Sweden
- Share 2025
- 27.7 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +5.5 pp
- Immigration page
In depth · Umeå
Immigration and foreign background in Umeå
In brief
Share of residents with a foreign background in Umeå Municipality is 17.2%, well below the national level (27.7%, 2025).
Source: SCB BE0101Q2 · 2025
Umeå Municipality ranks 1 of 15 in Västerbotten County for share of residents with a foreign background (2025).
Source: SCB BE0101Q2 · 2025
Latest statistics: 2024–2025 depending on indicator
Umeå: 23,310 residents (17.2%) had a foreign background in 2025, out of 135,273 residents. Source: Statistics Sweden. 18,827 residents were born abroad (13.9%, 2025). Sweden: 27.7%; difference −10.5 percentage points (2025).
Foreign background means born abroad or born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents. These are population stocks, not annual immigration flows.
Last updated: View changelog
Umeå in brief
- Share with foreign background, 2025
- 17.2 %
- Change 2002–2025
- +7.8 pp
- Absolute change in percentage points.
- Sweden, 2025
- 27.7 %
- Difference: −10.5 pp.
- Rank (highest share = 1)
- 165 of 290
- Same definition and year (2025) for all ranked municipalities.
Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB), BE0101Q2 — observed population composition (stock). People received further down are a flow and measure something else. Stock vs flow
Trend 2002–2025
Share of the population in Umeå with a foreign background. Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB), BE0101Q2. The 2025 observation uses the CKM disclosure-control method.
Foreign background — 2002: 9.4 %; 2003: 9.6 %; 2004: 9.9 %; 2005: 10.1 %; 2006: 10.3 %; 2007: 10.4 %; 2008: 10.7 %; 2009: 11.2 %; 2010: 11.7 %; 2011: 11.9 %; 2012: 12.0 %; 2013: 12.3 %; 2014: 12.7 %; 2015: 12.8 %; 2016: 13.5 %; 2017: 14.3 %; 2018: 14.9 %; 2019: 15.5 %; 2020: 15.7 %; 2021: 15.9 %; 2022: 16.3 %; 2023: 16.5 %; 2024: 16.9 %; 2025: 17.2 %
How to verify this figure
- Source
- Statistics Sweden (SCB)
- Period
- 2025
- Definition
- Share of the population with a foreign background (born abroad, or born in Sweden with two foreign-born parents).
- Geography
- Umeå
- Unit
- %
- Retrieved/verified
- 2026-10-11
- Open the original source and find the same table or report.
- Select the same period, geography and unit as above.
- Compare the definition — for own calculations, recompute with the formula.
Country/region of birth
Residents by region of birth. Foreign-born are persons born outside Sweden. Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB), FolkmRegFlandK.
Country of birth
2024
Foreign-born residents
18,352 people
13.7% of the population · 2024
Foreign-born = born outside Sweden (narrower than "foreign background").
Born in Sweden86.3 %(115,897)
Nordics excluding Sweden1.9 %(2,525)
Other Europe3.0 %(3,958)
Outside Europe8.8 %(11,869)
Thin line = national average. Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB), FolkmRegFlandK.
People received, vulnerable areas & marginal cost
Received 2020–2024 (a flow), the Police's vulnerable areas and a own illustrative scenario.
Reception & illustrative scenario
2020–2024
- Foreign-born (20–64)
- 17.9 %
- Received, 5 years
- 717
- 5.3 / 1000 (national 7.0)
- Vulnerable areas
- —
- Swedish Police 2025
- Scenario / resident / yrAnalysis/model
- −79 kr
- Range −57 kr → −100 kr
- Model: Ruist (ESO 2018:3; calculations based on 2015 public finances), unadjusted amount from the report (low/mid/high)
Analysis/model Own illustrative scenario: mean annual reception 2020–2024 × Ruist’s national refugee life-cycle estimate using 2015 public finances, divided by 2024 population; no price adjustment. Assumes the national estimate applies locally. Not an observed municipal cost; not everyone with a foreign background. Formula, assumptions and limitations
No vulnerable areas in this municipality according to the Swedish Police situational report 2025.
Compare Umeå with other municipalities →Compare Umeå with other municipalities
Umeå is preselected. Add up to 5 other municipalities — or use the shortcuts for the top/bottom 5.
- Umeå17.2 %
Umeå — 2002: 9.4 %; 2003: 9.6 %; 2004: 9.9 %; 2005: 10.1 %; 2006: 10.3 %; 2007: 10.4 %; 2008: 10.7 %; 2009: 11.2 %; 2010: 11.7 %; 2011: 11.9 %; 2012: 12.0 %; 2013: 12.3 %; 2014: 12.7 %; 2015: 12.8 %; 2016: 13.5 %; 2017: 14.3 %; 2018: 14.9 %; 2019: 15.5 %; 2020: 15.7 %; 2021: 15.9 %; 2022: 16.3 %; 2023: 16.5 %; 2024: 16.9 %; 2025: 17.2 %
Max 6 municipalities. Source: SCB BE0101Q2 (UtlSvBakgGrov). · Umeå
Umeå vs neighbours
Nearest municipalities plus county and national averages.
