Following years of illegal migration that went largely ignored by Sweden’s previous left-liberal governments, the country’s new government, supported by the national-conservative Sweden Democrats, has announced it will conduct a national census to better understand who is living inside the country’s borders.
The announcement came on Thursday, March 30th, during a joint press conference held by Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson of the Moderate Party and Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson.
“Sweden has a centuries-old tradition of civil registration, but as a result of irresponsible migration and undemanding integration policies over the decades, we have largely lost control over how many and who are living in our country,” Åkesson said as he addressed members of the press from the podium.
“The Sweden Democrats have for a long time, together with several of the government parties, talked about the importance of a large-scale national census to simply regain control,” Åkesson added.
Sweden’s Tax Agency, commissioned to conduct the national census, is set to receive 500 million kronor or €44.3 million to carry out the task, the finance minister said, adding that the agency’s primary goal is to present a better picture of who is in the country by September at the latest.
“This is an important issue in the coalition agreement. We are now taking further steps to implement it,” Svantesson told the press, noting that many living within Sweden’s borders are not registered in the correct location or in the country at all.
“There will be quite a few doors knocked on, but you cannot do this everywhere. It is not an efficient way to use taxpayers’ money,” Svantesson said, adding that the government would give the “Swedish Tax Agency several different tools now to get the civil registration system in order.”
“By the end of the mandate period, we hope to have a much better idea of who is in the country,” she said.
To assist the tax authority in collecting the information it needs, other authorities like the Swedish Migration Agency and the Police Authority will be under greater obligation to provide information about those who are residing in Sweden illegally.
The last census in Sweden took place in 1990, with Statistics Norway—the Norwegian government’s official statistical agency—sending out forms to the country’s households. Since then, register-based surveys have been carried out.
