List of Swedish people

This is a list of well known Swedes, ordered alphabetically within categories:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Actors

Greta Garbo

• Maud Adams (born 1945), actress
• Malin Åkerman (born 1978), actress
• Ann-Margret (born 1941), singer and actress
• Pernilla August (born 1958), actress
• Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982), actress
• May Britt (born 1933), actress
• Malin Crepin (born 1978), actress
• Anita Ekberg (born 1931), actress
• Britt Ekland (born 1942), actress
• Gösta Ekman (senior) (1920–1971), actor
• Gösta Ekman (born 1939), actor
• Fares Fares (born 1973), actor
• Greta Garbo (1905–1990), actress
• Lars Hanson (1886–1965), actor
• Dolph Lundgren (born 1957), actor
• Gerda Lundequist (1871–1959), actress
• Fredrique Löwen (1760–1813)
• Warner Oland (1879–1938)
• Elisabeth Olin (1740–1828)
• Lena Olin (born 1955), actress
• Noomi Rapace (born 1979), actress
• Alexander Skarsgård (born 1976), actor
• Stellan Skarsgård (born 1951), actor
• Mikael Persbrandt (born 1963), actor
• Inger Stevens (1934–1970), actress
• Peter Stormare (born 1953), actor
• Ulla Strömstedt (1939–1986), actress
• Max von Sydow (born 1929), actor
• Alicia Vikander (born 1988), actress

Architects

Artists

Anders Zorn

• Sofia Adlersparre (1808–1862), painter
• Alex Akerbladh (1886–1958), illustrator
• John Bauer (1882–1918), painter, illustrator
• Ingmar Bergman (1918–2007), film director
• Nils von Dardel (1888–1940), painter
• Anna Maria Ehrenstrahl (1666–1729), painter
• Sven Erixson (1899–1970), painter
• Wilhelm von Gegerfelt (1844–1920), painter
• Anna Maria Hilfeling, (1713–1783), miniaturist
• Isaac Hirsche Grünewald (1889–1946), Expressionist painter
• Sigrid Hjertén (1885–1948), Fauvist painter
• Ernst Josephson (1851–1906)
• Justus Peterson (1860–1889), painter
• Karl Lärka (1892–1981), photographer
• Carl Larsson (1859–1928), painter
• Bruno Liljefors (1860–1939), painter
• Amalia Lindegren (1814–1891), painter, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
• Wilhelmina Krafft (1778–1828), neoclassical painter and miniaturist
• Carl Milles (1875–1955), sculptor
• Ulrika Pasch (1735–1796), painter
• Anna Palm de Rosa (1859–1924), painter
• Alexander Roslin (1718–1798), painter
• Maria Röhl (1801–1875), sketch artist
• Johan Tobias Sergel (1740–1814), sculptor
• Charlotte Slottsberg (1760–1800)
• Gustaf Tenggren (1896–1973), painter, illustrator
• Anna Maria Thelott (1683–1710), engraver, illustrator, woodcut-artist and miniaturist painter
• Anders Zorn (1860–1920), painter

Notable religious people

Saint Bridget

• Saint Saint Bridget (1303–1373), patron saint of Europe
• Bo Giertz (1905–1998), Swedish Confessional Lutheran bishop and Christian novelist
• Lewi Pethrus (1884–1974), founder of the Swedish Pentecostal movement
• Laurentius Petri, archbishop and reformer
• Olaus Petri, reformer
• Nathan Söderblom, archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
• Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772), writer, mystic and philosopher; his disciples founded the New Jerusalem Church
• Eric Trolle, bishop and statesman
• Kettil Karlsson Vasa, bishop and statesman

Diplomats

• Folke Bernadotte (1895–1948), count and diplomat
• Hans Blix (born 1928), diplomat
• Harald Edelstam (1913–1989), diplomat
• Rolf Ekéus (born 1935), diplomat
• Jan Eliasson (born 1940), diplomat, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961), Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Raoul Wallenberg (1912–1945?), diplomat*

