What does it mean that Sweden is a secular state?
That Sweden is a secular state means the state is religiously neutral. The state does not favor any religion over another, nor does it discriminate against anyone because of their faith or lack of faith. This does not mean religion is banned — on the contrary, everyone living in Sweden has the right to practice their religion, change religion, or abstain from religion altogether. Secularity is thus about the role of the state, not about limiting individuals' faith.
Freedom of religion as a fundamental right
Freedom of religion in Sweden has a long history. In 1951, the Freedom of Religion Act was introduced, giving people the right to freely choose which religion to belong to — or not to belong to any religion at all. Before that, earlier rules restricted the ability to leave the Church of Sweden. Freedom of religion is today part of the fundamental rights and freedoms in the Swedish constitution and applies to everyone, regardless of background.
The separation of the state and the Church of Sweden
Until the year 2000, the Church of Sweden was a state church, closely linked to the Swedish state. In 2000, the state and the Church of Sweden were formally separated. Since then, the Church of Sweden has been one faith community among others, without a special connection to the state, even though it remains the largest Christian denomination in the country. This reform is an important example of how Sweden has developed into the secular state it is today, and it is a date that often comes up in civics questions.
Religions and faith communities in Sweden today
Sweden is today a multi-religious country with people from many different faiths:
- The Church of Sweden, which is Evangelical Lutheran, is the largest Christian denomination in Sweden, with about five million members.
- There are also other Christian denominations in Sweden, such as the Catholic Church, Orthodox churches, and free churches such as the Pentecostal movement.
- Islam is the second-largest religion in Sweden, and there are mosques in several places around the country.
- Other religions represented in Sweden include Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
All these communities have the right to practice their faith freely within the bounds of Swedish law, and none of them holds a special position in relation to the state.
What does freedom of religion mean in practice?
Freedom of religion in Sweden means, among other things, that people may celebrate their religious holidays, build and visit places of worship, and raise their children in their faith. At the same time, Swedish law applies to everyone regardless of religious affiliation — religious rules or traditions can never override Swedish legislation. This means, for example, that human rights, gender equality and children's rights always take precedence over individual religious customs that conflict with them.
How to prepare for the test
Questions about Sweden as a secular state often concern concepts such as freedom of religion, key years like 1951 and 2000, and knowledge of which religions and faith communities exist in the country. CitizenPrep offers practice questions on this theme, so you can test and review your knowledge at your own pace ahead of the citizenship test. Remember that this is study material and not an official government service — we cannot guarantee that you will pass the real test, but structured practice will help you feel more confident in the subject of civics.