Seventy-five percent of the population, 16 years or older, are members in one or more associations. The share of persons who belong to at least one association is largest in “mid-life”, which is due to the fact that many people are members of a trade union organisation at that point in their lives. In the age group 40–64, just over eight in ten belong to at least one association, compared with almost six in ten in the age group 16–19. In the oldest age group, those aged 80 years or older, seven in ten belong to at least one association.

Active participation in the activities of one or more associations involves various types of contributions of club activities. For some people, this may mean holding a position of trust or being on a board, while for other people it may involve being a sports coach or leader of a course, or helping to arrange various activities within the framework of the association.

Research has shown that involvement in association activities can be positive for the individual in different ways, including becoming part of a social community. Those who are active in associations are also involved in creating opportunities for children, youth, and adults to practice sporting, enjoy nature, sing in a choir or join a theatre group.

Twenty-nine percent of the population, 16 years or older, participate actively in the activities of at least one association. This corresponds to around 2.4 million people. For example, there are around 975 000 persons who are active in sports or outdoors associations, and 395 000 persons who are active in a cultural, music, dance, or theatre association.

Mainly persons aged 40–79 years are actively involved in the activities of some association, and it is more common among men than among women. In the age group 70–79 years, 39 percent of the men, and 33 percent of the women are active in associations, compared with 38 percent of the men and 32 percent of the women in the age group 40–49 years. In the age group 20–29 years, 22 percent of the men and 20 percent of the women are active in associations.

There are also regional differences. In Stockholm County, 25 percent of the population, 16 years or older, are active in the activities of at least one association. In Mellersta Norrland and Övre Norrland, the corresponding share is 35 percent.

Other results of the ULF/SILC

All results refer to the population 16 years or older, unless otherwise specified. The results concerning employees and self-employed persons refer to persons aged 16–74 years.

• Twenty percent of the population would not be able to handle an unexpected expense of SEK 12 000 within one month without borrowing or asking for help. Among persons born outside Europe, 58 percent lack this margin for unexpected expenses, compared with 14 percent among Swedish born persons.

• High space standard refers to living in a dwelling with more than one room per inhabitant, excluding kitchen and living room. In Sweden, 35 percent of the population has a high space standard. In the age group 65 years or older, six in ten persons have a high space standard, compared with three in ten among those aged 16-49 years.

• Two percent of the population suffers from severe asthma.

• Sixty-one percent of the population went on a holiday trip within the past 12 months. In the age group 16–19 years, seven in ten persons went on a holiday trip within the past year, compared with four in ten in the age group 75–84 years.

• Ninety-four percent of self-employed persons are fairly content or very content with their job, compared with 87 percent of employees.

• It is more common for self-employed persons than for employees to find it difficult to stop thinking about work when they have time off; forty-eight percent of self-employed persons experience such difficulties, compared with 32 percent of employees.

• Three in ten of those in a blue collar job work in shifts or follow some schedule in which working hours are scheduled during different times of the day. Among persons in white collar jobs, the corresponding proportion is one in ten.

• Four percent of those who live in cities have been subjected to threats or violence in a public place at some point over the past 12 months, compared with two percent of those who live in sparsely populated areas. Sixteen percent of those who live in cities have refrained from going out in the evening for fear of being subjected to threats or violence at some point over the past 12 months, compared with 13 percent of those who live in sparsely populated areas.

Statistics Sweden presents these statistics together with other new results of the 2018–2019 Living Conditions Surveys (ULF/SILC). The publication of the 2018–2019 results includes new study domains, such as income groups, NUTS 2 regions, number of years in Sweden (foreign born), and more age groups than before. The new study domains are published in the Statistical Database for the years 2008–2019 and includes indicators on Working environment and Employment, Housing, Economy and material assets, Leisure, Health, Civic activities, Social relations, and Security.

Living Conditions Surveys (ULF/SILC)

2020-05-20