Share of population living in extreme poverty in Sweden
Sweden: Share of population living in extreme poverty was 1.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Sweden, 1820–2018
Source: Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in extreme poverty in Sweden is 1.0%, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in Sweden peaked at 86.0% in 1820 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
That places Sweden 14th out of 25 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 86.0% | — |
| 1830 | 83.0% | -3.5% |
| 1840 | 82.0% | -1.2% |
| 1850 | 78.0% | -4.9% |
| 1860 | 72.0% | -7.7% |
| 1870 | 71.0% | -1.4% |
| 1880 | 68.0% | -4.2% |
| 1890 | 66.0% | -2.9% |
| 1900 | 55.0% | -16.7% |
| 1910 | 46.0% | -16.4% |
| 1920 | 34.0% | -26.1% |
| 1930 | 19.0% | -44.1% |
| 1940 | 19.0% | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 4.0% | -78.9% |
| 1960 | 2.0% | -50.0% |
| 1970 | 1.0% | -50.0% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 1.0% | — |
| 2018 | 1.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 86.0% | 86.0% | 86.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 83.0% | 83.0% | 83.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 82.0% | 82.0% | 82.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 78.0% | 78.0% | 78.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 72.0% | 72.0% | 72.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 71.0% | 71.0% | 71.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 68.0% | 68.0% | 68.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 66.0% | 66.0% | 66.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 55.0% | 55.0% | 55.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 46.0% | 46.0% | 46.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 34.0% | 34.0% | 34.0% | 1 |
| 1930s | 19.0% | 19.0% | 19.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 19.0% | 19.0% | 19.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 14 Canada 1.0% compare
- 14 Japan 1.0% compare
- 14 Thailand 1.0% compare
- 14 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.0% compare
- 14 United States of America 1.0% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Sweden
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.43 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,456 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -27.03 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 41.37 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 41.4% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in extreme poverty in Sweden?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in Sweden was 1.0% in 2018, according to Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 86.0% in 1820.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does Sweden rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- Sweden ranks 14th out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population unable to meet basic needs (including minimal nutrition and adequately heated shelter) according to prices of locally-available goods and services at the time..