Poverty in Sweden Surges: Number of Those Struggling with Basic Necessities Doubles in Three Years
Poverty levels in Sweden have doubled, affecting nearly 700,000 individuals and sparking concerns among experts and advocates.
Key Points
- • Poverty in Sweden has doubled since 2021, now impacting nearly 7% of the population.
- • Approximately 700,000 individuals are struggling to meet basic needs.
- • Rising food prices and stagnant welfare support exacerbate financial difficulties.
- • The Swedish welfare system is perceived as increasingly strict and unhelpful.
Poverty rates in Sweden have alarmingly doubled in the past three years, now impacting nearly 7% of the population, which equates to approximately 700,000 individuals unable to meet basic living expenses, according to recent reports. This surge has been characterized by a significant rise in both material and social deprivation, with experts highlighting that this issue is not receiving adequate media or political attention.
The increase from 3.5% in 2021 to 6.6% in 2024 in the number of people living in poverty has drawn serious concern from social advocates like Jonas Rydberg, the Secretary General of the Swedish City Missions. He likened the current situation to the economic crisis experienced in the 1990s, labeling it a "perfect storm" for the vulnerable populations of Sweden.
Rydberg emphasized that the types of poverty predominating in the country include forced deprivation of essential goods and services, which severely impacts individuals' quality of life. Notably, rising food prices, which have surged above the increases in welfare support, have exacerbated these financial challenges. The ongoing stagnation of welfare assistance has led many to rely on charity, despite tough societal stigmas associated with such reliance.
Personal accounts, such as that of Johanna, a single mother, illustrate the harsh realities of the increasing poverty. At 34 years old, she finds her income insufficient for basic needs and often turns to charitable organizations for help. While sharing her struggles, she reveals the emotional toll of poverty, stating that she feels like a bad mother unable to provide for her child. Johanna's experience reflects the sentiments of many who express frustration with the increasingly strict and unhelpful welfare system hindered by budget constraints.
Academics, including Carina Mood from Stockholm University, have corroborated the findings of the significant rise in poverty levels during this period. They assert that the growing poverty issue, driven by socio-economic factors, needs urgent attention from policy-makers and the media to facilitate effective solutions.