The role of the municipalities

Sweden's 290 municipalities are responsible for a larger share of public services in comparison with the situation in most other countries. Three-quarters of the activities of the municipalities are directly related to demographic factors and are determined by the number of inhabitants, their age and their state of health.

Service providers

The municipalities are service providers in the fields of care, social services, education and infrastructure.

The municipalities are legally or contractually responsible for the following:

• Social services
• Childcare and preschools
• Elderly care
• Support for the physically and intellectually disabled
• Primary and secondary education
• Planning and building issues
• Health and environmental protection
• Refuse collection and waste management
• Emergency services and emergency preparedness
• Water and sewerage

Other activities on a voluntary basis, for example:

• Leisure activities
• Cultural activities, apart from libraries, which are a statutory responsibility
• Housing
• Energy
• Industrial and commercial services