Ten Years Since 2015: A Full Account of Sweden’s Migration Crisis
In 2015, Sweden experienced the largest refugee arrival in modern history. According to Migrationsverket, 163,000 people applied for asylum that year — 100,000 of them within just a few autumn months.
Across Europe, roughly 1.3 million people sought protection, making 2015 the peak of what became known globally as the refugee crisis.
This article brings together verified information from Migrationsverket, Eurostat, UNHCR, and Aftonbladet/TT to explain what happened, why it happened, and who came to Sweden.
A Crisis Years in the Making
Throughout the early 2010s, asylum numbers in Europe rose steadily as conflicts intensified in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Sweden — long known for broad protection rules and strong reception systems — saw more than 80,000 asylum applications in 2014, the highest in decades.
But in 2015, the system would experience a shock without precedent.
Sweden’s early-2015 forecasts underestimated the scale
Migrationsverket’s July 2015 forecast suggested Sweden had become less attractive due to long processing times and integration challenges. The agency believed arrivals would rise in Europe but remain moderate in Sweden.
Within weeks, that projection collapsed.
A Rapid and Unprecedented Increase
Between late July and August 2015, weekly asylum applications in Sweden doubled — from roughly 1,500 to 3,000 per week. By October, arrivals exceeded 9,000 per week, and by November the number hovered near 10,000.
Migrationsverket’s October forecast described the situation as:
“A humanitarian crisis with no equivalent in modern times.”
Accommodation ran out. Municipalities were overwhelmed. Emergency shelters, tents, sports halls, hotels, and evacuation centers were activated across the country.
All of Sweden Was Affected
Authorities, municipalities, NGOs, and ordinary citizens mobilised on a scale rarely seen. Volunteers met people at train stations, organized housing, donated clothes and food, provided legal support, and even opened their homes to unaccompanied minors.
By the end of December 2015:
- ≈180,000 people were registered in Sweden’s reception system
- ≈100,000 were placed in Migration Agency housing
- Dozens of small municipalities carried disproportionate responsibility
Key Events in Europe and Sweden
(Source: UNHCR, Eurostat, Aftonbladet/TT, Migrationsverket)
Spring 2015: The Mediterranean becomes the world’s deadliest migration route
Thousands attempted the crossing in unsafe boats. In April, nearly 700 people drowned in a single shipwreck.
Summer 2015: EU under pressure
Reception systems in Greece collapsed; people travelled north toward Germany and the Nordic countries. Hungary closed its border with Serbia and criminalised crossings, pushing tens of thousands toward alternative routes.
2–3 September: The image that changed the world
The photo of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, found drowned on a Turkish beach, became a global symbol. His family had been trying to reach Sweden.
22 September: EU votes on refugee quotas
Four states voted no: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania. EU leaders agreed to strengthen external border control.
October–November: Sweden reaches breaking point
Sweden recorded the highest asylum numbers in its history — surpassing even the 1992 Balkan War peak.
- 23 October: All Swedish parliamentary parties except SD and V agree on tightened migration policy
- 28 October: Police helicopters deployed to protect asylum housing after a wave of arson attacks
- 4 November: The government asks the EU Commission to redistribute asylum seekers from Sweden to other EU states
- 5 November: Migration minister Morgan Johansson warns Sweden can no longer guarantee accommodation
- 9 November: Moderaterna demands a “refugee stop” at the border
- 11 November: Sweden introduces temporary border controls
- 24 November: Government lowers Swedish asylum rules to the EU minimum standard
Sweden’s Role in the EU Context
In 2015, according to EU and UNHCR data:
- Sweden received 12% of all EU asylum applications
- Only Germany registered more asylum seekers
- Per capita, Sweden received the highest number of asylum seekers in the EU, aside from Hungary (a transit country)
Asylum seekers per 100,000 inhabitants (Eurostat, 2015)
- Sweden: 1,600
- Austria: 1,000
- Finland: 590
- Germany: 540
- EU average: 250
Who Came to Sweden?
Main countries of origin
According to Migrationsverket:
- Syria: 50,900
- Afghanistan: 42,100
- Iraq: 21,100
- Stateless: 7,700
- Eritrea: 7,100
- Somalia: 5,200
Half of all arrivals across Europe came from Syria, Afghanistan, or Iraq.
Many Syrian applicants were families and children.
Among Afghan applicants, 21,000 were unaccompanied minors — the largest number Sweden has ever received.
Gender and Age Distribution
Out of the 163,000 asylum seekers:
- Over 90,000 were adults
- Nearly 40,000 were children arriving with parents
- Over 30,000 were unaccompanied minors
- About 115,000 were men
- About 49,000 were women
What Happened to the 2015 Arrivals?
As of 2025, Migrationsverket’s follow-up data shows:
- ≈66,000 have become Swedish citizens
- ≈39,000 have left Sweden
- Many others have permanent residence, temporary permits, or other statuses
Syrians form the largest group of new citizens.
Among Afghans, many have permanent residence due to the “gymnasium laws” and difficulties obtaining identity documents.
The Long Tail: Family Reunification 2015–2020
During 2015–2020, large numbers arrived through family reunification channels.
For the six most common conflict-affected nationalities (Syria, Eritrea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, stateless persons):
- Syria remained the largest nationality group
- Over 160,000 people (all nationalities combined) later became Swedish citizens
- About 36,000 received permanent residence
- Around 12,000 were registered as having left the country
The Legacy of 2015
2015 reshaped Swedish politics, migration law, and public debate.
It influenced:
- Sweden’s shift from permanent to temporary permits
- Stricter identity requirements
- Longer waiting times
- Revisions to family migration rules
- EU-wide reforms leading up to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact (2024–2026)
The year also left long-lasting social consequences — from integration challenges to community mobilisation and civil society activism.
Sources
Primary Swedish official sources
- Migrationsverket: “Tio år sedan 2015 – vad var det som hände?” (27 October 2025)
- Migrationsverket statistics (asylum, citizenship, family migration)
- Eurostat asylum statistics 2015
International sources
- UNHCR Mediterranean refugee movement reports (2015–2016)
Swedish media
- Aftonbladet/TT: “Flyktingkrisen 2015 – det här hände” (1 November 2025)
- DN, SVT archives on 2015 migration events
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