GNA
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The bureau cited not only a continuing large number of births and high immigration, but also a sharply reduced emigration and a somewhat fewer number of deaths as reasons for the increase.
Statistics show that more Swedes like to stay in Sweden this year with 5,000 fewer Swedes emigrated while 38,000 persons have emigrated in 2008.
Immigration continues at a high level. A total of 102,000 persons are estimated to have immigrated to Sweden during 2009, with the largest group being Swedish returning home from abroad. Iraq and Somalia are the major sources of immigrants.
Statistics show that Sweden now has 117,000 people who were born in Iraq while the number of people from Somalia increased by 50 percent this year.
Meanwhile, the number of births continues to increase, with the total number of births estimated at 112,000 in 2009. The number of deaths decreased by one percent from last year.