Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
The regional breakdown of the Member States in the regional demographic tables is done under the most recent NUTS classification. There are agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS. For more information on the versions in force, please see Eurostat NUTS.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
One of the following definitions is used by a country when explaining the statistical concepts:
Usually resident population means all persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time; for more information see the Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.
Legal residence population is composed of those persons who are entitled to be settled in the country at the reference date, either by holding the national citizenship or by other authorization issued by national authorities.
Registered residence population is composed of those persons who are listed on one or more registers owned by national authorities at the reference date. Each registered person shall be counted only once.
See the table 3.4.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
See the table 3.4.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
See the table 3.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.7. Reference area
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Most data are available and computerized from 1968/1969.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year during which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Statistics Sweden's operations are governed by its directive, laws and ordinances, as well as the annual appropriation directions.
Statistics Sweden's directive
The directive is an ordinance that contains regulations on the framework and operations management.
Ordinance with the directive for Statistics Sweden (2016:822).
Laws and ordinances
In addition to the directive, several other laws and ordinances govern Statistics Sweden’s operations.
Official Statistics Act (2001:99).
Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100).
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Ordinance concerning Government Authorities' Collection of Data from Businesses Operators an.d Local Authorities (1982:668).
For confidentiality regarding the authority's specific task for the production of statistics, Chapter 24 Section 8 of the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400) applies. Within the area of statistics, there are also specific rules on the handling of personal data in the Official Statistics Act (2001:99), the Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not available
8.1. Release calendar
Annual statistics on demography and vital events are published in February and March every year.
Statistics refering to the year 2024 was published on 21 February 2025 and 21 March 2025. Statistics refering to the year 2025 will be published on 24 February 2026 and 24 March 2026.
See the table 11.2.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not available
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available
12.3. Completeness
Not available
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy and special cases (inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister, etc.).
See the table 13.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.1.1 Accuracy - unknown values
See the table 13.1.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.2. Sampling error
See the table 13.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.3. Non-sampling error
See the table 13.3 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
14.1. Timeliness
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not available
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The Swedish population statistics are fully based on registers. This can impair the comparability of data based on other sources, for example surveys.
The Swedish statistics on demography and vital events are fully comparable between different geographical areas in Sweden.
15.2. Comparability - over time
See the table 15.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The statistics on demography and vital events are coherent with other statistics based on the same source; the Total Population Register.
In comparisons between International Migration Statistics (IM) and Residence Permits Statistics (RP) flow statistics please note that:
IM figure refers to immigrants who are allowed to stay in Sweden and has the intention of staying at least 12 months. These persons are registered.
RP figure refers to residence permits given to persons with citizenship of “non-EU countries”, “Stateless” or “Unknown”.
RP figure refers to residence permits longer than 3 months. IM figure refers to immigrants who has the intention to stay at least 12 months in Sweden.
RP figure refers to number of residence permits, not number of persons. A person may have been granted more than one residence permit.
RP figure include granted residence permits given to persons who never immigrate to Sweden.
RP figure only refers to “first permits”, defined according to Eurostat guidelines.
RP figure also include residence permits that for some reason is withdrawn after being granted.
In compairisons between International Migration Statistics (IM) and Residence Permits Statistics (RP) stock statistics please note that:
IM figure refers to persons who has their usual residence in Sweden.
RP figure does not include immigrants that has been granted with a Swedish citizenship.
RP figures includes residence permits given to persons who need to apply for a residence permit. A person with for example Swedish, Nordic or EU citizenship do not need to apply for a residence permit and is not included.
RP figure refers to residence permits longer than 3 months. Compared to IM figure with 12 months criteria.
RP figure refers to “all” residence permits and not only “first permits”.
RP figures also include granted residence permits given to persons that never immigrate to Sweden.
RP figure refers to number of residence permits, not number of persons. A person may have been granted more than one residence permit.
RP figure also include residence permits that for some reason is withdrawn after being granted.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The Total Population Register is the source for the majority of the variables and the variables are to a large extent coherent.
Not available
17.1. Data revision - policy
In general a figure will be revised if an error is detected.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Preliminary infra annual statistics are published each month. The figures are revised during the year and and are considered final when statistics for December are published.
18.1. Source data
See the table 18.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Statistics Sweden receives notifications from the Tax Agency continuously. Monthly population registers, on stocks and events, are stored.
18.3. Data collection
The Total Population Register is the source of the data and the Tax Agency are the authority responsible for the administrative register. Almost all public services utilize the administrative register and there is an incentive for individuals to keep the information updated in order to get information, social benefits, and other types of public services. The administrative register is updated based on information from authorities, healthcare professionals, individual persons, etc.
18.4. Data validation
The validation of the statistical register includes controls as valid values and logical controls.
The administrative register is also validated at the Tax Agency.
18.5. Data compilation
The population in the register received from the Tax Agency is considered to be the target population. Some coding is made for variables as sex and age, by using the personal identification number (PIN) of each person.
18.6. Adjustment
The statistical adjustment refers to vital events that happened during previous years. The events were not registered in time to be included in the annual population figure for the previous year. However, no previous annual figures are adjusted.
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
One of the following definitions is used by a country when explaining the statistical concepts:
Usually resident population means all persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time; for more information see the Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.
Legal residence population is composed of those persons who are entitled to be settled in the country at the reference date, either by holding the national citizenship or by other authorization issued by national authorities.
Registered residence population is composed of those persons who are listed on one or more registers owned by national authorities at the reference date. Each registered person shall be counted only once.
See the table 3.4.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
See the table 3.4.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Number of persons.
See the table 3.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year during which the migration occurred.
Overall accuracy and special cases (inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister, etc.).
See the table 13.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.1.1 Accuracy - unknown values
See the table 13.1.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
The population in the register received from the Tax Agency is considered to be the target population. Some coding is made for variables as sex and age, by using the personal identification number (PIN) of each person.
See the table 18.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Statistics on demography and vital events are published monthly, quarterly, semiannually and annually.
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
The Swedish population statistics are fully based on registers. This can impair the comparability of data based on other sources, for example surveys.
The Swedish statistics on demography and vital events are fully comparable between different geographical areas in Sweden.
See the table 15.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
