After several years of fairly strong population growth, it is now clearly a slowdown. Above all, a 30 percent reduction in immigration is behind, says Tomas Johansson, statistician at Statistics Sweden.
Admittedly, the population continues to increase, but not at the same rate. In the first three months of last year, Västra Götaland showed a plus in the population account with over 4,000 people. At the same time this year, it stops at just under 2,700. The development can be explained, among other things, by the fact that immigration is declining and that, in Västra Götaland's case, overall, more people are moving from than to the region.
In particular, it is the small and medium-sized municipalities that are attracted with greater relocation. At the same time, the new figures show that the birth surplus is catching up on the immigration surplus. The number of newborns is at about the same level as a year ago.
No impact on the coronavirus
The covid-19 infectious disease that causes the coronavirus will appear in the statistics later on. In the current period January-March this year, nothing is visible.
- The first confirmed death in corona in Sweden was in the middle of March, and we currently see no direct impact on the number of deceased's first three months of the year, says Tomas Johansson.
In Västra Götaland, almost exactly the same number of people died in the first quarter of this year as last year, just over 4,043 people compared to 4,016.
However, with a reduced population, a municipality loses tax revenue and it can be more difficult to maintain service to the residents. In fair numbers, Åmål is back mostly with -64, followed by Mellerud and Trollhättan, who each lose 51 inhabitants.