In Sweden there are five national minority languages: Sami, Finnish, Yiddish, Meänkieli and Romani Chib. These languages ​​have special protection in Sweden under the Act on National Minorities and Minority Languages. The law was introduced in 2010 but was updated in January 2019.

Why the law exists

The law exists to protect a cultural heritage of languages ​​that have existed in Sweden for hundreds of years. Since 1999, the Council of Europe's framework convention, which together with Swedish law, is intended to protect languages.

What is required for a language to become a national minority language is that it has existed in Sweden for more than three generations or for about 100 years.

How the state should protect the languages

The protection means that all public activities have a special responsibility for protecting and promoting languages ​​and culture. Here are some examples:

  • You who speak the language have the right to use it when you are in contact with the authorities.
  • Children who identify with the language also have an enhanced right to develop their culture and language.
  • The municipalities are also obliged to work because there are staff with knowledge in the minority languages ​​where it is needed in the care of the elderly.
Special rights

Some municipalities in Sweden are also so-called administrative municipalities for the different languages. For example, Malmö is a Finnish administrative municipality and receives SEK 1.9 million a year for this.

You who live in an administrative municipality should be given the opportunity to:

  • Fully communicate with authorities in your language.
  • Request to get all or a substantial part of preschool, some other educational activities and elderly care in the language.