Sweden Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 17 October 2025

Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and cultural heritage, Sweden has long held appeal for international tourists from different corners of the world. 

How many tourists visit Sweden every year?

Over 7 million international tourists annually, exceeding 8 million in 2024.

• Sweden welcomed approximately 7.62 million visitors in 2019, a 2.4% increase from the previous year.

• However, COVID-19 emerged in 2020, resulting in decreasing international arrivals to 1.96 million.

• A year later in 2021, tourism began to recover, with visitor figures growing to 2.99 million. The recovery continued in 2022 when tourist arrivals increased to 6.63 million.

• Tourist numbers rose by 13.5% in 2023, reaching 7.53 million, just 1.2% below the pre-pandemic peak.

• 2024 saw 8.70 million visitors, up 15.6% on 2023 and 14.2% above the 2019 peak.

How many people visited Sweden in 2025?

• From January to August 2025, Sweden has received 6.32 million international tourists, marking a 4.1% decrease from the same period of the previous year.

• As of August 2025, June, July, and August have each recorded over 1 million tourists, indicating these were the busiest months of 2025 so far.

2025 International Tourists in the Sweden
Months	Total International Tourists (‘000)
Jan	353
Feb	422
Mar	409
Apr	466
May	612
Jun	1,009
Jul	1,722
Aug	1,327

How many people visited Sweden in 2024?

• Sweden welcomed 8.7 million international tourists in 2024, exceeding the previous year by 15.5% and the pre-pandemic figure by 14.2%.

How much do tourists spend in Sweden every year?

International tourists spend over $10 billion in Sweden annually.

• Tourists spent a total of $10.02 billion in 2017. The following year, 2018, had a slight decrease in spending to $9.97 billion, and this dropped further in 2019 to $9.17 billion.

• The impact of the 2020 pandemic severely cut tourist spending to $4.35 billion. 

• Nevertheless, a recovery commenced in 2021, with expenditure reaching $6.06 billion. This positive trend persisted into 2022, with expenditures recovering to $8.96 billion.

• 2024 spending reached $10.70 billion, up 8.1% on 2023 and 16.7% above the 2019 peak. ¹

How much did visitors spend in Sweden in 2024?

• In 2024, tourists spent $10.7 billion while visiting Sweden. This exceeded the 2023 figure by 8.1% and 2019 figure by 16.7%.
  

Where do visitors to Sweden come from?

• Most of Sweden’s inbound tourists come from neighboring and nearby countries, with Germany leading with approximately 3.60 million guest nights in 2024.
  
• This was followed by Norway (3.30 million), Denmark (2.00 million), the United States (1.50 million), and Finland (1.20 million). ¹

Impact of Coronavirus – Sweden Tourism Statistics

• The pandemic led to a sharp decrease in Sweden’s tourism in 2020, with visitor numbers and spending falling to 26% and 47% of 2019’s levels, respectively, resulting in 1.96 million arrivals and $4.35 billion in expenditure.

• In 2021, a modest recovery occurred, with arrivals at 2.99 million and spending at $6.06 billion, marking increases of 53% in visitors and 39.3% in expenditure from 2020. However, these figures remained significantly below those before the pandemic.
  
  

How long do international tourists stay in Sweden?

• In 2024, the average length of stay for international tourists in Sweden was estimated at around 2-3 nights per trip (in commercial accommodations).

Sweden Travel Resources

When are the peak tourist months in Sweden?

• July was the busiest month in 2024, with approximately 1.76 million visitors, thanks to the peak summer holiday period, long daylight hours and country-wide festivals.

• August drew around 1.33 million visitors as late-summer vacations and events like Stockholm Culture Festival kept arrivals high.

• June welcomed nearly 1.04 million  visitors, boosted by the traditional Midsummer celebrations and the start of Sweden’s summer travel season.

• May saw about 727,000 visitors as spring blossoms, warmer weather and public holidays encouraged early trips.

• September recorded approximately 646,000 visitors, benefitting from mild autumn weather and shoulder-season city breaks.

Top Attractions in Sweden

• The Göta Canal, Gothenburg to Stockholm: Often described as Sweden’s greatest feat of engineering, the canal offers a unique perspective on Sweden’s heartland.

• Northern Lights: Sweden’s far north is one of the top places in the world to experience the illuminating beauty of the Northern Lights.

• Gammelstad Church Town: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this town is a living reminder of a traditional and rural Scandinavian village.

• Skansen: As the world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen provides a glimpse into Sweden’s past with historical buildings and a zoo.

• Öland Bridge: Connecting mainland Sweden with the island of Öland, the bridge itself is a sight to behold, and the island hosts unique attractions including Iron Age burial grounds and old wooden windmills.

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References

1. OECD: Tourism Trends and Policies 2024 – Sweden ↩︎