countries account for half of the total labour immigration of people born outside the Nordic region or the EU in 2021.

It was immigrants born in India who had the greatest impact, both on the decline during the pandemic year 2020 and on the recovery the following year. Migrant workers born in Turkey, Brazil, Iran and the United States also contributed to the increase in 2021, but to a lesser extent than those born in India. Immigration from China and Ukraine shows a different pattern. Labour immigration of people born in these two countries decreased in 2020 but did not increase significantly in 2021. The decline in 2020 was particularly sharp among people born in China.

Labour immigration of persons born in India, Turkey, Brazil, Iran, China, USA and Ukraine, 2016–2021

Graph: Labour immigration of persons born in India, Turkey, Brazil, Iran, China, USA and Ukraine, 2016–2021

Emigration has been more stable

Compared with immigration, there have been relatively small changes in emigration during the pandemic years 2020 and 2021. During 2020, emigration was significantly lower in April and May, during the first wave of the pandemic in Sweden. At the end of 2020, more people emigrated than in previous years. The number of emigrants born in Sweden decreased slightly in 2020 and then increased in 2021. Among the foreign-born, emigration increased in 2020, despite a relatively low level in April-May, and decreased in 2021. The decrease in emigration in 2021 can largely be explained by a lower immigration in 2020. The number of emigrants decreased among those born in Poland, India and China, among other countries. In some groups, emigration increased both in 2020 and 2021. This includes people born in Syria, Iraq and Somalia and those born in Sweden with a parent born in countries outside the Nordic region and the EU.

Number of emigrants per month, 2018–2021

Graph: Number of emigrants per month, 2018–2021

Definitions and explanations

The statistics in the two reports are based mainly on information from Statistics Sweden’s Population Register. Information about the quality of the statistics, methods and more can be found in a chapter at the end of each report (in Swedish).

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

Statistical agency

Statistics Sweden

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