Umeå
- Share 2025
- 17.2 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +4.4 pp
- Immigration page
Åsele
- Share 2025
- 16.6 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +4.4 pp
- Immigration page
- Immigration in Åsele
Sorsele
- Share 2025
- 15.5 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +3.1 pp
- Immigration page
- Immigration in Sorsele
Västerbottens län
- Share 2025
- 15.4 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +4.7 pp
- Immigration page
Vindeln
- Share 2025
- 12.9 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +3.6 pp
- Immigration page
- Immigration in Vindeln
Robertsfors
- Share 2025
- 12.1 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +2.8 pp
- Immigration page
- Immigration in Robertsfors
Vännäs
- Share 2025
- 10.6 %
- Δ 2015→2025
- +2.8 pp
- Immigration page
- Immigration in Vännäs
| Municipality | Share 2025 | Δ 2015→2025 | Immigration page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 27.7 % | +5.5 pp | |
| Umeå | 17.2 % | +4.4 pp | |
| Åsele | 16.6 % | +4.4 pp | Immigration in Åsele |
| Sorsele | 15.5 % | +3.1 pp | Immigration in Sorsele |
| Västerbottens län | 15.4 % | +4.7 pp | |
| Vindeln | 12.9 % | +3.6 pp | Immigration in Vindeln |
| Robertsfors | 12.1 % | +2.8 pp | Immigration in Robertsfors |
| Vännäs | 10.6 % | +2.8 pp | Immigration in Vännäs |
Foreign background, all ages/sexes. County and national shares: own ratios of SCB published geographic counts; change 2015–2025 in percentage points. CKM method break 2025; subgroup cells may not sum to the published total. SCB
Municipal election 2026
Final · Source: Valmyndigheten- Turnout
- 84.77 %
- Seats
- 65
- Valid votes
- 90,051
- Blank votes
- 973
| Party | Share | vs 2022 | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32.46 % | – | 29,231 | 21 | |
| 20.49 % | – | 18,455 | 13 | |
| 12.77 % | – | 11,503 | 8 | |
| 9.20 % | – | 8,286 | 6 | |
| 6.90 % | – | 6,210 | 5 | |
| 6.14 % | – | 5,531 | 4 | |
| 4.04 % | – | 3,642 | 3 | |
| 3.94 % | – | 3,547 | 3 | |
| 3.57 % | – | 3,215 | 2 | |
| Other parties (17) | 0.48 % | – | 431 | – |
Results by constituency (2)
Seats per constituency include allocated adjustment seats.
Umeå centrala83.44 % turnout · 36 seats
| Party | Share | vs 2022 | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32.83 % | – | 16,691 | 12 | |
| 17.36 % | – | 8,825 | 6 | |
| 16.17 % | – | 8,221 | 6 | |
| 11.14 % | – | 5,666 | 4 | |
| 6.02 % | – | 3,061 | 2 | |
| 4.76 % | – | 2,419 | 2 | |
| 4.10 % | – | 2,085 | 2 | |
| 3.83 % | – | 1,949 | 1 | |
| 3.22 % | – | 1,637 | 1 | |
| Other parties (17) | 0.57 % | – | 290 | – |
Umeå omland86.57 % turnout · 29 seats
| Party | Share | vs 2022 | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.98 % | – | 12,540 | 9 | |
| 24.56 % | – | 9,630 | 7 | |
| 8.37 % | – | 3,282 | 2 | |
| 8.03 % | – | 3,149 | 3 | |
| 7.94 % | – | 3,112 | 2 | |
| 6.68 % | – | 2,620 | 2 | |
| 4.87 % | – | 1,910 | 2 | |
| 3.97 % | – | 1,557 | 1 | |
| 3.23 % | – | 1,266 | 1 | |
| Other parties (12) | 0.36 % | – | 141 | – |
Latest actual election: 13 September 2026 (final count). Turnout figures in Kolada series elsewhere on this page refer to an earlier election and are labelled with their series year.
Full municipal election result →Results by voting district →
Earlier election results in Umeå (2014–2022)
Everything about Umeå
Schools, crime, economy, tax rate and elections are on the municipality's main page.
Open Umeå municipality in figures →Frequently asked questions
›What share of the population in Umeå has a foreign background?
In 2025, 17.2 % of the population in Umeå had a foreign background according to Statistics Sweden (BE0101Q2) — 10.5 percentage points below the national average (27.7 %). "Foreign background" is the broader Statistics Sweden definition and includes both people born abroad and people born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents. The share is a stock measure and does not show annual immigration (inflow).
›How many residents of Umeå have a foreign background?
23,310 residents of Umeå had a foreign background (2025). Source: Statistics Sweden, UtlSvBakgGrovCKM, published count. CKM-protected component cells need not sum exactly to the published total.
›How has the share with a foreign background in Umeå changed since 2002?
The share has risen from 9.4 % (2002) to 17.2 % (2025), a change of +7.8 percentage points. Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB), BE0101Q2.
›What is the difference between "foreign background" and "born abroad"?
Born abroad = a person born outside Sweden. Foreign background = born abroad, or born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents. Both measures are official; foreign background is at least as large for the same population and year.
›Where were the foreign-born residents of Umeå born?
See the "Country/region of birth" section on this page. Foreign-born residents are people born outside Sweden, reported in three aggregated groups: the Nordic countries excluding Sweden, the rest of Europe, and outside Europe. Source: Statistics Sweden (SCB), FolkmRegFlandK.
Sources and method
BE0101Q2Foreign/Swedish background — share by municipality (UtlSvBakgGrov)Reference period: 2002–2025 · Retrieved: 2026-10-11
Open source ↗FodelselandArKCKM / FolkmRegFlandKCKM; history FodelselandArKPopulation by region, region/country of birth and sexReference period: 2000–2025 · Retrieved: 2026-10-11
Open source ↗BE0101N1Population by municipality, age, sex and year (31 Dec)Reference period: 2002–2025 · Retrieved: 2026-08-13
Open source ↗- Open source ↗
ME0104General elections — votes per party and municipality (Election Authority via SCB)
Each figure on this page is traceable to the dataset listed above. Missing data is left out — never shown as zero. Definitions, model and sources