Gun violence in Sweden

For broader coverage of this topic, see Crime in Sweden.

Gun violence in Sweden (Swedish: skjutningar or gängskjutningar, "gang shootings") increased steeply among males aged 15 to 29 in the two decades prior to 2015. In addition to this rising trend, Sweden is one of the highest countries for gun violence in Western Europe. However since 2022, shootings have decreased significantly, with the police crediting the decrease to newly developed working methods to be able to act more proactively and thus prevent violent crime.

Gun violence started increasing in the mid 2000s and increased more rapidly from 2013 onwards. This sets Sweden apart from most other countries in Europe where there instead has been a decline in gun homicides. In its 2021 report on the phenomenon, the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention did not analyse the reasons for the trend that occurred in Sweden. Most of the increase is related to gang violence in vulnerable areas in Sweden which are areas with higher crime rates, low income and education, and a large immigrant population.

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