Gällivare Municipality
17,135 residents · 185 km from Luleå
Gällivare has a strong labour market, many job openings and high incomes, but a long way to protected nature and high tax.
Strongest
- Labour marketrank 1 of 290
- Job openingsrank 3 of 290
- Median incomerank 9 of 290
Weakest
- Close to naturerank 240 of 290
- Municipal taxrank 236 of 290
The quiz and the compare page are in Swedish.
Scores and key figures
How Gällivare compares with the other municipalities. The score is based on rank, using the same figures as the rankings: 5 is first place in Sweden and 1 is last, and a high score is always good, for example low tax or low house prices. Tap an area for the figures behind it.
Housing & economy
2.6 House pricesrank 174 of 290
1.7 Municipal taxrank 236 of 290
4.9 Median incomerank 9 of 290
1.7 Close to naturerank 240 of 290
Safety & family
4.2 Safetyrank 51 of 249
1.9 Schoolsrank 225 of 290
2.0 Preschoolrank 217 of 290
Care
2.0 Home carerank 219 of 290
Jobs & business
5.0 Labour marketrank 1 of 290
5.0 Job openingsrank 3 of 290
2.1 New businessesrank 207 of 290
Growth
2.2 Population growthrank 200 of 290
Other
Source: Kolada, Statistics Sweden (SCB), Swedish Public Employment Service (Jobtech), SMHI, Valmyndigheten. "Sweden" is the source's own national figure where there is one (every Kolada measure and SCB's house prices), otherwise Kommunlotsen's own population-weighted average across all municipalities. The bar under each measure shows placement among municipalities, not where the number sits between the lowest and highest value: a full bar is best in Sweden, the middle tick is the median municipality and the diamond shows where Sweden's average places. The "highest" and "lowest" labels mark the 10 highest and lowest of Sweden's municipalities and are not judgements of quality. Sources and licences: open data page (in Swedish). Last updated .
Did you know?
- 2nd lowest in Sweden for share who commute out · 6%
- 2nd highest in Sweden for municipal solvency · 60.1%
- 6th highest in Sweden for share of protected land · 41.4%
Origin
14% have a foreign background (Sweden 27.6%), 11.8% are foreign-born (Sweden 20.8%), 5.9% of all residents were born outside Europe (Sweden 12%).
The most common countries of birth among foreign-born residents. Select a country to see where in Sweden the group lives.
- Finland 1.5% of residents
- Thailand 1.2% of residents
- Burundi 0.7% of residents
- Eritrea 0.6% of residents
- Afghanistan 0.6% of residents
- Syria 0.5% of residents
- Germany 0.4% of residents
- Norway 0.4% of residents
- Ukraine 0.4% of residents
- Estonia 0.3% of residents
Where in Sweden do people born in Finland live? · Origins by country
Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB). "Foreign background" adds the foreign-born to people born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents. "Born outside Europe" follows the UN's regional classification. Shares and the national figure are Kommunlotsen's own calculations from SCB data.
Self-sufficiency
87.6% of residents aged 20–64 in Gällivare are self-sufficient (Sweden 74.4%). That means an income of at least three income base amounts a year, about SEK 229,000 in 2024. Full-time students below that level are counted separately.
- Self-sufficient 87.6%
- Studying 0.6%
- Not self-sufficient 11.8%
Share of self-sufficient residents aged 20–64, 2024. "Sweden" is Statistics Sweden's national figure. Groups of fewer than 100 people are not reported. Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB).
Refugees
651 residents of Gällivare came to Sweden as refugees or as family members of a refugee. That is 3.8% of residents (Sweden 7.3%).
Main income source of refugees and family members aged 20–65
- Pay 87.3%
- Unemployment benefit 3.7%
- Sickness or activity compensation 1.2%
- Parental benefit 2.7%
- Social assistance 1.7%
- No benefit or pension 3.3%
Number 2025, work and income source 2024 (age 20–65). "In work" means employed according to Statistics Sweden's register data. "Sweden" is Statistics Sweden's national figure. Groups of fewer than 100 people are not reported. Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB).
