Elisabeth Svantesson

The Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven up global energy prices and weakened growth prospects in Sweden and worldwide. The ongoing recovery of the Swedish economy is expected to continue, albeit at a slower pace than projected in the Spring Fiscal Policy Bill for 2026. Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson has presented an updated forecast for economic development in Sweden.

Today, the 2026 Spring Budget was presented to the Riksdag. In a trying and unpredictable international situation, Sweden stands strong, and the Swedish economy has begun to recover. The Government is continuing to build a stronger and more secure Sweden. The Spring Budget includes measures worth SEK 7.7 billion for 2026.

There is currently a great deal of uncertainty in the world, particularly due to the war in the Middle East and its consequences. Nevertheless, the Swedish economic recovery that began in 2025 is expected to continue in 2026. Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson has presented a new economic forecast.

After a weak start to the year, activity in the Swedish economy has picked up and an economic recovery has begun. Domestic demand, strengthened by an expansionary fiscal policy, has driven the recovery and is expected to continue to do so next year. Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson has presented a new forecast of economic developments.

Together with a large number of other countries, Sweden has signed up to a collective engagement on the introduction of a joint agreement for the exchange of information on immovable property, such as real estate. The aim is to strengthen controls and counteract tax evasion and tax crime.

Together with a large number of other countries, Sweden has signed up to a collective engagement on the introduction of a joint agreement for the exchange of information on immovable property, such as real estate.

On October 7, the Government held the Nordic-Baltic Nuclear Investment Summit. Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch hosted the Summit together with Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala. Participants in the Summit included six ministers and more than 200 representatives of companies from the nuclear energy and finance sectors of four continents.

On 7 October 2025, Sweden’s Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch and several ministerial colleagues will host a high-level summit on new nuclear energy in the Baltic Sea region. Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala will co-host the event.

The strength of Sweden’s public finances is now being drawn upon to put more money in the pockets of hard-working people. This can inspire belief in the future and bring the economic downturn to an end. With the Government’s reforms, a family with two children will have an additional SEK 1 800 per month. The Budget includes reforms totalling almost SEK 80 billion, and is based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats.

The Government presented the Budget Bill for 2026 to the Riksdag today. The strength of Sweden’s public finances is now being drawn upon to put more money in the pockets of hard-working people. This can inspire belief in the future and bring the economic downturn to an end. With the Government’s reforms, a family with two children will have an additional SEK 1 800 per month. The Budget includes reforms totalling almost SEK 80 billion, and is based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats. 

Growth of the Swedish economy has been burdened by geopolitical uncertainty during the first half of 2025, and we are still in a period of recession. At the same time, recovery is expected to resume in the coming months and continue at a steady pace next year. Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson has presented a new forecast on the economic outlook.

On 28–29 July, Sweden hosted a high-level dialogue on trade and other related matters between the United States and China in Stockholm. The meeting was arranged at the joint request of the parties and is an important step in the ongoing trade negotiations between the US and China.

The Government has decided to contribute SEK 8.2 billion to the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the world’s poorest countries. In doing so, Sweden is contributing to the record-breaking 21st replenishment of the fund, which will generate a total of USD 100 billion for reforms, investment and development in the world’s poorest countries.

The recovery that began in the second half of 2024 has slowed, and the Swedish economy remains in protracted recession. This is largely due to increased geopolitical uncertainty. However, rising real wages and lower interest rates suggest that the recovery will gain momentum in the second half of 2025. Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson has presented the latest economic forecast from the Ministry of Finance.

Today, the Government, together with the Social Democratic Party, the Sweden Democrats, the Left Party, the Centre Party and the Green Party, presents an agreement to enable a historic expansion of Sweden’s defence to meet NATO’s new defence spending targets – expected to be 3.5 per cent of GDP – and that this expansion will be achieved rapidly through temporary financing via loans. This is a historic show of strength. If NATO were to agree on an additional target of 1.5 per cent of GDP for broader defence and security-related investments, the parties are in agreement that Sweden should also meet that target.

On 20 February 2025, the Government decided on a new ownership policy for state-owned enterprises. Under the new policy, boards will have even clearer responsibility to develop and manage such enterprises professionally.

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine continues with unabated intensity, bringing serious consequences for civilians. Russian propaganda continues to spread the false narrative of a strong and resilient economy. On behalf of the Swedish Government, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) drafted a report in late 2024 concerning economic developments in Russia. The report highlighted the unreliability of Russian statistics, and that the country’s economy is not performing as well as its statistics suggest. SITE has now published a follow-up report, and Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson has met with Director of SITE Torbjörn Becker to discuss the Russian economy and the report’s conclusions.

The Spring Budget, or the 2025 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill and 2025 Spring Amending Budget, is being presented today. In the Spring Budget, which is based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats, the Government is using the strength of the Swedish economy to strengthen economic development and counteract the negative effects of the prevailing economic uncertainty.

In the second half of 2024, the Swedish economy entered into a recovery phase that is expected to continue this year. At the same time, the high level of uncertainty resulting from factors such as increased tariffs is projected to dampen growth in the near future. These are the conclusions of the Ministry of Finance in a new forecast of economic developments.

More than 600 leading Swedish and international companies, investors and decision-makers gathered in Stockholm on 19 February for the Join Sweden Summit, the Government’s international investment conference that set a new attendance record this year. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hosted the conference.