1. Waterway Network: Stockholm is built on 14 islands and has a unique waterfront that features over 50 bridges, making it one of the most water-rich capitals in the world. This extensive network of waterways offers various opportunities for boating, kayaking, and exploring the city from the water. 2. Public Art: The city boasts an impressive collection of public art, with over 1,000 artworks displayed in its subway stations alone. This initiative, known as the "Art in the Subway" project, transforms daily commutes into artistic experiences and showcases the work of both local and international artists. 3. Environmental Commitment: Stockholm was the first city in the world to be awarded the title of European Green Capital in 2010. The city has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives, including a comprehensive recycling program that aims for nearly 100% of waste to be recycled or utilized for energy production.
Stockholm's housing market is experiencing a period of stabilization after recent fluctuations. The city has approximately 470,000 housing units, with about 64% of residents owning their homes and 36% renting. As of 2025, the median price to buy an apartment in Stockholm is around €7,000 per square meter, while the median rent is approximately €20 per square meter per month. The real estate market saw a 5% increase in residential transactions in 2024, partly due to declining interest rates and increased buyer confidence. Public housing plays a significant role in Stockholm, with municipal housing companies managing around 80,000 apartments, accounting for about 20% of the total housing stock. These companies aim to provide affordable housing options for residents. Cooperative housing, known as "bostadsrätt," represents roughly 25% of Stockholm's housing stock. This model allows residents to own shares in a housing cooperative rather than owning apartments outright. Social housing initiatives, such as the "Stockholmshus" program, aim to address housing shortages by building municipal rental housing with limited rents. The city has set ambitious goals to increase housing supply, targeting the construction of 40,000 housing units per year. Despite these efforts, Stockholm still faces challenges in meeting housing demand, with long waiting times for rental apartments and rising property prices in certain areas.
Stockholm's city administration is actively addressing housing challenges through several initiatives. The city has set an ambitious target to build 140,000 new homes by 2030, focusing on providing a mix of housing types and tenures to improve affordability and accessibility. One key program is "Stockholmshusen," which aims to build 3,500 to 5,000 affordable rental apartments by 2020. This project uses standardized designs to reduce costs and construction time. Another initiative is "Focus Järva," a social inclusion project targeting two of the city's most deprived districts to improve housing, infrastructure, and social services. The city collaborates closely with cooperative housing organizations like HSB and Riksbyggen to develop new projects. Stockholm, which owns 70% of the land, allocates areas for cooperative housing developments and encourages sustainable practices in these projects. Additionally, Stockholm supports innovative housing solutions, such as HSB's Living Lab project, which combines student housing with research on sustainable living. The city also promotes the construction of modular, low-cost housing for specific populations like students and young adults, although these are often temporary solutions. To address urgent needs, Stockholm is working on providing housing for approximately 80,000 people with very low incomes, including young adults, pensioners, single-parent families, and refugees. While progress is being made, challenges remain in meeting the demand for truly affordable housing in the city center.