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Economic Overview

For the latest updates on the key economic responses from governments to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the IMF's policy tracking platform Policy Responses to COVID-19.

Despite Sweden's exposure to global trade dynamics, Covid-19 has had a rather limited impact on its economy compared with most other European countries. GDP returned to its pre-pandemic level in 2021, and continued growing in 2022: the IMF estimated a 2.6% increase in GDP, supported by private consumption and investment. However, the net contribution of foreign trade was negative due to high import growth, and the economy slowed down towards the end of the year. For 2023, pressure on private domestic demand due to higher input costs, consumer prices and interest rates, as well as a tighter monetary policy (variable interest rates on mortgages are widespread) will weigh heavily on growth, with the economy expected to enter a recession (-0.1% as per the IMF forecast, -0.6% according to the EU Commission). The improvement in global economic conditions and slower inflation should contribute to a rebound in 2024 (+2.1%).

Sweden is among the few advanced European economies to show both a current account surplus and low public debt. Despite the phasing out of COVID-19 support measures, new aid packages were implemented to contrast high energy prices and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, resulting in a government budget deficit of 0.3% of GDP. However, the general government balance is expected to return into positive territory this year (0.1% of GDP) and in 2024 (1.1% - IMF) thanks to improved tax revenues. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in the EU and was estimated at 33.5% in 2022. It is assumed to follow a downward path over the forecast horizon, at 31.2% in 2023 and 28.8% the following year. A sharp increase in imported commodities and in energy prices contributed to a record-high inflation rate of 7.2% in 2022 and forced the Riksbank to accelerate interest rate rises. Due to the delayed pass-through of the weakening in the krona exchange rate, inflation is expected to remain high this year (around 6.6%) before decelerating more consistently in 2024 (1.8% - EU Commission).

The country’s unemployment rate – at 7.6% in 2022 – returned to its pre-pandemic levels. Despite labour shortages in a wide range of sectors and the expected economic slowdown, the IMF sees the unemployment rate decreasing marginally in 2023 and 2024 (7.4% and 7.3%, respectively). Overall, Swedish citizens enjoy a high per capita GDP of USD 63,877 (PPP – 2022), 18.3% higher than the EU’s average (USD 53,960), and the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) estimates that only 2% of Sweden’s population lives in serious material poverty conditions. Nominal wage growth, however, has been lagging behind inflation, resulting in a reduction of households’ real disposable income.

 
Main Indicators 202020212022 (E)2023 (E)2024 (E)
GDP (billions USD) 547.05636.86585.94599.05615.49
GDP (Constant Prices, Annual % Change) -2.25.42.6-0.51.0
GDP per Capita (USD) 52,70660,93055,68955,39556,416
General Government Balance (in % of GDP) -1.7-0.30.10.40.3
General Government Gross Debt (in % of GDP) 39.536.331.732.332.9
Inflation Rate (%) 0.72.78.16.82.3
Unemployment Rate (% of the Labour Force) 8.58.87.57.88.0
Current Account (billions USD) 32.2041.4624.9523.2124.01
Current Account (in % of GDP) 5.96.54.33.93.9

Source: IMF – World Economic Outlook Database , October 2021

Country Risk

See the country risk analysis provided by La Coface.

 

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Main Sectors of Industry

Agriculture represents 1.3% of the Swedish GDP and employs around 2% of the workforce (World Bank, latest data available). The main agricultural products are grains (particularly oats, wheat, barley, and rye), potatoes and other root crops, vegetables, and fruits, as well as dairy products, meat and wood. While production exceeds domestic consumption, a significant amount of food needs to be imported due to a lack of crop variety. Sweden has a wealth of natural resources: forests, iron, lead, copper, zinc and hydroelectric energy. The country has 3 million hectares of agricultural area and almost 28 million hectares of forest area (FAO), with a total of 58,218 agricultural holdings (data Swedish Board of Agriculture - 2022).

The industrial sector contributes 22.6% of GDP and employs 18% of the workforce. It is dominated by groups such as Volvo, Saab, Ericsson, ABB, AstraZeneca, Electrolux, Ikea, H&M, etc. Sweden's main manufacturing activities are steel, automotive, chemical, forestry, industrial machinery and equipment, automation and food processing equipment. The World Bank estimates that the manufacturing sector alone accounts for 13% of GDP. The new technologies and biotechnologies sectors are also of significant importance in the economy.

The tertiary sector, driven by telecommunications and IT equipment, employs 80% of the active workforce and contributes 64.8% of GDP. The banking sector is comprised of a total of 121 banks, including 41 commercial banks, 33 foreign banks, 45 savings banks and two cooperative banks; moreover, it employs around 2% of the workforce, accounts for 4.5% of GDP and contributes to 10% of the corporate taxes revenue (European Banking Federation). The travel and tourism industry is also important to the Swedish economy: according to the latest data from Visitory, between January-October 2022 registered accommodation sales reached SEK 32.2 billion, marking an increase of EUR 17.3 billion from the previous year, with the country receiving almost 6 million arrivals from foreign tourists (+21.1% year-on-year).

