Karlshamn Municipality
31,642 residents · 46 km from Kristianstad
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About Karlshamn
Karlshamn is a municipality in Blekinge County with 31,642 residents, 46 km from Kristianstad. The municipal tax rate is 22.1% (Sweden 20.9%). Median income for people aged 20–64 is SEK 388,700 (Sweden SEK 405,393). The average single-family house costs SEK 2.2 million (Sweden SEK 4.6 million). Unemployment is 2.8% (Sweden 3.1%). The average year 9 merit rating is 212.9 points (Sweden 224.1 points). The average temperature is 9.5 °C, with 15.8 °C in June and 4.3 °C in December.
Key figures
- Municipal tax rate 22.1%Sweden: 20.9%
- Merit rating, year 9 212.9 pointsSweden: 224.1 points
- Eligible for upper secondary school 79.5%Sweden: 83.9%
- Unemployment 2.8%Sweden: 3.1%
- Median income, age 20–64 SEK 388,700Sweden: SEK 405,393
- Feel safe outdoors at night 75.1%Sweden: 79.1%
- Population 31,642Sweden: 199,284
- Population change -0.3%Sweden: 0.2%
- Children per adult in preschool 5 children per adultSweden: 5.1 children per adult
- New businesses 7.5 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 11.4 per 1,000 residents
- Business bankruptcies 1.5 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 1.6 per 1,000 residents
- House price SEK 2.2 millionSweden: SEK 4.6 million
- Net migration -2.2 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 2.8 per 1,000 residents
- Job openings 2.9 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 4 per 1,000 residents
- Temperature June 15.8 °CDecember 4.3 °C
Source: Kolada, Statistics Sweden (SCB), Swedish Public Employment Service (Jobtech), SMHI. "Sweden" is Kommunlotsen's own population-weighted average across all municipalities, not an official national figure. 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 21 September 2026.
Origin
18.6% have a foreign background (Sweden 27.5%), 14.6% are foreign-born (Sweden 20.8%), 7.8% of all residents were born outside Europe (Sweden 11.9%).
The most common countries of birth among foreign-born residents.
- Syria 3.5% of residents
- Poland 1.1% of residents
- Iraq 0.9% of residents
- Afghanistan 0.7% of residents
- Former Yugoslavia 0.6% of residents
- Germany 0.6% of residents
- Finland 0.5% of residents
- Denmark 0.4% of residents
- Thailand 0.4% of residents
- Ukraine 0.4% of residents
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.
Housing & leisure
- Holiday homes 61 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 59.8 per 1,000 residents
- Holiday home price SEK 19,012/m²Sweden: SEK 35,616/m²
- Living space per resident 47 m²Sweden: 42 m²
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
- Average age 45.6 yearsSweden: 42.4 years
- Post-secondary education, age 25–44 43.2%Sweden: 50.7%
- Turnout in the municipal election 83%Sweden: 80.4%
Everyday life & connectivity
- Electric cars 24.5 per 1,000 residentsSweden: 40.7 per 1,000 residents
- Gigabit broadband coverage 99.7%Sweden: 98.5%
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 20.9% 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 4.6 million).
- How far is Karlshamn from Kristianstad?
- About 46 km in a straight line, to Kristianstad, the nearest of Sweden’s 30 largest cities.
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