This document discusses statistics and democracy in Sweden. It provides statistics on voter turnout in Swedish elections from 1911 to 2010, showing that turnout was historically higher and has declined over time. It also shows that women and those with lower levels of education have lower rates of voter turnout. Additionally, it presents data on the increasing percentage of women who have been elected to political positions in Sweden from 1970 to 2010. In conclusion, it notes some current trends in statistics and questions whether national statistical offices are ready to play a more active role in public debates.

1. Statistics and democracy
Richard Öhrvall
Statistics Sweden

3. Source: SCB, election statistics, 1872

4. Source: SCB, General
elections 1994, part 1

5. Statistics Sweden’s Election statistics map

6. Voter turnout in elections to the Riksdag 1911-2010
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
91,8%
Women entitled
to vote
Percent
Year
+2,6

7. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Men
Women
Voter turnout in elections to the Riksdag 1911-2010,
by sex
Percent
Year

8. 50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Post secondary
Primary and lower
secondary
Upper secondary
Voter turnout in elections to the Riksdag,
18-74 years, by educational attainment, 1988-2010
Percent
Year

9. 50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Women
Men
Voter turnout in elections to the Riksdag 2010,
by sex and age
Percent
Age

10. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2002 2010
County Councils
The Riksdag
Municipals
Percentage of women, elected to the Riksdag,
County Councils and Municipal Councils, 1970-2010
Percent
Year

11. Percentage of women, by political position,
within municipalities, 2007 and 2011
Percent
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Substitute Member Vice chair Chair
2007
2011

12. Today: 5 trends

13. 1. Statistics is gaining popularity
and new ways to gain knowledge

14. 2. New tools

15. 3. Better access to data

16. 4. Increasing nonresponse and
new ways to collect data

17. 5. Easier to share information

18. Reports,
analyses
Tables,
databases
Microdata
Data Users

19. The national statistical office can
play a more active role in the
public debate…
…but are we ready and willing to
play that role?

20. Statistics and democracy
Richard Öhrvall
Statistics Sweden