In 1523, Gustav Vasa was elected king of the new kingdom of Sweden. As we commemorate the 500th anniversary, the Swedish Statistics Agency (SCB) reminds us of some of the first decisions Gustav Vasa made and how they continue to shape Sweden’s statistics today.
Soon after ascending to the throne, Gustav Vasa ordered a list to be compiled of all the farms in Sweden, specifically those subject to taxation. The new king needed substantial funds to finance various endeavors, such as building up the army in the newly formed country. These lists, known as “jordeböcker,” served as the basis for taxation well into the 20th century.
The jordeböcker also laid the groundwork for future statistics on topics such as housing and land use.
Confiscating Church properties A few years later, in 1527, a parliament was held in Västerås where Gustav Vasa severed ties with the Catholic Church in Rome. Instead, a Swedish reformed state church was established, to which all Swedes were required to belong. The king assumed control of the Catholic Church’s properties and income.
Over time, the state church took on more responsibilities, and in the 17th century, it was tasked with keeping records of its members. As membership was mandatory, this became the first population register in Sweden.
Gender-disaggregated statistics Until 1991, the Swedish Church was responsible for collecting information about the population, after which it was taken over by the Swedish Tax Agency. The state also had a keen interest in determining the number of potential soldiers in the country. Therefore, statistics were divided from the beginning based on gender, providing us with a unique insight into the historical development of men and women in Sweden.