Emigration from Sweden in a Changing Migration Regime

Who leaves Sweden — and how are emigration patterns shaped by a more restrictive migration regime? This project examines emigration from Sweden using comprehensive population register data to understand who departs, under which conditions, and with what implications for demographic composition and inequality.

Photo by Carl Malmer on Unsplash

Emigration from wealthy nations is one of the most understudied demographic phenomena of today. While migration research and policy debates in Sweden have traditionally focused on immigration, much less attention has been given to those who leave the country. This project addresses that gap by examining who emigrates from Sweden, under which conditions they leave, and how these patterns relate to changes in migration policy and increasingly restrictive migration regime.

Return migration has recently become an increasingly prominent issue in Swedish migration policy, reflecting a broader and substantial shift in Sweden’s migration governance. In the political discourse, emigration from Sweden is assumed beneficial for the country. At the same time, a situation in which departures exceed arrivals is rarely regarded as a sign of a thriving society, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of increasing emigration trends.

Who leaves matters: selective emigration influences the composition of the population, affecting distributions of education, skills, economic resources, health, fertility and other key characteristics. Migration decisions also shape the life courses of migrants and their families, with important consequences for social inequality and future opportunities.

The project examines emigration from Sweden, with a particular focus on the emigration of third country nationals and how these patterns have evolved in recent years. Drawing on large-scale statistical data, including population registers that allow the study of the entire Swedish population, the project analyses emigration from Sweden and its driving factors in a changing migration regime.

Project leader Andrea Monti