Migration patterns in Sweden show both similarities and differences when compared to its Nordic neighbors like Finland, Norway, and Denmark.

Historical Migration:

• A long time ago, in the early 1900s, many people left Sweden. Between 1850 and 1920, around 1.3 million Swedes moved away, mostly to the United States.
• After World War II, Sweden welcomed many immigrants looking for safety and jobs.

Current Migration:

• As of 2020, about 20% of Sweden's population were immigrants. For comparison, Norway had around 18%, Denmark had 13%, and Finland had just 5%.
• In 2021, Sweden took in about 8,500 people asking for asylum, while Norway received around 3,000, and Denmark accepted about 1,500.

Policies:

• Sweden has more friendly immigration rules. They allow families to reunite and accept people based on humanitarian reasons. In contrast, Denmark has stricter rules.
• For example, in 2020, around 80% of asylum requests were approved in Sweden, but only about 30% were accepted in Denmark.

Impacts:

• Migration has made Sweden more culturally diverse, with people from over 150 different nationalities living there.
• Immigrants play a big role in the economy. About 40% of the workforce in Sweden is made up of people born in other countries. This helps important industries like healthcare and construction grow.