Entrepreneurs

Alfred Nobel

• Gustaf Dalén (1869–1937), inventor and entrepreneur
• Lars Magnus Ericsson (1846–1926), industrialist and founder of Ericsson
• John Ericsson (1803–1889), inventor and engineer
• Nils Ericson (1802–1869), railroad pioneer
• Ingvar Kamprad (born 1926), founder of IKEA
• Ivar Kreuger (1880–1932), industrialist and financier
• Gustaf de Laval (1845–1913), industrialist
• Alfred Nobel (1833–1896), industrialist, instituted the Nobel Prizes
• Ruben Rausing (1895–1983), co-founder of the liquid food packaging company Tetra Pak
• Niklas Zennström (born 1966), founder of the Kazaa peer-to-peer file sharing network and Skype peer-to-peer internet telephony network

Film directors

• Roy Andersson
• Ingmar Bergman
• Lasse Hallström
• Lukas Moodysson
• Alf Sjöberg
• Vilgot Sjöman
• Victor Sjöström (Victor Seastrom)
• Mauritz Stiller
• Bo Widerberg

Internet personalities

• Felix Kjellberg (born 1989), YouTube gaming commentator, better known as PewDiePie
• Markus Persson (born 1979), better known as Notch, video game programmer and founder of Mojang

Military commanders

Georg von Döbeln

• Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (1757–1814), soldier
• Per Brahe the Younger (1602–1680), soldier and politician
• Johan Banér (1596–1641), soldier, Field Marshal
• Georg Carl von Döbeln (1758–1820), soldier
• Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten (1727–1786), soldier and politician
• Lennart Torstensson (1603–1651), Field Marshal
• Karl Gustav von Wrangel (1613–1676), Field Marshal
• Ivor Thord-Gray Mercenary commander who fought with Pancho Villa and others

Models

• Mini Anden
• Elsa Hosk
• Caroline Winberg
• Anita Ekberg
• Lisa Fonssagrives
• Marina Hedman
• Vendela Kirsebom
• Elin Nordegren
• Marcus Schenkenberg
• Victoria Silvstedt
• Emma Sjöberg
• Lena Soderberg
• Agneta Frieberg
• Ulla Jones
• Frida Gustavsson

Monarchs

• Carl XVI Gustaf (born 1946), Current
• Charles XI (1655–1697)
• Charles XII (1682–1718)
• Charles XIII of Sweden (1748–1818)
• Charles XIV John of Sweden (1763–1844)
• Christina (1626–1689), abdicated from the Swedish throne in 1654
• Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (Gustav the Great) (1594–1632)
• Gustav I of Sweden (1496–1560)
• Gustav III of Sweden (1746–1792)
• Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (1778–1837), abdicated from the Swedish throne in 1809
• Gustaf V of Sweden (1858–1950)
• Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden (1882–1973)
• Eric XIV of Sweden (1533–1577)
• John III of Sweden (1537–1592)
• Oscar I of Sweden (1799–1859)
• Oscar II of Sweden (1829–1907)
• Olof Skötkonung (c. 965–c. 1020)
• Queen Silvia of Sweden (born 1943), wife of the present king Carl XVI Gustaf
• Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden (born 1977), heir apparent

