The country with the highest living standards has long served as an example of successful economic development according to its own model of "capitalism with a human face". The capital of Sweden is the main showcase of achievements. How many people live in Stockholm and how, is explained in this short article.
General information
The capital of Sweden is the largest city located on the channels from Lake Mälaren to the B altic Sea. Stockholm is the official residence of the Swedish king, the government and the country's parliament, the Riksdag, sits. Since the 13th century it has been the largest economic and industrial center of the country.
There are several versions of the etymology of the name: it is formed from the Swedish words stock, which translates as "pillar" or "pile", and holme - island, together translated "island on stilts" or "island fortified with stilts"; according to another version, the first part is another Swedish word stack - bay and, accordingly, means "island in the bay".
The population of Stockholm is 939,238 inhabitants (2017), which is about 9% of the population of the country. The nearest suburbs (agglomerations) are home to 2.227 million people. This is the most densely populated region in Sweden - 4160 people per sq. km. km.
Ancient history
The ancient Scandinavian sagas mention the settlement of Agnafit, named after King Agne, this is the first mention of the area where the Swedish capital is now located. In 1187, on the site of a small fishing village, they began to build a fortified point, now this year is considered the time of the founding of the city. And the founder was Jarl Birger, who laid the castle to protect nearby settlements from attacks from the sea. How many people lived in Stockholm at that time, reliable data has not been preserved. As a city, it was first mentioned in 1252. Toward the end of the 13th century, the urban area began to expand rapidly, with development being carried out according to a well-designed plan. The region was well positioned to trade in the famous Swedish iron from the Bergslagen mines.
Due to its good geographical position, the city became a center of international trade, but for a long time it was under the influence of German merchants. And since the 14th century, under the rule of the Danish king, the Swedes have rebelled several times against foreign rule. The uprising led by Gustav Vasa was successful, and soon, in 1523, he became the first king. After independence, the city began to grow rapidly. In 1529, the settlements of Södermalm and Norrmalm were absorbed, becomingurban areas. The population of Stockholm reached 10,000 by 1600.
Past centuries
From the beginning of the 17th century, a Russian colony arose in Stockholm, the inhabitants of which called the city Stekolnya or Stekolny. How many Russians lived in Stockholm is unknown. After the victory of Sweden in the war with Russia, Russian merchants were allowed to build shopping arcades, houses and churches in the capital. At the same time, Sweden became one of the most powerful states in Europe. Stockholm in 1634 was officially proclaimed the capital of the country and received monopoly rights to trade with foreigners, thanks to which it became the richest city in the country and Europe. The urban area expanded rapidly, between 1610 and 1680 the population of Stockholm grew 6 times. In 1628, the flagship of the Swedish fleet, the ship Vass, sank near the capital, which was raised in 1961 and made the main exhibit of the museum. It is authentically known what the population of Stockholm was at that time: in 1750, 60,018 people lived in the capital.
In the 18-19th century, the city continued to develop, the Royal Opera House and many other beautiful buildings were built, which are currently the oldest buildings. At the beginning of the 19th century, in 1800, there were already 75,517 people in Stockholm. The city no longer dominated the country as other large population centers began to develop. Stockholm occupied approximately 1/5 of the modern territory with an area of 35 sq. km and officially consisted of areas that are now the historical center.
Moderncondition
In the 20th century, the city was actively rebuilt, the most dilapidated buildings were demolished, and the Clara district was completely rebuilt. New districts gradually appeared in the capital district, in 1913 the settlement of Branchiurk was annexed with about 25 thousand inhabitants, the population of Stockholm grew to 419,440 people by 1920.
The city was built up with modern buildings, the number of inhabitants grew rapidly due to natural growth, the influx of rural residents and the annexation of new areas, in 1949 the settlement of Spanga was included in the structure. In 1950, there were 744,143 inhabitants in the capital. After the annexation of Hanst in 1971 and Solletun in 1982, the official boundaries of the city did not change.
Now approximately 20% of the country's population lives in the capital region. New areas are being built, such as Rinkeby and Tensta, where mostly migrants live and it is difficult to meet a native Stockholmer. In 2017, 939,238 people lived in the capital.
Urban economy
Sweden is a country with a developed post-industrial economy, this is especially felt in the capital, where a significant part of the population, up to 85%, work in the service sector. Heavy industry has long been transferred to other regions of the country, the main emphasis is on the development of high technologies. A whole Chista district in the north of the city has been allocated for the development of information technologies. This Swedish Silicon Valley is home to educational and research institutions, offices of companies involved in digital technologies. For example, heresuch giants of the IT industry as IBM, Ericsson and Electrolux are located. A significant part of the population of Stockholm is employed in high-tech global corporations.
The capital is the center of financial management of the country, here are the Stockholm Stock Exchange and the head offices of the country's largest banks and insurance companies. Overall, more than 45% of all registered companies have their headquarters, including one of the world's largest trading companies, H&M. In recent decades, the hospitality industry has expanded significantly, with approximately 7.5 million tourists visiting the city every year.
Standard of living
The average standard of living in the country is one of the highest in Europe, which is ensured by a fairly high salary, a good level of social protection, and developed infrastructure. Stockholm holds a leading position in many aspects that determine the quality of life, including the highest wages in the country, an optimal transport system, good access to quality education and he alth care. Many cultural institutions are concentrated here. At the same time, the main components that provide a comfortable living environment are somewhat more expensive.
