Främlingsfientligt våld i Sverige 2009–2022

Abstract

This report investigates the scope and character of xenophobic violence in Sweden between 2009 and 2022. Xenophobic violence is defined as acts in which the perpetrator targets a person perceived to belong to a group seen as a threat to Swedish culture, economy, or social cohesion. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of all police reports flagged as hate crimes involving physical violence, including assault, arson, and attempted murder (n=2512) The findings show that xenophobic violence in Sweden is not an isolated or fringe phenom- enon but a persistent issue embedded in everyday social environments. While overall inci- dents have declined slightly over time, the report identifies significant spikes during mo- ments of political and societal tension—particularly the refugee reception crisis in 2015– 2016, as well as following terror attacks in Europe and Sweden. In contrast, the large-scale arrival of Ukrainian refugees in 2022 was not followed by a rise in violence, highlighting the importance of political and media framing in shaping public reactions. The violence is mostly directed at people perceived as immigrants or refugees, followed by incidents motivated by Afrophobia, Islamophobia, and antiziganism. The type and context of violence have shifted. Assault remains the most frequent offence, but attacks on prop- erty—such as arson targeting asylum accommodations—peaked during 2015–2016. Over time, violence has moved away from nightlife settings and group-based assaults toward more spontaneous, individual acts occurring in broad daylight and public spaces such as public transport, residential areas, and commercial zones. A particularly notable trend is the increase in older perpetrators and the decline in youth involvement, suggesting a wider demographic spread. This shift toward more “everyday” xenophobic violence indicates a worrying normalisation of hostility in public life, under- scoring the urgent need for effective policy responses and deeper societal engagement.