Music

Carl Michael Bellman

Agnetha Fältskog

Birgit Nilsson

Jenny Lind

Evert Taube

• ABBA, pop group
• A-Teens, pop group
• Amy Diamond, singer
• Agnes Carlsson, Swedish idol, singer
• Ace of Base, band
• Alcazar, pop, dance group
• Amon Amarth, metal band
• Andreas Johnson, pop musician
• Army of Lovers, band
• Bob Hund, pop group
• Pandora, eurodance artist
• The Ark (Swedish band), glam-rock group
• Stikkan Anderson (1931–1997), producer
• Hugo Alfvén, composer
• Benny Andersson, musician/composer
• Karin Dreijer Andersson, singer-songwriter (The Knife, Fever Ray, Honey Is Cool)
• Arch Enemy, metal band
• Kurt Atterberg, composer
• Avicii, stage name for Tim Bergling, electronic dance music DJ
• Alice Babs, singer, perhaps best known abroad for her work in the band Swedanes, a collaboration between her and the Danish musicians Svend Asmussen and Ulrik Neumann
• Sven-Erik Bäck, composer
• Alexander Bard, musician/composer/singer-songwriter
• Malena Ernman, Swedish opera singer
• Basshunter, Eurodance/trance DJ
• Bathory, metal band
• Franz Berwald, composer
• Carl Michael Bellman (1740–1795), singer-songwriter
• Karl-Birger Blomdahl, composer
• Blue Swede and Björn Skifs, band
• Jussi Björling, opera singer
• Blindside, Christian rock band
• BWO, electro, pop, dance band
• The Cardigans, band
• Carola, singer, Winner ESC 1991
• Covenant (band), electopop band
• Dark Tranquillity, metal band
• Darin, Swedish Idol 2004, singer
• Gunnar de Frumerie, composer
• Dissection, metal band
• E-Type, Eurodance DJ
• Eagle-Eye Cherry, singer
• Entombed, metal band
• Europe, band
• John Fernström, composer
• Agnetha Fältskog, lead singer from ABBA
• Marie Fredriksson, singer/songwriter solo and Roxette
• Nicolai Gedda, opera singer
• Per Gessle, musician/composer solo and Roxette
• José González, singer-songwriter
• HammerFall, metal band
• Opeth, metal band
• Bo Hansson, musician
• The Hives, band
• Mando Diao, band
• Håkan Hellström, pop singer
• In Flames, melodic death metal band
• Jonny Jakobsen, singer
• Kent, rock band
• Kleerup, singer-songwriter and producer
• The Knife, electronic duo
• Lake of Tears, metal band
• Loreen, singer, Winner ESC 2012
• Lars-Erik Larsson, composer
• Zara Larsson, singer
• Jens Lekman, singer-songwriter
• John Levén, bassist
• John Dhani Lennevald, singer
• Lykke Li, singer-songwriter
• Ingvar Lidholm, composer
• Jenny Lind, singer
• Bo Linde, composer
• Christian Lindberg, musician
• Tove Lo, singer
• Sara Helena Lumholdt, singer
• Anni-Frid Lyngstad, lead singer from ABBA
• Marduk, metal band
• Hillevi Martinpelto, opera singer
• Max Martin, composer
• Yngwie J. Malmsteen, legendary guitarist and father of neo-classical metal. Paradigm-shifter of rock guitar
• Mic Michaeli, keyboardist
• Millencolin, punk rock band
• Lisa Miskovsky, singer
• Birgit Nilsson, singer
• Christina Nilsson, singer
• Gösta Nystroem, composer
• Peter Olsson, bassist
• Anne Sofie von Otter, singer
• Elena Paparizou, singer, Winner ESC 2005
• Charlotte Perrelli, singer, Winner ESC 1999
• Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, composer
• Allan Pettersson, composer
• Eric Prydz, electronic dance music DJ, producer
• Povel Ramel (1922–2007), singer
• Ture Rangström, composer
• Refused, Rock Band
• Karin Rehnqvist, composer
• Patrik Ringborg, conductor
• Robin Carlsson (Robyn), singer-songwriter
• Johan Helmich Roman, the father of Swedish music
• Hilding Rosenberg, composer
• Roxette, duo
• September, singer-songwriter
• Eric Saade, pop singer
• Danny Saucedo, Swedish Idol 2006, singer
• Marie Eleonor Serneholt, singer
• The Sounds, rock band
• Wilhelm Stenhammar, composer
• Set Svanholm, opera singer
• Ola Svensson, singer-songwriter
• Evert Taube, singer-songwriter
• Joey Tempest, vocalist and songwriter
• Therion, metal band
• Joakim Thåström, rock musician
• Björn Ulvaeus, musician/composer
• Cornelis Vreeswijk, singer-songwriter (considered Swedish, although he never received the Swedish citizenship)
• Sabaton, metal band
• Swedish House Mafia, Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso
• The Tallest Man on Earth, folk
• Icona Pop, Pop Band Caroline Hjelt, Aino Jawo
• Måns Zelmerlöw, singer, Winner ESC 2015

Politicians

Olof Palme (1927–1986)