The number of people in Stockholm who are forced to rent housing is constantly increasing. The cost of rent is quite high and depends primarily on the location. Accommodation in the central districts of the capital in a one-room apartment or studio with an area of 30-45 sq. m will cost 12,000 crowns (1210 euros), and on the outskirts - 8,000 crowns(810 euros). Utility bills are quite low, gas, electricity, water and garbage collection will cost 75-80 euros per month.
The cost of food in the Swedish capital is slightly higher compared to Moscow, for comparison:
- bread costs about 18-23 kr. (81-104 RUB);
- eggs (12 pcs) - 20-25 cr. (90-113 rubles);
- cheese (1 kilogram) - 70-90 cr. (300-400 RUB).
The average check in restaurants, cafes and eateries is highly dependent on location, outside the historical center it will be lower by 20-30% and is also approximately at the level of Moscow. Lunch and dinner in a cafe will cost 110-115 kroons (10-15 euros), in a restaurant - 350-400 kroons (35-40 euros) per person, at McDonald's you can eat for 8-10 euros.
The city has developed public transport, a taxi ride will cost about 11 euros for a distance of 3 km, a ticket for public transport costs 39 crowns (3.94 euros). A large number of Swedes use a bicycle to commute to work.
Some other costs incurred by almost every resident of the capital: payment for a kindergarten - 1407 kroons (142 euros), a subscription to a fitness club - 396 kroons (40 euros), mobile communications - 297 kroons (30 euros), home internet - 295 kroons (29.77 euros).
How much they earn
In terms of wages, Sweden occupies a leading position in the world, at the same time, taxes are also quite large, income tax reaches 57%. As in almost any capital in the world, the population of Stockholm earns slightly more on average,than in the whole country. If the average salary, according to the Swedish Statistical Office, in 2018 is 40,260 kroons per month, which is approximately equivalent to 3,890 euros, then in the capital it is approximately 44,000 kroons per month (4,250 euros). For comparison in prosperous European countries:
- in EU leader Germany - 3,771 euros;
- in the neighboring, one of the most developed countries in the world, Finland - 3,418 euros;
- and in France - 2,957 euros.
Unlike many countries in the world, the minimum wage is not set by the state. In certain sectors of the economy, the minimum rate is determined by an agreement between the employer and the relevant trade union. In 2018, it was set at about 2,000 euros per month. The amount of remuneration depends on the level of education, profession, experience and age of the employee. For example, how much does a resident of Stockholm earn, depending on the profession:
- top managers and highly qualified specialists, including an insurance and financial manager, a specialized doctor, a director, a company manager - from 75,800 to 124,100 kroons;
- qualified specialists, including an engineer, teacher, aircraft pilot, professor, agricultural specialist - from 40,000 to 63,100 crowns;
- specialists, including maid, nanny, secretary, cook, teacher, photographer, nurse - from 20,000 to 37,400 crowns.
According to areas of activity, specialists in finance and insurance receive the most (approximately 46,760 kroons per month),slightly less paid in digital technology (44,940) and engineers (44,340).
Social protection of the population of the capital
Sweden's social service is one of the most developed in the world, financed mainly from the local budget with partial co-financing by the central government. Therefore, people in Stockholm have somewhat better social security than in other regions of the country. There are 18 branches of the institution in the capital, which are subordinate to the relevant department of the municipality. The work is controlled by the prosecutor's office, the police and, of course, the municipality.
The main elements of social security are various types of pensions (old age, seniority, disability, loss of a breadwinner) and benefits (temporary disability, for children, low-income families, large families, various family benefits, housing, education, unemployment). Since social payments are formed at the expense of income at the municipal level, their volume depends, among other things, on how many people live in Stockholm. Sweden became one of the first countries in the world where they began to provide a comfortable standard of living for the disabled at the state level. Now the country is recognized as one of the most prosperous for the disabled and the elderly.
Some social benefits
The capital has a fairly high unemployment rate, while there is a great demand for low-skilled labor. Unemployment benefit is approximately 2.8 thousandcrowns It can be obtained by a person aged 15 to 74 who has actively sought employment and is ready to start working within 2 weeks. If an elderly person does not receive a pension or it is below the subsistence level, then he is en titled to receive an allowance of about 3.6 thousand kroons.
He alth care is almost entirely state-owned, with the possibility of free or partially paid medicines and consultations for patients with chronic and serious illnesses. For other categories of the population of Stockholm, there is a full compensation of expenses in the amount of more than 2.5 thousand kroons, free dental care for young people under 19 years old. The country guarantees the retention of income in the amount of 75-85% of wages in case of illness or leave to care for a sick child. The child's parent, mother or father, receives 80% of the salary for 18 months.
Pension system
The Swedish pension system is currently in the process of transition from a solidarity system to a funded one. The population of Stockholm, like the rest of the country, is en titled to a pension from the age of 61, when it is paid in the amount based on the amount of contributions (16% of salary) for the entire time of work, divided by life expectancy. This part is conditionally called the state. The funded part is formed from mandatory contributions of 2.5%, which are kept in personal pension accounts and managed by pension funds.
If the two components are too low, then from the age of 65 every Swede who has lived in the country for at least 3 years is en titled to a guaranteed pension. ATOnly those who have lived in Sweden for exactly 40 years are en titled to receive the full amount of it. If a person lived less, then 1/40 part is deducted for each year. The guaranteed pension is 2.13 times the minimum subsistence level, which is approximately 91,164 crowns per year. The level of any pension makes it possible to live with dignity even after retirement.
