Children in Sweden
Strong rights and school for all. Here are 5 aspects of children's lives in Sweden.
1. Schooling in Sweden
Ever since 1842, children in Sweden have had the right to go to school, by law. Today, the Swedish school system includes ten years of compulsory schooling, starting with pre-school the year you turn six.
After compulsory school, most children go on to the optional gymnasium (upper secondary school – the equivalent of Brithish sixth form or American high school) and graduate when they are 18 or 19 years old.
School is fully tax-subsidised, with the exception of nursery schools, which are partly funded by taxes. Before and after school hours, children between 6 and 13 are offered out-of-school care at a subsidised cost.
Compulsory education also includes sameskolor (Sami schools) for children of the indigenous Sami people. Children with special needs get the opportunity to study in regular schools. If this is not suitable, there are also special schools.
The school year
The Swedish school year runs from August to June, with an autumn break in October, a Christmas holiday, a winter break in February–March and an Easter holiday.
Autumn
- In mid-August, the school year begins and children move up a grade.
- In late October/early November, children have a 'reading holiday', a week off school when they are encouraged to read.
- On 31 October, children celebrate Halloween – a fairly new tradition in Sweden – with fancy dress and pumpkins.
- On All Saints' Day, which falls shortly thereafter, many people light candles at family graves and in memorial parks.
Lucia
- On 13 December, Swedes celebrate Lucia. In every school and nursery school there is a Lucia procession, where children dressed in white robes sing carols together.
Christmas
- School ends just before Christmas Eve (24 December) and stays shut until the beginning of January.
Winter sports
- The spring term normally starts in the second week of January.
- In late February or early March, there’s a week-long winter sports break.
Easter
- In March or April, schoolchildren have another week off for Easter.
Summer holiday
- The summer holiday is 8–10 weeks long and starts early to mid-June.
One in three Swedes is a member of one of Sweden's 18,000 sports associations. Photo: Phia Bergdahl/Scandinav/imagebank.sweden.se
In Sweden, children start school at the age of six. Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist/imagebank.sweden.se
Children playing in the woods. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
In the Swedish school system, turning 16 means an end to ten years of compulsory schooling. The big majority go straight to gymnasium, the equivalent of American high school. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
One in three Swedes is a member of one of Sweden's 18,000 sports associations. Photo: Phia Bergdahl/Scandinav/imagebank.sweden.se
In Sweden, children start school at the age of six. Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist/imagebank.sweden.se
Children playing in the woods. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
In the Swedish school system, turning 16 means an end to ten years of compulsory schooling. The big majority go straight to gymnasium, the equivalent of American high school. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
One in three Swedes is a member of one of Sweden's 18,000 sports associations. Photo: Phia Bergdahl/Scandinav/imagebank.sweden.se
In Sweden, children start school at the age of six. Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist/imagebank.sweden.se
Children playing in the woods. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
In the Swedish school system, turning 16 means an end to ten years of compulsory schooling. The big majority go straight to gymnasium, the equivalent of American high school. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
Children's rights organisations
Children’s Rights in Society (BRIS, link in Swedish): helplines and counselling
Friends: fights bullying
Save the Children Sweden (Rädda barnen, link in Swedish)
2. How Swedish law protects children
It is illegal to hit children in Sweden. In school, since 1958. In the home, since 1979, when Sweden became the first country in the world to ban corporal punishment of children altogether.
Swedish law says that parents have no right to humiliate or use violence against children. Corporal punishment of a child is a criminal offence according to the Swedish Criminal Code.
Sweden’s neighbours Finland and Norway enacted laws similar to the Swedish one in 1983 and 1987, respectively. Austria followed in 1989. Now, more than 65 countries have prohibited all corporal punishment of children:
Albania (2010), Andorra (2014), Argentina (2014), Austria (1989), Benin (2015), Bolivia (2014), Brazil (2014), Bulgaria (2000), Cabo Verde (2013), Colombia (2021), Republic of Congo (2010), Costa Rica (2008), Croatia (1999), Cyprus (1994), Czech Republic (2025), Denmark (1997), Estonia (2014), Finland (1983), France (2019), Georgia (2019), Germany (2000), Greece (2006), Guinea (2020), Honduras (2013), Hungary (2004), Iceland (2003), Ireland (2015), Israel (2000), Japan (2020), Kenya (2010), Republic of Korea (2021), Republic of Kosovo (2019), Lao PDR (2023), Latvia (1998), Liechtenstein (2008), Lithuania (2017), Luxembourg (2008), Mauritius (2022), North Macedonia (2013), Malta (2014), Republic of Moldova (2008), Mongolia (2016), Montenegro (2016), Nepal (2018), the Netherlands (2007), New Zealand (2007), Nicaragua (2014), Norway (1987), Paraguay (2016), Peru (2015), Poland (2010), Portugal (2007), Romania (2004), San Marino (2014), Seychelles (2020), Slovenia (2016), South Africa (2019), South Sudan (2011), Spain (2007), Sweden (1979), Switzerland (2025), Tajikistan (2024), Thailand (2025), Togo (2007), Tunisia (2010), Turkmenistan (2002), Ukraine (2003), Uruguay (2007), Venezuela (2007), Zambia (2022)
Source:
EndCorporalPunishment.org
The Ombudsman for Children is a government agency that protects children’s rights and looks after their interests. It monitors and promotes the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in society.