• Carl Bildt (born 1949), former prime minister, former minister of foreign affairs
• Gustaf Bonde (1620–1667), statesman
• Ingvar Carlsson (born 1934), former prime minister
• Tage Erlander (1901-1985), former prime minister
• Axel von Fersen (1755–1810), statesman
• Thorbjörn Fälldin (born 1926), former prime minister
• Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie (1622–1686), statesman
• Louis De Geer (1818–1896), former prime minister
• Arvid Horn (1664–1742), statesman
• Anna Lindh (1957–2003), foreign minister (assassinated)
• Stefan Löfven (born 1957), Prime Minister of Sweden
• Alva Myrdal (1902–1986), politician, agitator
• Axel Oxenstierna (1583–1654), politician
• Olof Palme (1927–1986), former prime minister (assassinated)
• Göran Persson (born 1949), former Prime Minister of Sweden
• Jöran Persson (1530–1568), counsellor to King Erik XIV (executed)
• Fredrik Reinfeldt (born 1965), former prime Minister of Sweden
• Sten Sture the Elder (1440–1503), statesman

Science

Carl von Linné

• Hannes Alfvén (1908–1995), physicist
• Johann Arfvedson (1792–1841), chemist
• Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1779–1848), chemist
• Arvid Carlsson (born 1923), neuroscientist, winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology
• Gustav Cassel (1866–1945), economist
• Anders Celsius (1701–1744), astronomer
• Gustaf Dalén (1869–1937), physicist
• Eva Ekeblad (1724–1786), botanist
• Ulf von Euler (1905–1983), physiologist and pharmacologist
• Eli Heckscher (1879–1952), political economist and economic historian
• Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778), botanist
• Lise Meitner (1878–1968), nuclear physicist
• Karl Gunnar Myrdal (1898–1987), Nobel Laureate economist, sociologist, and politician
• Christopher Polhem (1661–1751), physicist
• Hans Rosling, (born 1948) professor of international health
• Olaus Rudbeck (1630–1702), medicine
• Johannes Rydberg (1854–1919), physicist
• Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742–1786), chemist
• Knut Wicksell (1851–1926), economist
• Oskar Klein (1894–1977), physicist
• Anders Jonas Ångström (1857–1910), physicist
• Alfred Nobel, (1833–1896) chemist
• Svante Arrhenius, (1859-1927) Nobel Prize–winning chemist

Sport

• Daniel Alfredsson (born 1972) – ice hockey player
• Arne Andersson (1917–2009) – track, world record holder in mile
• Malin Andersson (born 1973) – football player
• Magnus Arvedson (born 1971) – ice hockey player
• P. J. Axelsson (born 1975) – ice hockey player
• Nicklas Backstrom (born 1987) – ice hockey player
• Kristin Bengtsson (born 1970) – football player
• Kajsa Bergqvist (born 1976) – high jump athlete
• Stig Blomqvist (born 1946) – rally driver, World Champion
• Björn Borg (born 1956) – tennis player
• Kenny Bräck (born 1966) – Indy Racing League driver
• Martin Dahlin (born 1968) – football player
• Ulf Dahlén (born 1967) – ice hockey player
• Stefan Edberg (born 1966) – tennis player
• Sten Ekberg (born 1964) – Track and Field athlete
• Sven-Göran Eriksson (born 1948) – football manager
• Magdalena Forsberg (born 1965) – biathlete
• Peter Forsberg (born 1973) – ice hockey player
• Gillis Grafström (1893–1938) – figure skating Olympic and World Champion
• Tomas Gustafson (born 1959) – speed skater Olympic Gold and Silver medalist
• Toini Gustafsson (born 1938) – cross-country skier Olympic Gold and Silver medalist
• Johan Harmenberg (born 1954) – épée fencer, Olympic champion
• Johan Hedberg (born 1973) – ice hockey player
• Gunder Hägg (1918–2004) – track, world record holder in mile
• Stefan Holm (born 1976) – high jump athlete
• Johan Holmqvist (born 1978) – ice hockey player
• Tomas Holmström (born 1973) – ice hockey player
• Zlatan Ibrahimović (born 1981) – football player
• Anders Järryd (born 1961) – tennis player
• Ingemar Johansson (born 1932) – World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
• Susanna Kallur (born 1981) – track and field athlete
• Jenny Kallur (born 1981) – [track and field]] athlete
• Carolina Klüft (born 1983) – track and field athlete
• Henrik Larsson (born 1971) – football player
• Nicklas Lidström (born 1970) – ice hockey player
• Fredrik Ljungberg (born 1977) – football player
• Hanna Ljungberg (born 1979) – football player
• Mikael Ljungberg (1970–2004) – wrestler
• Håkan Loob (born 1960) – ice hockey player
• Henrik Lundqvist (born 1982) – ice hockey player
• Roland Nilsson (born 1963) – football player
• Gunnar Nordahl (1921–1995) – football player
• Magnus Norman (born 1976) – tennis player
• Michael Nylander (born 1972) – ice hockey player
• Markus Näslund (born 1973) – ice hockey player
• Mats Näslund (born 1959) – ice hockey player
• Mattias Öhlund (born 1976) – ice hockey player
• Ronnie Peterson (born 1944) – Formula One racing driver
• Jesper Parnevik (born 1965) – golfer
• Samuel Påhlsson (born 1977) – ice hockey player
• Thomas Ravelli (born 1959) – football player
• Tony Rickardsson (born 1970) – speedway motor racer
• Börje Salming (born 1951) – ice hockey player
• Magnus Samuelsson (born 1969) – World's Strongest Man champion
• Mikael Samuelsson (born 1976) – ice hockey player
• Daniel Sedin (born 1980) – ice hockey player
• Henrik Sedin (born 1980) – ice hockey player
• Ingemar Stenmark (born 1956) – alpine skier
• Mats Sundin (born 1971) – ice hockey player
• Niklas Sundström (born 1975) – ice hockey player
• Gunde Svan (born 1962) – cross-country skier
• Annika Sörenstam (born 1970) – golfer
• Björn Waldegård (born 1943) – rally driver, World Champion
• Jan-Ove Waldner (born 1965) – table tennis player
• Thomas Wassberg (born 1956) – cross-country skier Olympic and World Champion
• Pernilla Wiberg (born 1970) – alpine skier
• Mats Wilander (born 1964) – tennis player
• Magnus Wislander (born 1964) – handball player, voted World Player of the Century 1999
• Henrik Zetterberg (born 1980) – ice hockey player

