The Swedish established Blue Economy sectors directly employ more than 148 700 people and generates nearly €8.5 billion in GVA (2022). The Blue Economy has had a positive, albeit limited, impact on the Swedish economy and employment rates.
In Sweden, the share of Blue Economy GVA to the national economy has increased steadily since 2013 until reaching 1.9%, its highest point in 2017. Then it decreased to 1.2% in 2020, the same level as in 2014, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it has almost fully recovered – reaching 1.7% of the overall national GVA in 2022.
Similarly, the share of Blue Economy jobs to national employment was increasing since 2013 until reaching 3.5%, its highest level in 2017. Then it decreased to 2.1% in 2020, its lowest point on our records from 2009, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has partly recovered since then, reaching 2.8% of the overall national GVA in 2022
The Swedish Blue Economy is dominated by Coastal tourism, which contributed 70% to Swedish Blue Economy jobs and 58% to its GVA in 2022. The relative importance of the Coastal tourism sector has decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coastal tourism was the sector most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with employment decreasing by 41% and GVA by more than 46% in 2020. The sector is in the way of a full recovery since then, with both sectoral workforce and GVA greater than the respective pre-pandemic levels.
Next, is the Maritime transport sector, which represents 19% of the Swedish Blue Economy GVA and 10% of total Swedish employment. It is followed by the Living resources sector, contributing 11% to the Swedish Blue Economy GVA and 13% of the employment.
In the EU, Sweden ranks 8th in terms of GVA and 10th in employment in terms of national contribution to the EU Blue Economy.
The largest container ports in Sweden are: Göteborg (22nd in the EU), Trelleborg, Stockholm, and Helsingborg (in this order). In total, Swedish ports handle approximately 4.7% of total EU cargo operations (2023).
The ports of Stockholm and Helsingborg are also in the top 20 of EU ports by number of passengers embarked and disembarked (9th and 14th position, respectively).
The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) is the responsible government agency tasked to protect, restore and ensure sustainable use of freshwater resources and seas including fisheries management.
The Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment has the Swedish government's mission to transfer knowledge between researchers, authorities and decision-makers. Through expert mediation, research reviews, analyses and syntheses, the institute contributes knowledge and advice for sustainable management of the sea.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) promotes economic growth and regional development in Sweden, including activities related to the blue economy. They may provide information on funding, support for business development, and economic initiatives in the maritime and coastal sectors.
Other national sources of information on the Swedish Blue Economy are:
- Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket).
Blue Food is a collaborative research and innovation initiative involving multiple actors from the Swedish seafood value chain, including research institutions, regional authorities, municipalities, and industry partners. Its purpose is to promote sustainable seafood production from Swedish waters, including sustainable aquaculture, algae cultivation, and the development of new food products.
Currently, there are several opportunities to acquire Blue Economy education and skills within the country, such as the Master's and PhD courses in Maritime Affairs at the University of Gothenburg, Linnaeus University in Kalmar, and the World Maritime University in Malmö.
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Economic and Social Analysis (ESA)
As part of the MSFD reporting obligations, Member States must provide an Economic and Social Analysis of the blue economy. This analysis is integrated into the broader reporting package under Articles 8, 9, and 10, which includes:
- The status of marine waters;
- The determination of GES;
- Environmental targets to achieve GES.
The Economic and Social Analysis (ESA) report for the 2024–2029 cycle is presented below in PDF format. This document is available in English translation, with the original language included where applicable.
The full reports submitted under Articles 8, 9, and 10 are available here: MSFD Reporting Portal.
For more information on the implementation of the MSFD, visit the European Commission’s MSFD page.
This interactive dashboard presents the evolution of the blue economy for Sweden. It is designed to provide insights into key economic indicators over time.
At the top of the dashboard, there is a drop-down menu that allows users to select one of the following data categories:
- Employment: Number of jobs and workforce trends in the blue economy sectors.
- Gross Value Added (GVA): The contribution of the blue economy to the national economy.
- Turnover and Gross Profit: Revenue and profitability metrics of blue economy industries.
- Investment: Capital investment levels in blue economy sectors.
Once a category is selected, the main panel updates to display relevant visualisations, such as line charts or bar graphs, showing trends over time. These visualisations are accompanied by labels, legends, and tooltips to ensure clarity and accessibility.
The dashboard is navigable via keyboard and compatible with screen readers. All interactive elements are clearly labeled, and data visualisations include alternative text descriptions summarising key insights.