The government greatly increased a grant to encourage more immigrants to return home. Critics say it sends the wrong message and, in any case, may not tempt many refugees.

Last year, the Swedish Migration Agency revealed that Sweden recorded the lowest number of asylum seekers since 1997, and, for the first time in more than 50 years, saw net emigration.

Amid growing public concern over immigration the right-wing populist Swedish Democrats came second in the 2022 Swedish general election.