 
Breakdown of Economic Activity By Sector Agriculture Industry Services
Employment By Sector (in % of Total Employment) 1.7 18.4 79.9
Value Added (in % of GDP) 1.3 22.6 64.8
Value Added (Annual % Change) 3.2 5.7 4.8

Source: World Bank - Latest available data.

 
Monetary Indicators 20162017201820192020
Swedish Krona (SEK) - Average Annual Exchange Rate For 1 USD 8.568.558.699.509.21

Source: World Bank - Latest available data.

 

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Foreign Trade

The Swedish economy is very open to foreign trade, which represents 87% of its GDP (World Bank – latest data available). According to the latest data by Statistics Sweden, the country mainly exports machinery and transport equipment (42.8%), chemicals and rubber products (14.3%), minerals (11.5%), and wood and paper products (10.5%); whereas imports are led by
machinery and transport equipment (43.8%), electronics and telecommunication items (16%), chemicals and rubber products (12.9%), and food, beverage and tobacco (10.3%).

Norway and Germany were the top destinations for Swedish exports in 2021 (10.7% and 10.3%, respectively), ahead of the U.S. (8.1%), Denmark (7.7%) and Finland (7.1%). Germany remained the largest supplier of goods to Sweden (17%), followed by Norway (10.2%), the Netherlands (10%), and Denmark (6.9%). The European Union as a whole is Sweden's biggest trading partner and the country has a structural deficit from its trade with the EU, which accounted for 53.7% of exports and 66.6% of imports. Overall, Sweden’s exports of goods to the EU27 increased by 18% as imports rose by 16% (Statistics Sweden).

Sweden has a structurally positive trade balance: in 2021, the country recorded a trade surplus accounting for nearly 4.3% of its GDP (from 4.5% one year earlier - World Bank). In the same year, exports of goods stood at USD 189.7 billion (marking a 21.9% increase year-on-year), against USD 187.9 billion in imports (+24.7% y-o-y). As for services, imports grew by 17.3% (at USD 79.9 billion) with exports increasing at a similar pace (+14.5%), totalling USD 79 billion. According to provisional data from Statistics Sweden, in the period January–November 2022, the value of Swedish exports of goods amounted to SEK 1,827 billion, an increase of 24% vis-à-vis 2021. At the same time, the value of imports of goods increased by 29% and amounted to SEK 1,868 billion. Therefore, net trade recorded a deficit of SEK 41.5 billion against a surplus of SEK 24.8 billion recorded in the same period one year earlier.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 154,215170,605158,971149,880186,899
Exports of Goods (million USD) 152,920165,968160,576155,601189,734
Imports of Services (million USD) 67,60371,72774,50368,14479,962
Exports of Services (million USD) 73,33273,12174,54268,99479,036

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 84.989.191.483.286.7
Trade Balance (million USD) 11,16211,15620,71021,66325,068
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 14,62512,72723,64524,77527,524
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.73.82.1-6.09.6
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.14.26.0-5.57.9
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 41.243.443.639.441.2
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 43.745.747.843.845.5

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20222023 (e)2024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 6.31.12.12.73.6
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 8.71.31.62.83.0

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Sweden is a member of the following international economic organisations: IMF, European Union, ICC, G-9, G-10, OECD, Schengen Convention, WTO, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Sweden click here. International organisation membership of Sweden is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Sweden can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2021
Norway 10.7%
Germany 10.3%
United States 8.1%
Denmark 7.7%
Finland 7.1%
See More Countries 56.2%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2021
Germany 17.0%
Norway 10.2%
Netherlands 10.0%
Denmark 6.9%
China 6.8%
See More Countries 49.0%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

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Political Outline

Current Political Leaders
King: CARL XVI GUSTAF (since September 1973) – hereditary
Prime Minister: Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022) - Moderate Party
Next Election Dates
Parliamentary: 2026
Current Political Context
General elections were held in Sweden on 11 September 2022. The Social Democratic Party received the most votes (30.3%), although the right-wing, anti-immigration party Sweden Democrats was the main winner of the elections, expanding its vote share from 5.7% in 2010 to 20.5% in 2022, becoming the second-largest party, just ahead of the liberal-conservative Moderate Party (19.1%).
Despite her party receiving the most votes, Magdalena Andersson, the leader of the Social Democrats, decided to step down as prime minister. Following this decision, the parliament appointed the leader of the Moderate Party Ulf Kristersson as the new prime minister. Kristersson leads a right-wing minority government with the external support of the far-right Sweden Democrats.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden abandoned its tradition of neutrality and applied to become a member of NATO, although the process could take up to a year and tensions with Turkey remain over Sweden’s protection of Kurdish refugees. Nevertheless, Sweden announced that it would not host NATO bases or nuclear weapons on its territory.
Main Political Parties

A party must gain 4% of the national vote or 12% of a constituency vote to enter the single-chamber parliament. Coalitions and minority governments are widespread. Social Democratic Party and Moderate Party are the largest parties in the parliament.

