Karlshamn Municipality
31,642 residents · 46 km from Kristianstad
Karlshamn has well-staffed preschools and protected nature close by, but few new businesses and a low sense of safety.
Strongest
- Preschoolrank 33 of 290
- Close to naturerank 46 of 290
- Schoolsrank 118 of 290
Weakest
- New businessesrank 278 of 290
- Safetyrank 200 of 249
The quiz and the compare page are in Swedish.
Scores and key figures
How Karlshamn 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
3.0 House pricesrank 145 of 290
2.7 Municipal taxrank 167 of 290
3.1 Median incomerank 141 of 290
4.4 Close to naturerank 46 of 290
Safety & family
1.8 Safetyrank 200 of 249
3.4 Schoolsrank 118 of 290
4.6 Preschoolrank 33 of 290
Care
3.2 Home carerank 132 of 290
Jobs & business
2.3 Labour marketrank 193 of 290
3.0 Job openingsrank 146 of 290
1.2 New businessesrank 278 of 290
Growth
2.7 Population growthrank 164 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 .
Origin
18.8% have a foreign background (Sweden 27.6%), 14.8% are foreign-born (Sweden 20.8%), 7.8% 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.
- Syria 3.4% of residents
- Poland 1.1% of residents
- Iraq 0.9% of residents
- Afghanistan 0.7% of residents
- Germany 0.6% of residents
- Former Yugoslavia 0.6% of residents
- Finland 0.5% of residents
- Ukraine 0.5% of residents
- Denmark 0.4% of residents
- Thailand 0.4% of residents
Where in Sweden do people born in Syria 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
74.6% of residents aged 20–64 in Karlshamn 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 74.6%
- Studying 4%
- Not self-sufficient 21.4%
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
2,267 residents of Karlshamn came to Sweden as refugees or as family members of a refugee. That is 7.2% of residents (Sweden 7.3%).
Main income source of refugees and family members aged 20–65
- Pay 60.9%
- Unemployment benefit 10.9%
- Student aid 6.4%
- Sickness or activity compensation 4.2%
- Parental benefit 1.9%
- Social assistance 10%
- No benefit or pension 5.6%
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
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 Karlshamn with 31.7% of the vote and 16 of 51 seats. Turnout was 83.0% (Sweden 82.3%).
Seats on the municipal council (51)
- PartyVotevs 2022Seats
- Social Democrats 31.7% +6.6 16
- Moderates 18.0% −7.3 9
- Sweden Democrats 17.9% −3.7 9
- Centre Party 8.9% +1.1 5
- Christian Democrats 6.8% +2.9 4
- Left Party 5.4% −0.1 3
- Green Party 5.0% +0.7 3
- Medborgerlig Samling 4.3% +1.0 2
- Liberals 1.8% −1.3 0
- Other parties 0.1% 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 Karlshamn.
| Municipality | Tax | House price |
|---|---|---|
| Sölvesborg | 21.8% | SEK 2.2m |
| Olofström | 21.7% | SEK 1.3m |
| Ronneby | 21.6% | SEK 1.8m |
| Tingsryd | 22.0% | SEK 1.3m |
Similar municipalities
The municipalities in Sweden most like Karlshamn, in the scores for the twelve areas and in size.
| Municipality | Tax | House price |
|---|---|---|
| Tranås | 22.0% | SEK 2.4m |
| Vänersborg | 22.2% | SEK 2.4m |
| Oskarshamn | 22.4% | SEK 2.3m |
| Kumla | 21.5% | SEK 2.7m |
| Gävle | 22.3% | SEK 3.5m |
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 Karlshamn
- How many people live in Karlshamn?
- Karlshamn has 31,642 residents, making it Sweden’s 85th largest municipality out of 290. It is in Blekinge County.
- What is the municipal tax rate in Karlshamn?
- The municipal tax rate in Karlshamn is 22.1%, compared with 20.7% for Sweden as a whole.
- How much does a house cost in Karlshamn?
- The average single-family house in Karlshamn costs SEK 2.2 million, which is cheaper than the national average (Sweden SEK 3.9 million).
- How far is Karlshamn from Kristianstad?
- About 46 km in a straight line, to Kristianstad, the nearest of Sweden’s 30 largest cities.
- What share of people in Karlshamn are self-sufficient?
- 74.6% of residents aged 20–64 in Karlshamn are self-sufficient, meaning an income of at least three income base amounts a year (Sweden 74.4%).
- How many refugees live in Karlshamn?
- 2,267 residents of Karlshamn came to Sweden as refugees or as family members of a refugee, 7.2% of residents. 60.4% of those aged 20–65 are in work.
- Which party is largest in Karlshamn?
- In the 2026 municipal election, the Social Democrats became the largest party in Karlshamn with 31.7% of the vote and 16 of 51 seats on the municipal council. Turnout was 83.0%.
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