Luleå Municipality has recently celebrated reaching 80,000 inhabitants after 31 years of growth from 70,000, according to public broadcaster SVT Nyheter. The municipality, however, is not stopping there and has set an ambitious new target to reach 100,000 residents within just 15 years.
Municipal councilor Carina Sammeli (S) stated, "Within 15 years we should be 100,000 Luleå residents." This represents an acceleration in growth, as the city grew by only 659 inhabitants during 2025.
Within 15 years we should be 100,000 Luleå residents.
Sammeli explained that cities typically grow exponentially rather than linearly. To achieve this ambitious goal, the municipality will need to implement various measures, with housing being a key priority. "There needs to be somewhere to live, no one moves to a city where they don't have anywhere to live," Sammeli emphasized.
The municipality's plan requires adding 20,000 new residents in just 15 years, compared to the 31 years it took to grow from 70,000 to 80,000 inhabitants.
There needs to be somewhere to live, no one moves to a city where they don't have anywhere to live.