New construction of dwellings, first half 2026, preliminary figures
New construction of residential buildings in the first half of 2026
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2026-08-24 8.00
Preliminary figures show that construction of roughly 15 350 dwellings was started in new buildings during the first half of 2026. This is 8 percent up than in the same period last year.
Number of started dwellings, first half 2023-2026
Approximately 12 700 of new dwellings were located in multi-dwelling buildings, including special housing, which is 16 percent more than in same period a year ago. 2 400 dwellings are classified as special housing. Among one- or two-dwelling buildings the rate of construction decreased compared to the same period in 2025; construction of 2 650 dwellings was started in the first half 2026, which is about 18 percent less than a year ago.
Number of started dwellings, first half 2007-2026
Conversion
In addition, conversion of multi-dwelling buildings was begun in 600 dwellings in the first half of 2026, compared with 1 070 dwellings in the corresponding period in 2025.
Number of started dwellings, first half 1975-2026
Delays in reporting
Due to reporting delays from municipalities, the figures for the latest year are underestimated in the preliminary statistics. To facilitate comparability across years, the figures for the latest year have therefore been adjusted upward based on the average reporting lag observed for the corresponding period in previous years.
For 2026, new construction starts have been adjusted upwards by 8 percent and figures on conversion starts by 38 percent. Unadjusted figures are publishing in the Statistical Database.
New table in the Statistical Database
A new table containing preliminary statistics on new residential construction has been published in the Statistical Database. The table includes data on dwellings started and completed, grouped by building type, with separate categories for each type of special housing. The lowest geographical level is the municipality. The table is available from 2007 onwards.
Definitions and explanations
One-to-two dwelling buildings refer to detached one- or two-dwelling buildings as well as semi-detached houses, terraced houses and link attached houses (excluding holiday homes).
Multi-dwelling buildings refer to residential buildings with three or more apartments, including housing with balcony access.
Special housing like housing for student, special housing for the elderly/disabled persons and other special housing.
Conversion refers to the difference between dwellings added and removed through conversion or changes in usage of multi-dwelling buildings.
Start usually refers to the initial date of starting clearance from the municipality; a more actual date for commencing construction work can be updated from the municipality.