Writers

• Frans G. Bengtsson (1894–1954), novelist
• Bo Bergman (1869–1967), poet
• Elsa Beskow (1874–1953), children's author
• Karin Boye (1900–1941), poet and novelist
• Fredrika Bremer (1801–1865), writer
• Stig Dagerman (1923–1954), writer
• Gunnar Ekelöf (1907–1968), poet
• Nils Ferlin (1898–1961), poet
• Gustaf Fröding (1860–1911), poet
• Jonas Gardell, writer, comedian
• Jan Guillou (born 1944), novelist, journalist
• Verner von Heidenstam (1859–1940), poet, novelist and Nobel Prize laureate
• Erik Axel Karlfeldt (1864–1931), poet and Nobel Prize laureate
• Eyvind Johnson (1900–1976), novelist and Nobel Prize laureate
• Pär Lagerkvist (1891–1974), writer
• Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940), novelist and Nobel Prize laureate
• Stieg Larsson (1954–2004), writer
• Anna Maria Lenngren (1754–1817), poet
• Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002), children's author
• Wendela Hebbe (1808–1899), reporter and novelist
• Henning Mankell, novelist
• Harry Martinson (1904–1978), poet and Nobel Prize laureate
• Vilhelm Moberg (1898–1973), novelist
• Per Nilsson (born 1953)
• Julia Nyberg (1784–1854)
• Peter Pohl (born 1940)
• August Strindberg (1849–1912), novelist and playwright
• Hjalmar Söderberg (1868–1941),
• Fredrik Strömberg (1968–), journalist and writer
• Esaias Tegnér (1782–1846), writer
• Tomas Tranströmer (1931–2015), writer, poet and Nobel Prize laureate

Other notables

• Elsa Brändström (1888–1948), The Angel of Siberia
• Jonas Bronck (died 1643), early settler of New Netherland and namesake of Bronx, New York
• Sigvard Eklund (1911–2000), director of the International Atomic Energy Agency security council from 1961 to 1981
• Horace Engdahl (born 1948), critic and literary scholar; former secretary of the Swedish Academy
• Axel Hägerström (1868–1939), philosopher, a founder of the Uppsala school of philosophy
• Lars Johan Hierta (1801–1872), publicist
• Sven Hedin (1865–1952), explorer
• Göran Kropp (1966–2002), adventurer
• Axel Munthe (1857–1949), psychiatrist
• Simon de la Vallée (1590–1642), architect

See also

• List of Swedish-speaking Finns
• List of Swedish Jews
• Lists of people by nationality
• List of Swedish Americans