Seven per cent of Swedish citizens live abroad. That is over 660,000 Swedes. The figure comes from the association Swedes Worldwide, which turned to several authorities, the Church of Sweden and other bodies to arrive at a figure for Swedes who live abroad more than six months a year.
And Spain is in second place with 90,000 Swedes, after the USA in first with 150,000. The United Kingdom and Norway are also home to 90,000 Swedes.
It is above all the climate and the social life that appeal when Swedes head abroad.
The Swedish government ought to see them as a resource for Sweden. All these people carry with them a picture of Sweden that they pass on, says Karin Ehnbom-Palmquist, secretary general of Swedes Worldwide, an organisation that represents the interests of Swedes living abroad and which is behind the study.
Where most Swedes live
USA 150,000
United Kingdom 90,000
Spain 90,000
Norway 90,000
France 30,000
Germany 23,000
Thailand 20,000
Finland 15,000
Denmark 15,000
Italy 12,000
Australia 11,000
Switzerland 10,000
Belgium 10,000
Canada 7,000
Netherlands 6,500
Chile 5,000
China 4,000
Israel 4,000
United Arab Emirates 4,000
Brazil 4,000
Austria 3,500
Source: Swedes Worldwide. Estimated 2014-15.
22/06/2015
Extract from Svenska Magasinet