Laws in Sweden
How Sweden is classified on 41 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Passive only Passive euthanasia is legal based on a 2010 ruling, but administering lethal substances for active euthanasia is illegal.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Surrogacy
- Unregulated Surrogacy is unregulated in Sweden, with no specific laws addressing it.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Drinking in Public
- Restricted areas/times Public drinking is legal by default but prohibited in specific zones designated by local municipal ordinances.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Partial ban Sweden bans smoking in most public places but allows separate smoking rooms in restaurants and bars.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Illegal Homeschooling is prohibited.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal Fur farming is legal in Sweden, with active mink farms operating as of 2020.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Cosmetic animal testing is banned nationwide under EU regulations.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- Under 14 Minimum working age: 13.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 14–15 The age of consent is 15.
- Sex Work
- Buying illegal (Nordic model) The law criminalizes the purchase of sex but not the act of selling it.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available, including unilaterally without fault.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- No blasphemy law Sweden has no specific blasphemy law, though agitation against religious groups is criminalized.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Flag Desecration
- Legal / protected speech Flag desecration is legal in Sweden, though displaying modified flags may be punished as disorderly conduct.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment in schools has been prohibited since 1958 and all forms outlawed since 1966.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
- Jury Trials
- Limited use / mixed courts Jury trials are only available for specific offences against freedom of expression and press laws.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat has been prohibited in Sweden since 1989.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.