Skip to main content
Search form
Search
Ethnologue
World Languages
Development
Endangerment
Statistics
About
Sweden
Print
Primary tabs
Country
Languages
Status
(active tab)
Maps
Expand All
Collapse All
1 (National)
Swedish
[swe]
1 (National). Statutory national language (2009, Language Act. No. 600, Articles 4,5,6). 8,000,000 in Sweden (Parkvall 2009). 5,000 speakers of Gutniska (1998 S. Håkansson), and 30,000 of Jamska. Population total all countries: 8,381,829.
2 (Provincial)
Finnish
[fin]
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in administrative area municipalities located in at least part of the following counties: Jämtland, Norrbotten, Stockholm, Uppsala, Västerbotten (2009, NMNML Act No. 724, Article 6). 201,000 in Sweden (Parkvall 2009). All speakers, apart from 3,000 Ingrians originating in Russia, are either modern-day immigrants from Finland or their children. Swedish-speaking immigrants from Finland are not included in the figure.
Finnish, Tornedalen
[fit]
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in administrative area municipalities: Gällivare, Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala, Övertoneå (2009, NMNML Act No. 724, Art, 6). 30,000 in Sweden (Parkvall 2009). Population total all countries: 60,000.
Saami, Lule
[smj]
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in administrative area municipalities located in at least part of the following counties: Dalarna, Jämtland, Norrbotten, Västerbotten (2009, NMNML Act No. 724, Article 6). 1,500 in Sweden (Krauss 1992). 1,000–2,000 speakers in Norway and Sweden (Salminen 2007). Population total all countries: 2,000. Ethnic population: 6,000.
Saami, North
[sme]
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in administrative area municipalities located in at least part of the following counties: Dalarna, Jämtland, Norrbotten, Västerbotten (2009, NMNML Act No. 724, Article 6). 4,000 in Sweden (Krauss 1992). Ethnic population: 5,000 in Sweden (1994 SIL).
Saami, South
[sma]
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in administrative area municipalities located in at least part of the following counties: Dalarna, Jämtland, Norrbotten, Västerbotten (2009, NMNML Act No. 724, Article 6). 300 in Sweden (Krauss 1992). Population total all countries: 600. Ethnic population: 600.
4 (Educational)
Swedish Sign Language
[swl]
4 (Educational). Recognized language (2009, Languages Act, Article 9). There are about 30,000 Swedish sign language users (2012 Sveriges Dövas Riksförbund).
Yiddish, Eastern
[ydd]
4 (Educational). Language of recognized nationality (2009, Language Act No. 600, Article 7). 4,000 in Sweden (2000).
5 (Developing)
Romani, Kalo Finnish
[rmf]
5 (Developing). 1,650 in Sweden (Parkvall 2009). Ethnic population: 3,000.
Romani, Vlax
[rmy]
5 (Developing). Language of recognized nationality (2009, Language Act No. 600, Article 7). 10,500 in Sweden (Parkvall 2009). 500 Kalderash, 1,000 Lovari.
8b (Nearly extinct)
Saami, Pite
[sje]
8b (Nearly extinct). Language of recognized nationality (1999, Sami Language Use Act, No. 1175). 20 in Sweden (Salminen 2007). Ethnic population: 2,000 (1995 M. Krauss).
Saami, Ume
[sju]
8b (Nearly extinct). 20 (2000 T. Salminen). No speakers in Norway (Salminen 2007). Ethnic population: 1,000 (1995 M. Krauss).
9 (Dormant)
Romani, Tavringer
[rmu]
9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers.
