The Most Popular Sports to Watch and Play in Sweden

Sweden is one of the most enthusiastic sporting nations in Europe.

Most Swedes love to spend time outdoors and head to the countryside to play or watch regional sports, such as sailing, canoeing, orienteering and skiing.

But what sports are the most popular in Sweden?

The Swedes have gained a reputation for appreciating and respecting their natural environment because they are so used to outdoor activities- and Sweden achieved the number one rank in Europe for health activity levels.

In fact, 70% of people in Sweden exercise or play sports at least once a week, making it the most active nation in Europe.

50% of the Swedish population between 7 and 70 are members of a sports club.

The Swedish government has also played a crucial role in promoting modern sports throughout the country.

Swedes believe that sport promotes democracy, gender equality, development, environmental awareness, fair play and the universal right to participation.

In this article, we will discuss the most popular sports in Sweden. Read on to find out more!

Football

Football is the most popular sport in Sweden.

The country has over 240,000 licensed players, including 184,000 men and 56,000 women. The number of youth football players in Sweden has now exceeded 240,000.

Sweden has 3,200 clubs, with more than 8,500 teams playing in world-class facilities throughout the country.

There are 7,900 pitches in Sweden, allowing football players to practice and really master the game.

Swedes love to watch football on many different platforms, including TV, streaming services and social media. It is also the country's national sport.

The average number of people who watch football matches in Sweden is 179,526.

Sweden has produced some of the greatest footballers of all-time, including the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Allsvenskan is Sweden's most valuable professional soccer league, worth 1.16 billion Swedish Krona, and contributing substantially to the football economy.

The IFK Norrkoping FK is Sweden's second most-valued football league, with a total capital of 532 million Swedish Krona.

Sweden's National Football Team was runner-up in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

It also earned third place in the 1950 and 1994 FIFA World Cup Finals.

Sweden won a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics and reached the 1992 UEFA European Championships Semi-finals, too.

We have lots of Football articles on our Football Blog!

Handball

Handball is one of the most popular sports in Sweden.

Swedes are known to love playing team ball games because they believe they promote well-being and socialisation.

Sweden currently has more than 32,000 registered handball players between 13 and 19 years of age, with many great handball players coming from this country.

The Swedish Handball Federation is the governing body, playing a critical role in promoting handball throughout the country.

The federation has accredited over 38 high schools with 1,200 registered young players.

The National Handball team has also achieved several big awards, including four world championships in 1954, 1958, 1990, and 1999.

Sweden's National Handball team earned a runner-up position three times and third place four times in the World Cup.

Over 2.1 million people watched the 2022 handball final between Sweden and Spain.

Sweden's National Handball team has also won the European Championship five times.

Golf

Swedish people are famed for enjoying outdoor activities, such as golf. This sport has recently gained popularity in the country.

The popularity of golf increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, as golf clubs experienced a 45% surge in memberships.

Around 5% of the country's population has a golf club membership, making it one of the most popular sports in Sweden.

Sweden has 450 golf courses, 482 golf clubs and 491,401 registered golfers.

In addition, 35% of all registered golfers are women, and 20% of players are between the age of 18 and 20.

Around 6% of people in Sweden play golf, making it the most prominent golf-loving nation in Europe.

There are numerous championship courses in Sweden. However, the most popular ones are Halmstad on the West Coast and Kungsangen GC in Stockholm.

Another reason Swedes love golf is the ideal climate, and the country's geography and topography perfectly aligns with golf requirements.

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is a historically and culturally popular sport in Sweden, dating back to 1912.

The Swedish Hockey League (SHL) is among the premier leagues in Europe- and the world.

Sweden has been a well-known member of the International Ice Hockey Federation for over 100 years.

Sweden's men’s National team played its first ice hockey match in 1921, and the Women's and Youth teams debuted in 1987 and 1973 respectively.

Thousands of young individuals play ice hockey in hundreds of clubs/teams.

The Number of Registered Ice Hockey Players in Sweden between 2010 and 2022 (Source: Statista)

Moreover, Sweden has three ice hockey leagues and divisions: SHL, Hockey Allsvenskan and Hockey Ettan.

The SHL is the most popular ice hockey league, with 14 teams.

The Hockey Allsvenskan also has 14 teams, and the Hockey Ettan comprises four geographic groups with 12 teams in each region.

The Swedish National Team won 11 World Championships, as well as gold medals in the 1921, 1923, and 1932 Olympic Games.

Tennis

Although Sweden is a small country with harsh weather conditions, it has the highest number of sports fans among Nordic countries, including tennis enthusiasts.

Sweden has produced some of the world's greatest tennis players, who have won many achievements since the early 20th century.

The Swedish Sports Confederation recognised and started funding tennis in 1906. Sweden debuted at the Davis Cup for the first time in 1925.

Famous players, including Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander, have won 25 men's slam singles titles (combined).

Numerous clubs in Sweden promote tennis among young people.

The Inter Club Competition has gained recognition in Sweden, allowing young players to register and compete in singles and doubles matches.

Clubs play a critical role in the local and national level tennis economy.

Sweden does not have regional tennis centres, meaning most youngsters rely on local clubs and facilities to learn and practice the game.

Check out more tennis content on our tennis blog

Athletics

Athletics has been one of the most popular sports in Sweden since the early 1940s.

Legendary athletes like Lennart Stand and Gunder Hagg dominated middle-distance running and won several national championships for Sweden.

The athletic legacy of Lennart and Hagg continues even today, as Sweden produces highly professional and skilled athletes.

For instance, Patrik Sjoberg and Ludmila Engquist are among the rising and shining stars who have made significant contributions to this sport.

Patrik Sjoberg is a European record holder and the World's Athletic Champion. Likewise, Ludmila Engquist has earned several titles, including an Olympic gold medal.

The Swedish Olympic Committee makes significant efforts to promote athletics.

It provides substantial capital to clubs and related organisations to improve infrastructure and recruit world-class athletes.

Regional Councils have built more than 25 sports halls with 200-metre tracks, allowing young athletes to practice and master the art of running.

Swedish Championships also attract a whopping 20,000 spectators (on average).

Basketball

The number of basketball participants in Sweden reached 144,904 in 2019, with an average number of spectators between 6,000 and 7,000.

The basketball sector in Sweden is worth 42,326,000 Swedish Krona.

The number of players, fans and spectators will increase in the future as basketball grows in popularity, due to various championships, tournaments and events at local, national and international levels.

Basketball became famous in Sweden after Magic Johnson started playing for the M7 Boras Club.

The club has played a crucial role in promoting basketball throughout the country and encouraging young Swedish players to participate in national-level tournaments.