Sweden Through History: Who Ruled Its Lands
The land of today's Sweden appears on 39 historical border maps from 500 BC to today. Over that time it was held, in whole or in part, by 16 different states, among them Sweden, Sweden–Norway, Kalmar Union, Swedes, Denmark-Norway.
SwedenExplore the history of Sweden in the interactive map
Compare 1000 with today · Sweden as a state on the map
Who ruled the land of Sweden, map by map
Share of sample points inside today's borders held by each state on each map. Areas with no organised state on the map are left out.
| Map | Main states on this land |
|---|---|
| 200 BC | Norsemen 60% |
| AD 200 | Heruli 4% |
| AD 300 | Heruli 4% |
| AD 400 | Swedes 17% · Geats 10% |
| AD 500 | Swedes 17% |
| AD 600 | Swedes 17% · Danes 2% |
| AD 700 | Swedes 46% · East Getaes 8% · West Getaes 4% |
| AD 800 | Swedes and Goths 35% · Danes 8% · Northmen 4% |
| AD 900 | Swedes and Goths 35% · Danes 8% · Kingdom of Norway 6% |
| 1000 | Sweden 63% · Denmark-Norway 23% |
| 1100 | Sweden 63% · Norway 19% · Denmark 4% |
| 1200 | Sweden 63% · Norway 19% · Denmark 4% |
| 1300 | Sweden 71% · Norway 27% · Denmark 2% |
| 1400 | Kalmar Union 100% |
| 1492 | Sweden 69% · Denmark-Norway 31% |
| 1500 | Kalmar Union 100% |
| 1600 | Sweden 73% · Denmark-Norway 27% |
| 1650 | Sweden 96% · Denmark-Norway 4% |
| 1700 | Sweden 100% |
| 1783 | Sweden 100% |
| 1800 | Sweden 100% |
| 1815 | Sweden–Norway 100% |
| 1880 | Sweden–Norway 100% |
| 1900 | Sweden–Norway 100% |
| 1914 | Sweden 100% |
| 1920 | Sweden 100% |
| 1930 | Sweden 100% |
| 1938 | Sweden 100% |
| 1945 | Sweden 100% |
| 1960 | Sweden 100% |
| 1994 | Sweden 100% |
| 2010 | Sweden 100% |
Historic cities in Sweden
Famous people of Sweden
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1596 – 1650 | René Descartes | Philosopher and mathematician |
Landmarks
Kronborg CastleStanding · 1585
Questions
Which empires and states ruled the territory of Sweden?
On the border maps from 500 BC to today, the largest shares of the territory of modern Sweden belonged to Sweden, Sweden–Norway, Kalmar Union, Swedes, Denmark-Norway, Swedes and Goths, along with 10 other states.
What was Sweden part of in 1000?
On the border map for 1000, most of the territory of today's Sweden lay within Sweden.
What was Sweden part of in 1500?
On the border map for 1500, most of the territory of today's Sweden lay within Kalmar Union.
What was Sweden part of in 1900?
On the border map for 1900, most of the territory of today's Sweden lay within Sweden–Norway.
Further reading
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.