Housing & leisure
Commuting
Commute out: 2nd lowest
Share of employed residents who commute across the municipal border. A "bedroom community" sends at least 60% out and takes in under 50%; a "job hub" is the reverse; a "commuter hub" has at least 50% both ways.
People
Everyday life & connectivity
2026 municipal election
In the municipal council election on 13 September 2026, the Social Democrats became the largest party in Gällivare with 26.0% of the vote and 9 of 35 seats. Turnout was 78.3% (Sweden 82.3%).
Seats on the municipal council (35)
- PartyVotevs 2022Seats
- Social Democrats 26.0% −1.0 9
- Moderates 21.0% −9.1 8
- Christian Democrats 16.1% +15.7 6
- Green Party 12.2% −1.1 4
- Sweden Democrats 11.7% −3.8 4
- Left Party 9.7% −0.7 3
- Sjukvårdspartiet 2.2% +0.1 1
- Centre Party 0.5% ±0.0 0
- Liberals 0.5% −0.3 0
- Other parties 0.2% 0
Final, certified result. Share of valid votes; change since the 2022 election in percentage points. The eight parties in the Riksdag are always shown, other parties when they won seats. "Other parties" is all remaining parties combined. Source: Swedish Election Authority (Valmyndigheten), official record (Swedish).
Municipal finances
Nature
Neighbouring and similar municipalities
Neighbouring municipalities
The municipalities that border Gällivare.
| Municipality | Tax | House price |
|---|---|---|
| Jokkmokk | 22.9% | SEK 1.0m |
| Kiruna | 23.1% | SEK 2.3m |
| Pajala | 23.4% | SEK 0.9m |
| Överkalix | 22.8% | SEK 0.7m |
| Boden | 22.6% | SEK 2.1m |
Similar municipalities
The municipalities in Sweden most like Gällivare, in the scores for the twelve areas and in size.
| Municipality | Tax | House price |
|---|---|---|
| Vimmerby | 22.4% | SEK 1.6m |
| Kiruna | 23.1% | SEK 2.3m |
| Östhammar | 21.6% | SEK 2.6m |
| Värnamo | 21.5% | SEK 2.6m |
| Örnsköldsvik | 22.7% | SEK 1.9m |
Borders from Wikidata. Distance is a straight line between the municipalities' main towns. Tax is the municipal tax rate and house price the average price of a house.
Frequently asked questions about Gällivare
- How many people live in Gällivare?
- Gällivare has 17,135 residents, making it Sweden’s 141st largest municipality out of 290. It is in Norrbotten County.
- What is the municipal tax rate in Gällivare?
- The municipal tax rate in Gällivare is 22.6%, compared with 20.7% for Sweden as a whole.
- How much does a house cost in Gällivare?
- The average single-family house in Gällivare costs SEK 2.5 million, which is cheaper than the national average (Sweden SEK 3.9 million).
- How far is Gällivare from Luleå?
- About 185 km in a straight line, to Luleå, the nearest of Sweden’s 30 largest cities.
- What share of people in Gällivare are self-sufficient?
- 87.6% of residents aged 20–64 in Gällivare are self-sufficient, meaning an income of at least three income base amounts a year (Sweden 74.4%).
- How many refugees live in Gällivare?
- 651 residents of Gällivare came to Sweden as refugees or as family members of a refugee, 3.8% of residents. 83.7% of those aged 20–65 are in work.
- Which party is largest in Gällivare?
- In the 2026 municipal election, the Social Democrats became the largest party in Gällivare with 26.0% of the vote and 9 of 35 seats on the municipal council. Turnout was 78.3%.
- What stands out about Gällivare?
- Gällivare is 2nd lowest in Sweden for share who commute out (6%).
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