City Information

Sweden has 290 municipalities - of which the City of Stockholm is the largest - covering the entire country, each with a popularly elected council which collects income tax and operates such public services as schools, child and elder care, utilities, housing, and cultural and leisure activities. While they enjoy the right to provide a great many public services at their own discretion, municipalities are bound by law and regulations to offer a number of basic services. Immigrants resident for three years in Sweden have the right to vote and run for office in local elections.

One-fourth of the 400,000 homes in Stockholm is located in city-owned housing companies. The City has now offered tenants in its housing companies the option to purchase their apartments. After several years of low building activity, construction of new residential housing is now increasing. Hammarby Sjöstad, a new environmentally friendly area with 8,000 apartments, is the largest housing project.

The City of Stockholm has a particular responsibility in promoting culture and sports. Besides an extensive network of public libraries, the City manages and operates cultural centres, museums and galleries. It also operates hundreds of in- and outdoor sportsgrounds and playing fields.