(bpb) Lizenz: cc by-nc-nd/2.0/de

Sweden is a country with a long tradition of immigration. Already in the 1960s, when, against the backdrop of an economic upswing, foreign labor was recruited, Sweden did not regard immigrants solely as "guest workers" who would eventually return to their countries of origin. Instead, the government assumed from the outset that immigrant workers would stay. Today, Sweden's integration policy is internationally regarded both as one of the most ambitious and successful. Nevertheless, the current high numbers of immigrants, especially of asylum seekers, lead to some serious challenges. There is a lack of affordable housing, both for newcomers and some segments of the Swedish-born population; unemployment among third-country nationals is high, and the xenophobic "Sweden Democrats" gain increasing influence in the political system.

PDF-Icon Country profile Sweden 2015
PDF-Icon Country profile Sweden 2009
