Kommunlotsen / Origin / Russia
Russians in Sweden: how many and where do they live?
Origin Russia: how large the group is, where it lives and how it has changed.
About 39,000 people in Sweden have an origin in Russia (2025). Of them, about 27,000 were born in Russia and 12,000 were born in Sweden to at least one parent from there.
The most people born in Russia live in Stockholm (4,768), Göteborg (1,556) and Malmö (1,259). The largest share of residents is in Alvesta (1.1%), Solna (0.8%) and Älmhult (0.8%).
By origin in Russia we mean people who were born in Russia, or who were born in Sweden and have at least one parent born in Russia.
How large is the group in Sweden?
| Born in Russia | 26,680 |
|---|---|
| Born in Sweden, both parents from Russia | 2,536 |
| Born in Sweden, parents from Russia and another country | 4,428 |
| Born in Sweden, one parent from Russia | 5,515 |
How has the number changed?
The number of people born in Russia living in Sweden has grown from about 5,800 in 2000 to about 26,000 in 2025. Including people born in Sweden to parents from Russia, the whole group has grown from about 31,000 in 2018 to about 39,000 in 2025.
Change in the municipalities with the most people born in Russia
People born in Russia living in the municipality, 2015 compared with 2025.
| Municipality | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | 3,422 | 4,768 | +1,346 (+39%) |
| Göteborg | 1,176 | 1,556 | +380 (+32%) |
| Malmö | 640 | 1,259 | +619 (+97%) |
| Uppsala | 460 | 718 | +258 (+56%) |
| Solna | 435 | 673 | +238 (+55%) |
| Huddinge | 441 | 557 | +116 (+26%) |
| Nacka | 420 | 540 | +120 (+29%) |
| Lund | 356 | 526 | +170 (+48%) |
| Helsingborg | 276 | 480 | +204 (+74%) |
| Järfälla | 275 | 447 | +172 (+63%) |
Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB). The number born in Russia is the sum over all municipalities, year by year. Everyone with roots in Russia is only available nationally and from 2018.
Municipalities with the most people born in Russia
Number is the people born in Russia living in the municipality, Share is their share of the municipality's residents, and Of all in Sweden is the municipality's share of everyone born in Russia in the country.
| Municipality | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | 4,768 | 0.5% |
| Göteborg | 1,556 | 0.3% |
| Malmö | 1,259 | 0.3% |
| Uppsala | 718 | 0.3% |
| Solna | 673 | 0.8% |
| Huddinge | 557 | 0.5% |
| Nacka | 540 | 0.5% |
| Lund | 526 | 0.4% |
| Helsingborg | 480 | 0.3% |
| Järfälla | 447 | 0.5% |
| Haninge | 415 | 0.4% |
| Botkyrka | 413 | 0.4% |
| Västerås | 400 | 0.2% |
| Södertälje | 390 | 0.4% |
| Täby | 366 | 0.5% |
| Umeå | 361 | 0.3% |
| Linköping | 345 | 0.2% |
| Sollentuna | 336 | 0.4% |
| Sundbyberg | 309 | 0.5% |
| Växjö | 309 | 0.3% |
| Örebro | 292 | 0.2% |
| Luleå | 265 | 0.3% |
| Lidingö | 249 | 0.5% |
| Upplands Väsby | 249 | 0.5% |
| Sigtuna | 236 | 0.4% |
Largest share of residents
Municipalities with at least 20 people born in Russia, sorted by their share of the municipality's residents.
| Municipality | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Alvesta | 215 | 1.1% |
| Solna | 673 | 0.8% |
| Älmhult | 132 | 0.8% |
| Sundbyberg | 309 | 0.5% |
| Lidingö | 249 | 0.5% |
| Finspång | 108 | 0.5% |
| Järfälla | 447 | 0.5% |
| Upplands Väsby | 249 | 0.5% |
| Haparanda | 44 | 0.5% |
| Huddinge | 557 | 0.5% |
| Salem | 83 | 0.5% |
| Stockholm | 4,768 | 0.5% |
| Nacka | 540 | 0.5% |
| Pajala | 27 | 0.5% |
| Täby | 366 | 0.5% |
| Sigtuna | 236 | 0.4% |
| Sollentuna | 336 | 0.4% |
| Botkyrka | 413 | 0.4% |
| Haninge | 415 | 0.4% |
| Nynäshamn | 122 | 0.4% |
| Lund | 526 | 0.4% |
| Södertälje | 390 | 0.4% |
| Malmö | 1,259 | 0.3% |
| Upplands-Bro | 114 | 0.3% |
| Tyresö | 169 | 0.3% |
Common questions about Russians in Sweden
- How many Russians live in Sweden?
- About 39,000 people in Sweden have an origin in Russia (2025). Of them, about 27,000 were born in Russia and 12,000 were born in Sweden to at least one parent from there.
- Where in Sweden do most Russians live?
- The most people born in Russia live in Stockholm (4,768), Göteborg (1,556) and Malmö (1,259). Together, 29% of everyone born in Russia lives in one of these three municipalities.
- Which municipality has the largest share of Russians?
- Alvesta, where 1.1% of residents were born in Russia. It is followed by Solna (0.8%) and Älmhult (0.8%).
- Is the number of Russians in Sweden growing or shrinking?
- The number of people born in Russia living in Sweden has grown from about 5,800 in 2000 to about 26,000 in 2025. Including people born in Sweden to parents from Russia, the whole group has grown from about 31,000 in 2018 to about 39,000 in 2025.
- How many were born in Sweden to parents from Russia?
- About 12,000. Of them, about 2,500 have two parents born in Russia.
Good to know
- The lists above only count people born in Russia. Where people born in Sweden with parents from Russia live is not available in Statistics Sweden's open data, only how many there are in the whole country. The real group in a municipality is therefore usually larger than the figures show.
- These are sorted lists, not grades. A large or small number is neither good nor bad.
- Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB). The municipality figures are from 2025 and the national table from 2025. Shares and rankings are Kommunlotsen's own calculations. The national figures are rounded by Statistics Sweden. Last updated .
Countries in the same region:
Largest groups in Sweden:
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