Moving to Sweden from Somalia

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Somalia to Sweden — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Somalia to Sweden, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°F vs 86°F in Mogadishu, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Somalia to Sweden, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
327 ↓ 3% vs 2022

people moved from Somalia to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Sweden?

Top countries of origin for Sweden's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Somalia to Sweden.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
SE
2.1

Sweden performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SO
$52
SE
$7,770
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
SE
71.5

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SO
64.0
SE
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
SE
3.6t

Somalia generally does better on environment, though Sweden leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SO
0.7
SE
40.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
SE
3.6%

Sweden performs significantly better than Somalia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SO
19.0%
SE
7.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
SE
$64,200

Sweden performs significantly better than Somalia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SO
55.7 yrs
SE
82.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
SE
2.3

Sweden performs significantly better than Somalia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Stockholm
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 69°/56°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 43°/36°F (6°/2°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Stockholm
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C)

Data: Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Somalia and Sweden. To live, work, or study long-term in Sweden, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sweden's immigration authority.

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Sweden

Visa Required
Somalia passport holders need a visa to enter Sweden.
Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Somalia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sweden passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Somalia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sweden?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sweden has 40.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Sweden safe for expats?

Sweden performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Somalia?

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 0.2 in Somalia. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

What's the weather like in Sweden compared to Somalia?

The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Sweden?

The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO SE
Population 12,386,248 10,483,647
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages Arabic, Somali Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +252 +46
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112