Stockholm, August 09, 2024, The Europe Today: In a significant demographic shift, the Swedish government announced on Thursday that the number of people leaving Sweden is expected to surpass the number of arrivals in 2024, marking the first instance of net emigration in the country in more than five decades.
The Swedish Ministry of Justice shared the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, citing a forecast from the Swedish Migration Agency. “Sweden is set to receive the lowest number of asylum-seekers since 1997, and for the first time in over 50 years, Sweden has net emigration,” the ministry’s post stated.
Historically Low Asylum Applications
Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard revealed that from January to May 2024, approximately 5,700 more people left Sweden than immigrated to the country. “The number of asylum applications is at a historically low level, asylum-related residence permits continue to decline, and for the first time in 50 years Sweden has net emigration,” Stenergard announced during a press briefing.
She emphasized that this shift toward reduced immigration is a necessary step for Sweden to improve integration and reduce social exclusion. “This trend towards sustainable immigration is necessary if we are to strengthen integration and reduce social exclusion,” she added.
Crackdown on Immigration
According to preliminary official figures, Sweden saw a 15% decline in immigration year-on-year during the early part of 2024, while emigration surged by 60% during the same period. Asylum applications continued to drop, reaching their lowest level since 1997.
The trend of rising emigration has been particularly pronounced among individuals born in Iraq, Somalia, and Syria, with net immigration figures for these groups turning negative in 2023. Preliminary statistics from Statistics Sweden indicate that this pattern of negative net immigration has persisted into 2024.
Since the 1990s, Sweden has accepted a large number of migrants, particularly from war-torn regions such as the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East, and Africa. However, since the Moderate Party, led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, took power in October 2022, the government has intensified efforts to curtail immigration. The three-party minority coalition, supported by the far-right Sweden Democrats, has made cracking down on immigration a central focus of its policies.
The historic shift in Sweden’s migration patterns signals a new chapter for the country, as it grapples with the challenges and opportunities presented by changing demographics.