Sweden was one of the first countries to sign the UN Convention and incorporated it into Swedish law in 2020.
In Sweden, many children walk or cycle to school. Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist/imagebank.sweden.se
Most children in Sweden start off living with their mother and father, who may or may not be married and tend to have one or two children on average. Photo: Asaf Kliger/imagebank.sweden.se
About one in four children in Sweden have parents who have separated. Photo: Anna Hållams/imagebank.sweden.se
Around 40 per cent of children in Sweden live in blocks of flats, the rest in detached houses or row houses. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
Cooking can be a family affair. Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se
In Sweden, many children walk or cycle to school. Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist/imagebank.sweden.se
Most children in Sweden start off living with their mother and father, who may or may not be married and tend to have one or two children on average. Photo: Asaf Kliger/imagebank.sweden.se
About one in four children in Sweden have parents who have separated. Photo: Anna Hållams/imagebank.sweden.se
Around 40 per cent of children in Sweden live in blocks of flats, the rest in detached houses or row houses. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
Cooking can be a family affair. Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se
In Sweden, many children walk or cycle to school. Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist/imagebank.sweden.se
Most children in Sweden start off living with their mother and father, who may or may not be married and tend to have one or two children on average. Photo: Asaf Kliger/imagebank.sweden.se
About one in four children in Sweden have parents who have separated. Photo: Anna Hållams/imagebank.sweden.se
Around 40 per cent of children in Sweden live in blocks of flats, the rest in detached houses or row houses. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se
Cooking can be a family affair. Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se
3. Working parents
Most children have a working mother, based on the fact that 79.5% per cent of women of working age in Sweden are employed. The figure for men is 83.1% per cent, so most children also have a father with a job.
Toddlers normally have a parent who stays home and looks after them. Parents get 480 days of paid parental leave per child to share between them. These days can be used until the child turns 12 or finishes the fifth year in school.
Since 2024, parents can also choose to transfer 45 days to grandparents or family friends.
How much screen time have I got left? Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se
The publicly run music and arts schools around the country make many children interested in music. Photo: Maskot/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se
Football is one of the top sports among children. Photo: Maskot/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se
Libraries are a good place to read, study, or borrow books, movies or music. Photo: Angelica Tånneryd/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se
How much screen time have I got left? Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se
The publicly run music and arts schools around the country make many children interested in music. Photo: Maskot/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se
Football is one of the top sports among children. Photo: Maskot/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se
Libraries are a good place to read, study, or borrow books, movies or music. Photo: Angelica Tånneryd/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se
How much screen time have I got left? Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se
The publicly run music and arts schools around the country make many children interested in music. Photo: Maskot/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se
Football is one of the top sports among children. Photo: Maskot/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se
Libraries are a good place to read, study, or borrow books, movies or music. Photo: Angelica Tånneryd/Johnér/imagebank.sweden.se
Screen time in Sweden
In 2024, the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) published guidelines on screen time limits for children and young people of different ages to promote a healthier lifestyle.
4. Children and sports in Sweden
Around 70 per cent of children aged 6 to 12 are members of a sports club (link in Swedish). Clubs are open to all – physical fitness or physique is usually not that important. There are also special sections for children with special needs.
Among the most popular sports are football (soccer), ice hockey and floorball. Horseriding is also a big sport among girls. Parkour is among the newer sports.
Most sports clubs are public organisations, subsidised by the state. But volunteering parents are key. They participate in training and help organise competitions and trips. Most coaches go with the approach that 'the most important thing is not to win, but to participate' and aim to give children a love of sport.
Popular Swedish children's books
- Anything by Astrid Lindgren: Pippi Longstocking, Emil, Karlsson on the Roof...
- Martin Widmark’s and Helena Willis’s series about the Jerry-Maya Detective Agency (LasseMajas detektivbyrå)
- Gunilla Bergström's Alfie Atkins (Alfons Åberg) books
- Sven Nordqvist’s Pettsson and Findus books
- Jujja and Tomas Wieslander’s Mamma Moo (Mamma Mu) books
- Picture books by e.g. Stina Wirsén, Pija Lindenbaum and Lena Andersson
5. Culture and nature
Kulturskolan, Sweden's main music and arts schools, offer extra-curricular classes, where children can learn to sing and play musical instruments. Public subsidies make the cost of the classes affordable to most children, regardless of their family's income.
Many clubs and associations – such as the Guides and Scouts of Sweden – arrange outdoor activities for children. And then there's Skogsmulle, run by the Swedish Outdoor Association (Friluftsfrämjandet), a nature school named after a fictional character who was brought up in the woods and who helps children appreciate and care for nature.
As Sweden is quite sparsely populated, with a population density of only 25.9 per Km2 (the EU average is more than 100 per square kilometre), many people have nature on their doorstep. Due to the so-called right of public access, allemansrätten, everyone has the right to explore nature and the obligation to protect it.
