Most Famous People from Sweden

100 Swedish people in view out of 4,861

All 152,953
Sweden 4,866
Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus Swedish Geologist 1707 – 1778
#197
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Zlatan Ibrahimović Swedish Football Born 1981
#257
Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman Swedish Film 1918 – 2007
#308
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman Swedish Biographer 1915 – 1982
#328
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo Swedish Actor 1905 – 1990
#496
Astrid Lindgren
Astrid Lindgren Swedish Screenwriter 1907 – 2002
#688
Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel Swedish Engineer 1833 – 1896
#1,030
Avicii
Avicii Swedish Music 1989 – 2018
#1,093
Christina (Queen of Sweden)
Christina (Queen of Sweden) Swedish Queen 1626 – 1689
#1,136
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow Swedish Actor 1929 – 2020
#1,220
Dag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hammarskjöld Swedish Politician 1905 – 1961
#1,331
Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander Swedish Actor Born 1988
#1,345
August Strindberg
August Strindberg Swedish Playwright 1849 – 1912
#1,429
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden Swedish King 1594 – 1632
#1,461
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII of Sweden Swedish King 1682 – 1718
#1,463
Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Lagerlöf Swedish Novelist 1858 – 1940
#1,636
SL
Stieg Larsson Swedish Journalist 1954 – 2004
#2,122
Svante Arrhenius
Svante Arrhenius Swedish Astronomer 1859 – 1927
#2,455
Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret Swedish Singer Born 1941
#2,651
Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg Swedish Diplomat 1912 – 1947
#2,853
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden Swedish King Born 1946
#2,942
Basshunter
Basshunter Swedish Singer Born 1984
#2,977
Jöns Jacob Berzelius
Jöns Jacob Berzelius Swedish Chemist 1779 – 1848
#3,071
Jenny Lind
Jenny Lind Swedish Singer 1820 – 1887
#3,164
Peter Stormare
Peter Stormare Swedish Actor Born 1953
#3,175
Noomi Rapace
Noomi Rapace Swedish Actor Born 1979
#3,241
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden Swedish King 1496 – 1560
#3,322
Bridget of Sweden
Bridget of Sweden Swedish Mystic 1303 – 1373
#3,365
Björn Ulvaeus
Björn Ulvaeus Swedish Singer Born 1945
#3,422
Gustaf V of Sweden
Gustaf V of Sweden Swedish King 1858 – 1950
#3,457
Anders Celsius
Anders Celsius Swedish Astronomer 1701 – 1744
#4,659
Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgård Swedish Actor Born 1976
#4,816
Ingvar Kamprad
Ingvar Kamprad Swedish Business 1926 – 2018
#5,150
Folke Bernadotte
Folke Bernadotte Swedish Diplomat 1895 – 1948
#5,381
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anni-Frid Lyngstad Swedish Singer Born 1945
#5,502
Ingemar Stenmark
Ingemar Stenmark Swedish Skier Born 1956
#5,871
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Carl Wilhelm Scheele Swedish Chemist 1742 – 1786
#6,525
Lykke Li
Lykke Li Swedish Singer Born 1986
#6,541
Gunnar Myrdal
Gunnar Myrdal Swedish Economist 1898 – 1987
#6,569
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson Swedish Football Born 1948
#7,081
Zarah Leander
Zarah Leander Swedish Singer 1907 – 1981
#7,120
Anders Zorn
Anders Zorn Swedish Painter 1860 – 1920
#7,190
Camilla Läckberg
Camilla Läckberg Swedish Writer Born 1974
#7,246
Jan Guillou
Jan Guillou Swedish Writer Born 1944
#7,270
Zara Larsson
Zara Larsson Swedish Singer Born 1997
#7,373
Stefan Edberg
Stefan Edberg Swedish Player Born 1966
#7,386
Birgit Nilsson
Birgit Nilsson Swedish Singer 1918 – 2005
#7,459
Fredrik Reinfeldt
Fredrik Reinfeldt Swedish Politician Born 1965
#7,542
PL
Pär Lagerkvist Swedish Poet 1891 – 1974
#8,011
John Bauer (illustrator)
John Bauer (illustrator) Swedish Illustrator 1882 – 1918
#8,118
Harry Martinson
Harry Martinson Swedish Writer 1904 – 1978
#8,741
Gunnar Nordahl
Gunnar Nordahl Swedish Football 1921 – 1995
#8,928
Hilma af Klint
Hilma af Klint Swedish Sculptor 1862 – 1944
#8,955
Karin Boye
