Swedish Ancestry in America
People of Swedish ancestry form an important group in several countries in North and South America. Between 1846 and 1930, roughly 1.3 million people, about 20% of the Swedish population, left the country and settles in the United States and Canada.
As per the US Census 2020, Swedish ancestry is estimated at 3.6 million people. It also forms an important minority Group in Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
Let’s have a look at Countries having significant Swedish ancestry
Swedish Americans
Swedish Americans are Americans who have full or partial Swedish ancestry. In the United States census of 2020, 3.7 million people self-identified as being fully or partly of Swedish ancestry.
According to the United States Ancestry Census estimates 2020, there were 3,627,796 (1.11% of the US Population) people of Swedish descent in the U.S.
Swedish Ancestry Statewise
Population wise Minnesota (410,091) has the largest number of people with Swedish Ancestry followed by California (357,926), Illinois (241,187), Washington (209,559), and Florida (143,896).
Percentage-wise top US states with Swedish Ancestry are Minnesota (7.32%), North Dakota (3.90%), Nebraska (3.69%), Utah (3.44%), and South Dakota (3.0%).
List of States by Swedish Ancestry Population
# | States | 2020 Estimates pop. | Percentage |
1 | Alabama | 14,952 | 0.31% |
2 | Alaska | 14,781 | 2.01% |
3 | Arizona | 95,995 | 1.34% |
4 | Arkansas | 13,574 | 0.45% |
5 | California | 357,926 | 0.91% |
6 | Colorado | 122,644 | 2.16% |
7 | Connecticut | 49,315 | 1.38% |
8 | Delaware | 7,226 | 0.75% |
9 | District of Columbia | 5,592 | 0.80% |
10 | Florida | 143,896 | 0.68% |
11 | Georgia | 42,287 | 0.40% |
12 | Hawaii | 9,184 | 0.65% |
13 | Idaho | 49,151 | 2.80% |
14 | Illinois | 241,187 | 1.90% |
15 | Indiana | 52,950 | 0.79% |
16 | Iowa | 78,456 | 2.49% |
17 | Kansas | 57,965 | 1.99% |
18 | Kentucky | 17,107 | 0.38% |
19 | Louisiana | 11,753 | 0.25% |
20 | Maine | 21,676 | 1.62% |
21 | Maryland | 31,399 | 0.52% |
22 | Massachusetts | 104,211 | 1.52% |
23 | Michigan | 132,003 | 1.32% |
24 | Minnesota | 410,091 | 7.32% |
25 | Mississippi | 8,696 | 0.29% |
26 | Missouri | 55,260 | 0.90% |
27 | Montana | 28,717 | 2.70% |
28 | Nebraska | 70,921 | 3.69% |
29 | Nevada | 32,449 | 1.07% |
30 | New Hampshire | 25,551 | 1.89% |
31 | New Jersey | 48,759 | 0.55% |
32 | New Mexico | 15,035 | 0.72% |
33 | New York | 109,623 | 0.56% |
34 | North Carolina | 57,417 | 0.55% |
35 | North Dakota | 29,630 | 3.90% |
36 | Ohio | 67,149 | 0.58% |
37 | Oklahoma | 23,779 | 0.60% |
38 | Oregon | 97,651 | 2.34% |
39 | Pennsylvania | 93,901 | 0.73% |
40 | Rhode Island | 15,721 | 1.49% |
41 | South Carolina | 23,408 | 0.46% |
42 | South Dakota | 26,383 | 3.00% |
43 | Tennessee | 30,738 | 0.45% |
44 | Texas | 140,123 | 0.49% |
45 | Utah | 108,317 | 3.44% |
46 | Vermont | 10,170 | 1.63% |
47 | Virginia | 52,819 | 0.62% |
48 | Washington | 209,559 | 2.79% |
49 | West Virginia | 5,975 | 0.33% |
50 | Wisconsin | 138,599 | 2.39% |
51 | Wyoming | 16,125 | 2.77% |
Source: US Census estimates 2020
Swedish Canadians
Swedish Canadians are Canadians who have full or partial Swedish ancestry. Swedish Canadians account for about 1.01% of the total population of Canada
According to the Canadian Census 2016, there were 349,640 people of Swedish descent in Canada.
Swedish Ancestry Provinces
British Columbia with 110,030 people of Swedish ancestry, has the largest population of Swedish -Canadians in Canada followed by Alberta (97,835) and Ontario (71,035). Percentage-wise Yukon (3.12%) has the highest percentage of Swedish followed by Saskatchewan (3.07%) and Alberta (2.46%).
Cities with a significant Swedish population are Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Toronto.
List of Provinces by Swedish Ancestry Population
# | Provinces and Territories | Responses | Percentage |
1 | Alberta | 97,835 | 2.46% |
2 | British Columbia | 110,030 | 2.41% |
3 | Manitoba | 22,470 | 1.81% |
4 | New Brunswick | 2,015 | 0.28% |
5 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 995 | 0.19% |
6 | Northwest Territories | 370 | 0.90% |
7 | Nova Scotia | 3,565 | 0.39% |
8 | Nunavut | 120 | 0.34% |
9 | Ontario | 71,035 | 0.54% |
10 | Prince Edward Island | 455 | 0.33% |
11 | Quebec | 6,840 | 0.09% |
12 | Saskatchewan | 32,815 | 3.07% |
13 | Yukon | 1,095 | 3.12% |
Canada— Total | 349,640 | 1.01% |
Source: Canada Census 2016
Swedish Argentines
Swedish Argentines are Argentine citizens of Swedish descent, as well as Swedish-born people who reside in Argentina. Argentina is home to the largest Swedish community in Latin America. Numerous communities can be found in Misiones Province and Buenos Aires and as per the estimate Swedish population in Argentina is around 40,000.
Swedish Brazilians
Swedish Brazilians are Brazilians who have full or partial Swedish ancestry. In Brazil, they are considered part of a large Scandinavian Brazilian group. The Scandinavian settlement in Brazil began in the mid to late 19th century and was predominant when around 3,640 Scandinavian peoples arrived in Brazil, mainly from Sweden. As per the estimates, there were 23,048 people of Swedish descent in Brazil.
Regions with a significant Swedish population.
- Rio de Janeiro,
- Natal
- Curitiba
- São Paulo
- Ceará