  • Social Democratic Party (SAP): centre-left, oldest and largest political party in Sweden; supports social democracy; its electoral base is among blue collar workers.
  • Moderate Party (M): centre-right; liberal-conservatism.
  • Sweden Democrats (SD): right-wing; anti-immigration; advocates social conservatism.
  • Centre Party (C): centre-right; ideology described as "eco-humanism,”; focuses on agricultural, environmental, and rural issues.
  • Left Party (V): left-wing; socialist and feminist.
  • Christian Democratic Party (KD): centre-right; looks to improve care of the elderly and family values; seeks to decrease corporate regulation and lowering taxes.
  • Liberals (L): centre-right; pushes for free market economy; supports the Eurozone, yet more recently has focused on gender equality issues and improving education.
  • Green Party: centre-left, based on green ideology.
Executive Power
The monarchy is hereditary. The King is Head of State but he exercises no political power and functions in an entirely ceremonial capacity. After a general election, the Prime Minister is first nominated by the parliamentary spokesperson before being confirmed for a four-year term by the Parliament (the King plays no role in this process). The Prime Minister is the head of the government and holds executive power. The Council of Ministers is nominated by the Prime Minister and then submitted for the approval of Parliament.
Legislative Power
The Swedish legislative power is unicameral. The Parliament, called Riksdag, has 349 seats and its members are elected by universal suffrage on the basis of proportional representation for a four-year term. The executive branch of government depends on the support of Parliament, often expressed by a vote of confidence. The Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament, even after receiving a vote of no confidence, unless elections took place less than three months before. Legislative power belongs both to the government and to Parliament. Swedish citizens enjoy considerable political rights.
 

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COVID-19 Country Response

COVID-19 epidemic evolution

To find out about the latest status of the COVID-19 pandemic evolution and the most up-to-date statistics on the COVID-19 disease in Sweden, please visit the website of the Swedish Public Health Agency (in Swedish). Further information can be found on the website of Statistics Sweden.
For the international outlook you can consult the latest
situation reports published by the World Health Organisation as well as the global daily statistics on the coronavirus pandemic evolution including data on confirmed cases and deaths by country.

Sanitary measures

To find out about the latest public health situation in Sweden and the current sanitary measures in vigour, please consult the official portal Krisinformation, including the up-to-date information on the containment measures put in place and public health recommendations. Further information can be found on the website of the National Board of Health and Welfare (in Swedish).

Travel restrictions

The COVID-19 situation, including the spread of new variants, evolves rapidly and differs from country to country. All travelers need to pay close attention to the conditions at their destination before traveling. Regularly updated information for all countries with regards to Covid-19 related travel restrictions in place including entry regulations, flight bans, test requirements and quarantine is available on TravelDoc Infopage.
It is also highly recommended to consult COVID-19 Travel Regulations Map provided and updated on the daily basis by IATA.
The US government website of Centers of Disease Control and Prevention provides COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination.
The UK Foreign travel advice also provides travelling abroad advice for all countries, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

Import & export restrictions

For the information on all the measures applicable to movement of goods during the period of sanitary emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak (including eventual restrictions on imports and exports, if applicable), please consult the website of the Swedish Customs (Tullverket). In order to consult the latest news concerning businesses, visit the website of the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation.
The “Guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services” issued by the European Commission can be consulted
here.
For a general overview of trade restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the section dedicated to Sweden on the
International Trade Centre's COVID-19 Temporary Trade Measures webpage.

Economic recovery plan

For information on the economic recovery scheme put in place by the Swedish government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic refer to the official Government’s platform. Further info can be accessed on KPMG's website.
The information on the EU’s economic response to COVID-19 and the actions to minimise the fallout on the EU member states’ economies of the COVID-19 outbreak is available on the websites of the
European Commission and the European Council.
For the general overview of the key economic policy responses to the COVID-19 outbreak (fiscal, monetary and macroeconomic) taken by the Swedish government to limit the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the section dedicated to Sweden in the
IMF’s Policy Tracker platform.

Support plan for businesses

To find out about the local business support scheme established by the Swedish government to help businesses to deal with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic on their activity, please consult the official Government’s platform, which also provides information regarding the crisis package for small enterprises, the crisis package for jobs and transition and the increased loan facilities and credit guarantees for Swedish businesses.
For a general overview of international SME support policy responses to the COVID-19 outbreak refer to the OECD's SME Covid-19 Policy Responses document.
You can also consult the World Bank's Map of SME-Support Measures in Response to COVID-19.

Support plan for exporters

For the up-to-date information on possible support plans for exporters in Sweden, if applicable, please consult the website of the Swedish Export Credit (SEK), as well as that of the Export Credit Agency (EKN).
The European Commission adopted a Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the COVID-19 outbreak, which enables short-term export credit insurance to be provided by the State where needed.

 

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