Sweden

Recommended Vaccinations For Sweden

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a low risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, however, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a low risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, however, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers whose activities or employment may bring them into direct contact with bats (i.e. adventure travellers, veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers, etc.).

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine

Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended if travelling in the regions near Stockholm on the East coast or where contact with ticks might occur (camping, hiking, outdoor activities) during early spring to late autumn.

Recommended Medications For Sweden

There are no recommendations for Sweden at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Sweden

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

There is a low risk of hepatitis B in Sweden.

Hepatitis A

There is a low risk of hepatitis A in Sweden.

For Some Travellers

Measles

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with an infected person.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Rabies

Rabies may be present in bats.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis

There is a risk of Tick-borne Encephalitis in some areas of this country. The main affected areas are in the regions near Stockholm on the East coast. The transmission season varies, however, ticks are most active during early spring to late autumn.

Safety & Security in Sweden

Personal Safety

Sweden maintains a high safety standard overall, but personal safety dynamics have shifted dramatically in recent years. Gang-related violence has escalated to unprecedented levels across major cities. Police recorded 317 bombings in 2024, more than double the 149 incidents in 2023. Most of this violence concentrates in specific suburban areas with organized criminal networks. Around 62,000 people are estimated to be involved in or connected to criminal networks in Sweden. Sweden averaged more than one explosion per day in January 2025. While lethal violence decreased from 121 confirmed cases in 2023 to 92 cases in 2024, gun violence remains a persistent issue. The country has one of Europe’s highest rates of fatal shootings, with 53 people killed in shootings in 2023 and 45 in 2024. Tourist areas and city centers remain generally safe, but gang violence occasionally spills into public spaces. Between 2011 and 2020, 46 innocent bystanders were killed or wounded in shooting incidents. Most gang violence occurs in disadvantaged suburbs rather than tourist districts. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and fraud has increased, with reported fraud offenses rising significantly. Drug-related offenses also increased by 16 percent in 2024, driven largely by possession charges. Assault offenses totaled 89,317 reported cases in 2024, a 3 percent increase from 2023. Reported sexual offenses increased 7 percent, with 10,167 rapes registered in 2024. Many incidents occur in socially excluded areas with concentrated immigrant populations, but crime has begun affecting hospital emergency rooms and schools. You should avoid poorly lit areas at night and remain alert in crowded public spaces.

Extreme Violence

Sweden faces an unprecedented wave of gang-related extreme violence. The country recorded 317 bombings in 2024, up from 149 in 2023. January 2025 alone saw approximately 30 explosions, mostly in Stockholm. These bombings often target residential buildings, staircases, and businesses as part of extortion schemes and territorial conflicts between drug gangs. Sweden has gone from having one of Europe’s lowest fatal shooting rates to the highest. Gun violence is 2.5 times the European average as of 2023. Only Albania and Montenegro rank higher for gun deaths per capita within Europe. Firearms are now the most common cause of violent death in Sweden. In 2024, lethal violence resulted in 92 confirmed deaths, down from 121 in 2023. Most violence concentrates in disadvantaged suburbs of Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo, though smaller towns now experience incidents. Criminal networks recruit minors, sometimes as young as 12, to carry out shootings and plant explosives. In the first half of 2024, the number of murder suspects under age 15 was nearly four times higher than 2023. Gang leaders increasingly operate from abroad, issuing orders via encrypted messaging and social media. While tourists face low risk, the violence is pervasive enough that emergency services sometimes require police escorts in certain neighborhoods. The authorities estimate several dozen bystanders have been inadvertently wounded or killed in gang incidents since 2015.

Political Unrest

Political demonstrations occur regularly in Sweden and are generally peaceful. Protests related to climate action, Gaza, and immigration policy have taken place in major cities. Greta Thunberg has been detained multiple times for civil disobedience during climate and pro-Palestinian protests, including incidents in 2023 and 2024. Quran burning demonstrations by far-right activists sparked riots in 2022 and 2023, with violent clashes occurring in Linkoping, Orebro, Rinkeby, and Malmo. These protests triggered international backlash, including the storming of Sweden’s embassy in Baghdad in July 2023. Police were heavily targeted during the 2022 riots, with two-thirds of injured people being officers. Sweden’s terrorism threat level stands at 3 out of 5, classified as elevated. The Swedish Security Service warns that terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks. An Islamic State sympathizer killed two Swedish nationals at a football match in Brussels in October 2023 following the Quran burning incidents. Political tensions around immigration and integration remain contentious. The conservative government elected in 2022 has implemented tougher crime measures and stricter immigration policies. Demonstrations can disrupt traffic and public transportation. Even peaceful gatherings can turn violent.

Areas To Avoid

Several areas in Swedish cities have elevated crime rates and should be approached with caution. Police identify these as vulnerable areas with low socioeconomic status where criminal networks exert influence. In Malmo, Rosengard, Seved, Lindangen, and Holma are associated with gang activity, shootings, and bombings. Between 60 and 65 percent of residents in Fosie and Rosengard report feeling unsafe or very unsafe walking alone at night, compared to a national average of 28 percent. In Stockholm, Rinkeby, Tensta, Husby, and suburbs like Alby, Fittja, and Hallunda have higher crime rates. Rinkeby in particular has experienced shootings and is considered less safe after dark. Three new areas were added to Stockholm’s vulnerable list in 2021: Grantorp, Fisksatra, and Valsta. In Gothenburg, Bergsjön, Biskopsgården, Hammarkullen, and Hjallbo have documented gang presence. Police maintain a list of 61 vulnerable areas nationwide, divided into vulnerable, risk areas, and especially vulnerable categories. These neighborhoods have higher unemployment, lower education levels, and concentrated immigrant populations. Emergency services occasionally require police escorts in these areas during elevated situations. However, the term no-go zone is misleading. Police do enter these areas regularly, and journalists report that neighborhoods appear normal during daylight hours with children playing and people going about daily life. Tourist areas and city centers remain safe. You should avoid venturing into unfamiliar suburban areas at night.