Integration – statistics and analysis: Municipal adult education in Swedish for immigrants and integration in Sweden
Almost all former refugees participate in SFI
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2026-05-11 8.00
More than 9 out of 10 of those who immigrated as refugees or family members of refugees in 2014–2018 have participated in the municipal adult education in Swedish for immigrants (SFI). Most who have participated have completed a course with a passing grade. Six years after immigration, the share employed or in studies was higher for those with a passing grade than those who did not pass a course.
A new report from Statistics Sweden studies participation and results in the municipal adult education in Swedish for immigrants (SFI) for persons who immigrated to Sweden for the first time in 2014–2018 and were in the ages 20–59 years old.
The report includes a follow-up six years after immigration, the period 2020–2024, focusing on employment and participation in education.
Highest SFI-participation among former refugees
The share who has participated in SFI is higher among those who immigrated as refugees, refugee family members or family members of residents in Sweden, compared to other foreign born persons, a group including labour migrants and EU-citizens.
-The participation rate is highest among refugees and their family members. This group are usually not employed when coming to Sweden and they are eligible for the introduction programme, with SFI included as one activity, says Karin Lundström, demographer at Statistics Sweden.
The share participating in SFI is higher among women than men. The gender difference is smallest in the group refugees and their family members, and largest among other foreign-born persons.
Higher participation in SFI among refugees and family members compared to other foreign-born persons
Higher share with a passing grade among refugees and their family
There are clear differences between groups regarding the share completing a course with a passing grade, among those who have participated in SFI. The share with a passing grade in a course were
- 8 out of 10 among refugees and their family members,
- 7 out of 10 among family members of residents in Sweden,
- 5 out of 10 among other foreign-born persons.
In all three groups, the share with a passing grade is higher among women than men.
Higher employment among those who passed a course in SFI
Six years after immigration, 2020-2024, employment and participation in studies was compared between those who had participated in SFI and those who had not. This follow-up shows that:
- the share employed was higher among those who had passed a course in SFI, compared to those who had participated in SFI, but not passed any course,
- those who had not participated in SFI, but had been enrolled in other education in Sweden, had a similar employment rate as those with a passing grade in SFI,
- the share employed was lowest among those who had neither participated in SFI, nor other studies in Sweden.
This pattern is most pronounced among refugees and their family members, but it largely applies across all groups.
Similar employment rate among those with a passing grade in SFI and those who participated in other education in Sweden, both for women and for men
Definitions and explanations
The report is based on data from several of Statistics Sweden’s total population registers, including Municipal adult education in Swedish for immigrants and Population by Labour market status (BAS).
The report includes persons who:
- immigrated to Sweden for the first time during the period 2014–2018
- were aged 20–59 at the end of the year of immigration,
- and were still residing in Sweden six years later, that is, during the period 2020–2024.
In addition, Norwegian and Danish citizens have been excluded, based on the assumption that they speak Norwegian or Danish and therefore are not entitled to SFI. With these limitations, the population comprises just over 300 000 individuals.
In the report, the foreign-born population is divided into three groups:
- Refugees and their family members
Refugee/in need of protections or refugee family member as grounds for settlement. - Family members of residents in Sweden
Ground for settlement as family member, excluding family members of refugees and of labour migrants. This group includes family members of both Swedish-born and foreign-born persons, who may have resided in Sweden for a shorter or longer period. - Other foreign-born persons
This group includes grounds for settlement: work, family members of labour migrants, studies, or long-term residence status in the EU. It also includes citizens of EU/EEA countries, who do not require a residence permit to settle in Sweden and for whom information on grounds for settlement is therefore not available.
About SFI
The purpose of municipal adult education in Swedish for immigrants (SFI) is to provide basic knowledge of the Swedish language.
SFI is organised into three study paths. Study path 1 is primarily intended for individuals with a very limited educational background, while study path 3 is intended for individuals who are accustomed to studying.
SFI consists of four courses—A, B, C, and D—with increasing levels of difficulty. The number of courses included varies by study path. Study path 1 includes all four courses, study path 2 includes courses B, C, and D, and study path 3 includes courses C and D.
More information about SFI is available on the Swedish National Agency for Education’s website: About municipal adult education in Swedish for immigrants (SFI) - Utbildningsguiden
For many foreign-born individuals, access to SFI is a right rather than an obligation. However, for participants in the introduction programme, SFI is a mandatory activity. More information about the establishment programme is available on the Swedish Public Employment Service’s website: Introduction programme - Arbetsförmedlingen
Participation in SFI is measured here as having begun at least one SFI course during the follow-up period—for example, up to and including 2020 for individuals who immigrated in 2014. Participation is reported by study path based on the first course an individual began, serving as an indicator of educational background at the time of immigration.
Publication
Municipal adult education in Swedish for immigrants and integration in Sweden
Comments
Since most refugees and their family members have participated in SFI and completed a course with a passing grade, the number of persons followed up differ between groups. There were: