Stockholm has reached one million inhabitants, crossing the threshold in May 2026, according to new population figures published by Statistics Sweden. Sweden’s capital municipality recorded 1,000,374 residents, marking a symbolic milestone after years of slower-than-expected demographic growth.
Stockholm reaches the one-million milestone
Stockholm Municipality grew by around 11,400 residents between December 2023 and May 2026. The figures are based on the population register maintained by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket).
The milestone applies specifically to the municipality of Stockholm, rather than the wider metropolitan area or Stockholm County, whose populations are substantially larger.
The city had been approaching the threshold for several years. Earlier forecasts expected Stockholm to become a million-resident municipality sooner, but growth slowed after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have been moving the expected date forward in our forecasts for at least ten years,” Stockholm city statistician Ellen Forsberg said in a statement published by the municipality.
A quarter of a million new residents since 2000
Stockholm’s population has increased by approximately 250,000 people since the beginning of the century. Growth was relatively limited during the early 2000s before accelerating during the following decade.
The pace weakened again after the pandemic. Despite the slowdown, the city’s latest population forecast expects Stockholm to continue expanding and reach around 1.06 million inhabitants by 2035.
The municipality estimates that population growth will be driven mainly by more births than deaths. Migration is expected to make a smaller contribution, particularly during the first years of the forecast period.
The demographic composition of Stockholm is also changing. According to the city’s projections, the number of older residents will increase, while the population of children and young people is expected to decline during parts of the coming decade.
Other Swedish municipalities are also growing
Stockholm is not the only Swedish city approaching a demographic milestone. Uppsala, the country’s fourth-largest municipality, had 249,843 inhabitants in May, up from around 188,600 at the beginning of 2000.
Its population has therefore increased by more than 30 percent since the start of the century, following a steadier growth pattern than Stockholm.
The municipalities of Karlstad and Sundsvall are also approaching 100,000 residents. Statistics Sweden counted 98,956 residents in Karlstad and 98,848 in Sundsvall in May.
The figures reflect a broader concentration of Sweden’s population around urban centres, although the pace and causes of growth vary considerably between municipalities.
A symbolic threshold for Sweden’s capital
Passing one million inhabitants does not change Stockholm’s administrative status, but it represents an important marker in the city’s development. The capital has grown from approximately 750,000 residents at the beginning of the century while remaining Sweden’s main political, economic and cultural centre.
The next challenge will be managing continued growth while the city’s demographic structure changes. Housing, transport, schools and services for an ageing population are likely to remain central issues as Stockholm moves beyond the one-million threshold.