Karin Boye Swedish Poet 1900 – 1941
#9,057
John III of Sweden
John III of Sweden Swedish King 1537 – 1592
#9,153
Carl Michael Bellman
Carl Michael Bellman Swedish Poet 1740 – 1795
#9,181
Eric Prydz
Eric Prydz Swedish Producer Born 1976
#9,202
Verner von Heidenstam
Verner von Heidenstam Swedish Writer 1859 – 1940
#9,277
Mikael Persbrandt
Mikael Persbrandt Swedish Actor Born 1963
#9,663
Axel Oxenstierna
Axel Oxenstierna Swedish Lord 1583 – 1654
#9,762
Ingrid Thulin
Ingrid Thulin Swedish Actor 1926 – 2004
#9,992
Monica Zetterlund
Monica Zetterlund Swedish Singer 1937 – 2005
#10,147
Anna Lindh
Anna Lindh Swedish Politician 1957 – 2003
#10,194
Axel Munthe
Axel Munthe Swedish Writer 1857 – 1949
#10,551
Laleh (singer)
Laleh (singer) Swedish Singer Born 1982
#10,572
Stefan Löfven
Stefan Löfven Swedish Politician Born 1957
#10,573
Tage Erlander
Tage Erlander Swedish Politician 1901 – 1985
#11,095
Göran Persson
Göran Persson Swedish Politician Born 1949
#11,564
Ola Toivonen
Ola Toivonen Swedish Football Born 1986
#11,566
Per Albin Hansson
Per Albin Hansson Swedish Politician 1885 – 1946
#11,968
Jussi Björling
Jussi Björling Swedish Opera 1911 – 1960
#12,257
Erik Axel Karlfeldt
Erik Axel Karlfeldt Swedish Poet 1864 – 1931
#12,299
Victor Sjöström
Victor Sjöström Swedish Film 1879 – 1960
#12,623
Liza Marklund
Liza Marklund Swedish Writer Born 1962
#12,677
Anette Olzon
Anette Olzon Swedish Singer Born 1971
#13,131
Eyvind Johnson
Eyvind Johnson Swedish Novelist 1900 – 1976
#13,162
Siw Malmkvist
Siw Malmkvist Swedish Singer Born 1936
#13,204
Hannes Alfvén
Hannes Alfvén Swedish Physicist 1908 – 1995
#13,437
Maud Adams
Maud Adams Swedish Actor Born 1945
#13,471
Karin Dreijer
Karin Dreijer Swedish Singer Born 1975
#13,484
Vilhelm Moberg
Vilhelm Moberg Swedish Author 1898 – 1973
#13,581
Marie Fredriksson
Marie Fredriksson Swedish Singer 1958 – 2019
#13,667
Sebastian Ingrosso
Sebastian Ingrosso Swedish Actor Born 1983
#13,801
John Ericsson
John Ericsson Swedish Engineer 1803 – 1889
#13,835
MZ
Mai Zetterling Swedish Actor 1925 – 1994
#13,920
Sofia Helin
Sofia Helin Swedish Actor Born 1972
#14,127
Gustaf Dalén
Gustaf Dalén Swedish Engineer 1869 – 1937
#14,133
Sven Nykvist
Sven Nykvist Swedish Film 1922 – 2006
#14,163
Victoria (Crown Princess of Sweden)
Victoria (Crown Princess of Sweden) Swedish Socialite Born 1977
#14,216
Nathan Söderblom
Nathan Söderblom Swedish Pastor 1866 – 1931
#14,301
Ellen Key
Ellen Key Swedish Writer 1849 – 1926
#14,346
Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm Swedish Football 1922 – 2007
#14,442
Per Olov Enquist
Per Olov Enquist Swedish Screenwriter 1934 – 2020
#14,552
Andreas Isaksson
Andreas Isaksson Swedish Football Born 1981
#14,653
Agnes Carlsson
Agnes Carlsson Swedish Singer Born 1988
#14,774
Birger Jarl
Birger Jarl Swedish Jarl 1210 – 1266
#14,846
Stig Dagerman
Stig Dagerman Swedish Writer 1923 – 1954
#14,903
Gustaf Fröding
Gustaf Fröding Swedish Poet 1860 – 1911
#14,951
Bertil Ohlin
Bertil Ohlin Swedish Economist 1899 – 1979
#15,186
HN
Håkan Nesser Swedish Writer Born 1950
#15,295

By the numbers

Inside Sweden

4,866 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous figure born in Sweden during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births in Sweden peaked in the 1880s with 310 people.

What Sweden Is Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Art & Design is Sweden's biggest group — 16% of all notables (753).

Sweden over-indexes on art & design — 2.7× the global rate.

Sweden under-produces religion — only 0.6× the global rate.

  1. Art & Design753
  2. Politics & Law699
  3. Sports677
  4. Writing665
  5. Other493
  6. Science440
  7. Film & TV384
  8. Music349
  1. Art & Design7532.7×
  1. Religion1450.6×
  2. Sports6770.7×
  3. Politics & Law6990.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Sweden's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

1550160016501700175018001850190019502000
  • Art & Design
  • Politics & Law
  • Sports
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Film & TV
  • Other

Top Cities

Biggest birthplaces in this slice — click any to explore.