Överkalix is a small rural municipality in Norrbotten that has long struggled with negative population development, but over the past three years, the population trend has flattened out and even increased slightly. According to SVT Nyheter, Niclas Hökfors, a municipal councilor, described that the municipality has had immigration from Europe and has invested in marketing. For Överkalix, the immigration is related to lifestyle factors and tourism, though the specific lifestyle factors and tourism aspects driving this remain unclear.
Young families have moved into Överkalix in recent years, though the exact number is not confirmed. Niclas Hökfors is very critical of Statistics Sweden's method for making population forecasts, and according to SVT Nyheter, he described that their picture is based on the assumption that everything will continue as it has been before. SCB's forecast does not take into account the major industrial investments now underway and planned in Norrbotten in the name of the green transition, with the exact investments unspecified.
We have had immigration from Europe. We have what people are looking for and have invested in marketing.
According to SVT Nyheter, Lena Lundkvist, a demographer at SCB, described that the forecast is based on how things have been in the past and does not consider any company establishments or housing construction. 3%. Niclas Hökfors believes in continued growth in the municipality, but Överkalix faces major challenges with a very high average age, though the current average age and comparison to other municipalities are unknown.
According to SVT Nyheter, Niclas Hökfors described that if SCB's forecast comes true, Överkalix will not be able to maintain services for its residents and will likely have to cease as a municipality.
Their picture is based on the assumption that everything will continue as it has been before.
We only look at how it has been in the past. We do not take into account any company establishments or any housing construction.
If SCB's forecast comes true, we will not be able to maintain services for the municipality's residents and will likely have to cease as a municipality.