Constituencies and permanent constituency seats

A constituency is a geographical area from which seats (places) are distributed between the parties. The number of seats corresponds to the number of members who can be elected.

There are both permanent seats and adjustment seats. The number of permanent seats that a constituency is to have is decided before the election. The adjustment seats are distributed between the constituencies when the seats are distributed between the parties.

Click here to see a table of the distribution of permanent seats before the 2006 Riksdag election. (In Swedish)

Riksdag elections

For Riksdag elections, Sweden is divided into 29 constituencies. As a rule, each county constitutes one constituency.

Of the 349 seats in the Riksdag, 310 are permanent constituency seats and 39 adjustment seats. Not later than 30 April in the election year, the Election Authority is required to have determined the number of permanent constituency seats for each constituency. The distribution is based upon the number of persons entitled to vote in the constituencies. The adjustment seats are distributed on the basis of the election results.

County council elections

For county council elections, a constituency generally consists of one or more municipalities. The county council decides how many seats the council should have. The County Administrative Board decides not later than 30 April in election year the number of permanent seats for each constituency. In county council elections, 9/10 of the seats are permanent constituency seats and 1/10 adjustment seats.

Municipal council elections

At municipal council elections, large municipalities have to be divided into constituencies. The municipal council decides how many seats the council should have. There are permanent seats only. The County Administrative Board decides on the distribution of these seats not later than 30 April in election year.

Elections to the European Parliament

For elections to the European Parliament Sweden constitutes a single constituency. The European Parliament has 736 permanent seats. The number of seats that each member country receives depends on the size of the country’s population. Sweden had 18 seats at the election of 2009.