Sweden is a beautiful country in Northern Europe that’s known for its archipelagos, lakes and forests. There’s a whole lot of water in Sweden and there are also a whole lot of islands in Sweden too.
But just how many islands does Sweden have? Well, estimates on the number of islands in Sweden vary between about 220,000 to 267,000. This makes it the country with the most islands in the world. It’s said that the land area consists of about 3% of Sweden’s total land area!
However, some people disagree with the total number of islands Sweden has because what constitutes an island varies from country to country. In Sweden, most of the islands are found across the Swedish archipelagos, are small and therefore uninhabited.
It’s not only coastal regions that have archipelagos, there’s also the Lurö archipelago in Lake Värnen in Western Sweden. It’s the largest archipelago like this in Europe!
Sweden’s largest island, Gotland, is nearly 300,000 hectares large and has a perimeter of 800 kilometres. Even the capital city, Stockholm, is an archipelago in its own right, stretching across 14 islands and connected by over 50 bridges.
You will find more infographics at Statista 
What counts as an island?
Defining what constitutes as Sweden islands is based on both geography and administrative details.
Statistics Sweden defines an island as any land area surrounded by water. This definition extends beyond natural islands, encompassing artificial ones too like piers, pond islands, castles encircled by a moat, and lands separated from the mainland by man-made canals.
The European standard for defining an island is that the land should be at least one square kilometre in size, situated at least one kilometre from the mainland, not be connected to the mainland, have a population of over 49 people, and not be a capital of the European Union. Using this definition drastically reduces the number of islands in Sweden as out of the hundreds of thousands of islands in Sweden, only about 1,000 are permanently lived on; many with much fewer residents than the criteria allow for.
Why does Sweden have so many islands?
There are so many Swedish islands due to the geological history of this area. Once positioned around the equator, the land that is now Sweden was vastly different from today. Geologists suggest that this region might have even been home to a coral reef!
Over time, continental drift moved the landmass north and over a long, long time, ice ages and other geological activity, Sweden began to look more like it does today.
Sweden’s Archipelagos
Since the islands of Sweden are mostly in the archipelagos around the country, let’s take a look at the different archipelagos of Sweden.
Bothnian Bay Archipelago
The Bothnian Bay archipelago is the northernmost group of islands in Sweden. It has over 4,000 islands and is spread across five areas: Haparanda, Kalix, Luleå, Piteå, and Skellefteå.
This is one of our favourite Swedish archipelagoes. In winter, you can often see the Northern Lights, and in summer, you can experience the Midnight Sun. Although this part of Swedish Lapland is famous for its forest landscapes, many islands here have long sandy beaches so you can also explore the beaches too.
The island of Seskarö is easy to get to as you just need to cross over the bridge. It’s quite a large island with forests, beaches and beautiful places to camp.
Malören takes a bit more effort to get to as it’s further out to sea. There isn’t much light pollution here so it’s a great place for watching the northern lights in the winter. If you’ve got access to a boat.
Sandön is also a great place close to the mainland and the town of Luleå if you want a beach day.
The High Coast archipelago
Sweden’s High Coast is the world’s highest coastline and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a great place for outdoor activities and is where you’ll find some of the best hiking in Sweden.
In the High Coast archipelago, you’ll find about 70 islands. Interestingly, the number of islands here keeps growing as the area rises about 8 millimetres per year! This natural growth leads to existing islands getting larger and the emergence of new islets.
The Ulvön islands are one of the best areas to visit on the High Coast. It’s an area known for beautiful fishing villages and unspoiled nature. It’s also famous for ‘surströmming,’ a Swedish fermented fish. Trysunda nearby is often called one of Sweden’s most beautiful islands and is known for the typical Scandinavian red fishing huts.
While you’re visiting the area, be sure to check out sections of the Höga Kusten trail too.
