Kommunlotsen / Municipalities

Kiruna Municipality

22,402 residents · 266 km from Luleå

Kiruna has many job openings, a strong labour market and high incomes, but less satisfied home-care users and a long way to protected nature.

Scores in 12 areas1–5, tap for details
Housing
Family
Care
Jobs
Growth

Strongest

Weakest

The quiz and the compare page are in Swedish.

Scores and key figures

How Kiruna 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

2.8 House pricesrank 158 of 290
House price
SEK 2.3 million Better than 46% of municipalities Sweden: SEK 3.9 million

All 290 municipalities ranked

1.4 Municipal taxrank 264 of 290
Municipal tax rate
23.1% Better than 9% of municipalities Sweden: 20.7%

All 290 municipalities ranked

4.9 Median incomerank 11 of 290
Median income, age 20–64
SEK 478,800 Better than 97% of municipalities Sweden: SEK 401,400

All 290 municipalities ranked

1.2 Close to naturerank 279 of 290
Distance to protected nature
5 km Better than 4% of municipalities Sweden: 2 km

All 290 municipalities ranked

Safety & family

4.0 Safetyrank 61 of 249
Feel safe outdoors at night
89.1% Better than 75% of municipalities Sweden: 79.4%

All 290 municipalities ranked

1.7 Schoolsrank 239 of 290
Merit rating, year 9
211.5 points Better than 43% of municipalities Sweden: 223.5 points
Eligible for upper secondary school
78.1% Better than 28% of municipalities Sweden: 84.1%
Qualified teachers
53.2% Better than 3% of municipalities 10th lowestSweden: 73.3%

All 290 municipalities ranked

2.2 Preschoolrank 203 of 290
Children per adult in preschool
4.6 children per adult Better than 82% of municipalities Sweden: 5.1 children per adult
Qualified preschool teachers
22.8% Better than 1% of municipalities 3rd lowestSweden: 44.7%

All 290 municipalities ranked

Care

1.1 Home carerank 283 of 290
Home care, as rated by users
0 out of 100 Joint last place 1st lowest (shared)Sweden: 43 out of 100

All 290 municipalities ranked

Jobs & business

4.9 Labour marketrank 6 of 290
Unemployment
1.5% Better than 99% of municipalities 3rd lowestSweden: 3.1%
Long-term unemployed
1.2% Better than 100% of municipalities Lowest in SwedenSweden: 3.8%
Young people not working or studying
5.4% Better than 81% of municipalities Sweden: 6.2%

All 290 municipalities ranked

5.0 Job openingsrank 2 of 290
Job openings
9.1 per 1,000 residents Better than 100% of municipalities 2nd highestSweden: 3.8 per 1,000 residents

All 290 municipalities ranked

4.6 New businessesrank 33 of 290
New businesses
11.4 per 1,000 residents Better than 68% of municipalities Sweden: 11.5 per 1,000 residents
Business bankruptcies
0.9 per 1,000 residents Better than 77% of municipalities Sweden: 1.7 per 1,000 residents

All 290 municipalities ranked

Growth

3.2 Population growthrank 130 of 290
Population change
-0.1% Better than 55% of municipalities Sweden: 0.2%
3.1 per 1,000 residents Better than 71% of municipalities Sweden: 1.1 per 1,000 residents

All 290 municipalities ranked

Other

Population
22,402
Temperature
June 9.1 °CDecember -8.5 °C

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?

Origin

18.4% have a foreign background (Sweden 27.6%), 15.6% are foreign-born (Sweden 20.8%), 6.3% 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.

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

84.9% of residents aged 20–64 in Kiruna 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.

86.9% Better than 99% of municipalities 3rd highestSweden: 78.6%
75.5% Better than 99% of municipalities 4th highestSweden: 62.6%
75.2% Better than 99% of municipalities 3rd highestSweden: 58.6%

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

867 residents of Kiruna came to Sweden as refugees or as family members of a refugee. That is 3.9% of residents (Sweden 7.3%).

82.6% Born in Sweden, Kiruna: 88.6% Better than 100% of municipalities 2nd highestSweden: 67.5%
86.9% Better than 99% of municipalities 4th highestSweden: 67.6%
2.9% Better than 96% of municipalities Sweden: 7.7%

Main income source of refugees and family members aged 20–65

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

117.5 per 1,000 residents Sweden: 59.8 per 1,000 residents
SEK 18,015/m² Sweden: SEK 29,242/m²
43 m² Sweden: 42 m²

Commuting

Self-contained job market

Commute out4.5%
Commute in9.2%

Commute out: Lowest in SwedenCommute in: 7th 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

43 years Sweden: 42.4 years
76.9% Sweden: 82.3%

Everyday life & connectivity

11.2 per 1,000 residents Sweden: 40.8 per 1,000 residents
95.2% Sweden: 98.5%

2026 municipal election

In the municipal council election on 13 September 2026, the Social Democrats became the largest party in Kiruna with 35.2% of the vote and 17 of 45 seats. Turnout was 76.8% (Sweden 82.3%).

Seats on the municipal council (45)

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

58.7% 6th highestSweden: 30%

Nature

28.4% Sweden: 12.6%

Neighbouring and similar municipalities

Neighbouring municipalities

The municipalities that border Kiruna.

MunicipalityDistanceResidentsTaxHouse price
Gällivare82 km17,13522.6%SEK 2.5m
Pajala153 km5,70623.4%SEK 0.9m

Similar municipalities

The municipalities in Sweden most like Kiruna, in the scores for the twelve areas and in size.

MunicipalityDistanceResidentsTaxHouse price
Gällivare82 km17,13522.6%SEK 2.5m
Värnamo1,227 km34,53421.5%SEK 2.6m
Boden234 km28,62422.6%SEK 2.1m
Vimmerby1,154 km15,32722.4%SEK 1.6m
Mora807 km20,41922.3%SEK 2.2m

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 Kiruna

How many people live in Kiruna?
Kiruna has 22,402 residents, making it Sweden’s 116th largest municipality out of 290. It is in Norrbotten County.
What is the municipal tax rate in Kiruna?
The municipal tax rate in Kiruna is 23.1%, compared with 20.7% for Sweden as a whole.
How much does a house cost in Kiruna?
The average single-family house in Kiruna costs SEK 2.3 million, which is cheaper than the national average (Sweden SEK 3.9 million).
How far is Kiruna from Luleå?
About 266 km in a straight line, to Luleå, the nearest of Sweden’s 30 largest cities.
What share of people in Kiruna are self-sufficient?
84.9% of residents aged 20–64 in Kiruna are self-sufficient, meaning an income of at least three income base amounts a year (Sweden 74.4%).
How many refugees live in Kiruna?
867 residents of Kiruna came to Sweden as refugees or as family members of a refugee, 3.9% of residents. 82.6% of those aged 20–65 are in work.
Which party is largest in Kiruna?
In the 2026 municipal election, the Social Democrats became the largest party in Kiruna with 35.2% of the vote and 17 of 45 seats on the municipal council. Turnout was 76.8%.
What stands out about Kiruna?
Kiruna has the lowest in Sweden for share who commute out (4.5%).

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