The Stockholm archipelago
Just outside the city centre, the Stockholm archipelago has over 30,000 islands and islets making it Sweden’s largest archipelago. It’s a great place to go camping in Sweden, hiking near the city or exploring the Stockholm archipelago by kayak.
Utö, in the southern part, is a year-round destination popular for its sandy beaches, restaurants, and biking opportunities, while Fjäderholmarna is a short 20-minute boat ride away and is a great spot for a quick archipelago trip from the city. Here you’ll find restaurants, cliff bathing, and small shops. Grinda is both an island and a nature reserve which is great for walks near Stockholm and activities like kayaking.
The Östgöta archipelago
Further down the east coast, the Östgöta archipelago which is made up of about 9,000 islands is known for its untouched nature and small-scale entrepreneurs. The archipelago is divided into Arkösund, St Anna, Gryt, and Tjust.
Arkösund is popular in the summer and has good boating facilities and hiking trails. The St Anna archipelago is loved by kayakers and there are plenty of other islands here which offer great restaurants and cafes; perfect for getting fika from.
The Blekinge archipelago
The Blekinge archipelago in southern Sweden has 1,650 islands and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It has 47 nature reserves which are perfect for exploring and the islands are known for their unspoiled nature and great swimming spots.
The Blekinge archipelago isn’t huge even with that many islands but there’s still plenty of room to spread out too so the islands aren’t particularly crowded either.
The island of Tjärö is one of the best ones to visit in the summer. It has a beechwood forest and is ideal for paddleboarding and kayaking. You’ll also find plenty of bathing spots and some Stockholm saunas too. Aspö is another great Swedish island where you can also find things like art galleries and the Drottningskär Citadel. And, if it’s wildlife you like, head to Utklippan where you might see a large grey seal colony.
The Gothenburg archipelago
The Gothenburg Archipelago is one of our favourite archipelagos. It’s a beautiful group of about 20 islands near the city of Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast.
This archipelago is split into two parts; the northern part is quieter and less crowded, making it a great place for people who want to relax and enjoy nature. The southern islands are still beautiful though and you’ll find a few more cafes and restaurants on them in the summer.
Though some of the northern islands are more accessible and permit your car, the southern ones are only accessible by boat and the islands are car-free to visitors.
One of the best things about the Gothenburg Archipelago is the seafood. You can eat fresh seafood like oysters, mussels, and lobster, caught locally at several places across the island.
The Bohuslän archipelago
The Bohuslän Archipelago has around 8,000 islands and is known for its interesting history and beauty.
You’ll find cute old fishing villages, smooth rocks and beautiful red houses. It’s probably what you imagine when you think of the Swedish archipelago.
The Bohuslän Archipelago is where you’ll find popular Swedish islands like Smögen, Marstrand, and Fjällbacka. Smögen is famous for its busy boardwalk in the summer where you can shop, and eat, while Marstrand and Fjällbacka have beautiful harbours and lots of history to explore. I highly recommend walking the Marstrandsön Loop too, it’s beautiful.
Vänern Archipelago
The Vänern archipelago is. unique one since it’s in the middle of a lake. Lake Vänern is the EU’s largest lake with a shoreline stretching 140 kilometers.
Vänern is said to have 22,000 islands with the largest group being near the town of Mariestad. You can explore by kayak or boat and I’d recommend heading to the island of Djurö which is a National Park.
Torsö is the largest individual island and you can get there via a bridge. You’ll find great beaches here as well as historical sites like Torsö Church and Fågelö Chapel. Brommö to the west of Torsö, is another beautiful island. You’ll need a boat or can take a ferry to get here and cars aren’t allowed so bring a bike or get ready to hike! The island has well-marked trails leading and you’ll find fire pits, toilets, and wind shelters along the way.
Hannah is the owner and main writer of Outdoor Sweden. Having travelled the world and documented it on ThatAdventurer.co.uk, including 6 years living in Canada, Hannah and her husband have decided to make Sweden their home for the outdoors activities Sweden offers.