Moturbanisering? En statistisk analys av inrikes flyttmönster före, under och efter covid-19 pandemin.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine migration patterns in the Gothenburg region in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic and to analyse to what extent these changes can be interpreted as signs of counterurbanization. The study focuses on how internal migration, out-migration and net migration in Gothenburg Municipality changed before, during and after the pandemic, as well as where people moved from Gothenburg during this period. The study is based on a quantitative method using secondary data from Statistics Sweden (SCB). Statistical data on internal in-migration, out-migration and net migration in Gothenburg Municipality during the period 2000–2024 were analysed in Microsoft Excel. In addition, data on migration flows between municipalities during the period 2014–2023 were used to examine where people moved from Gothenburg. The analysis also includes selected municipalities representing neighbouring municipalities, regional cities and more distant municipalities in order to examine geographical differences in migration patterns. The results show that migration patterns changed during the pandemic. Gothenburg experienced an increase in out-migration and a weaker net migration balance during the years 2020–2021. At the same time, some smaller and more distant municipalities, particularly Säffle and Åre, showed positive changes in net migration. However, the majority of migration from Gothenburg still occurred within the same regional area and over relatively short geographical distances, especially to neighbouring municipalities such as Mölndal, Partille and Kungälv. The study also shows differences between smaller municipalities. Migration to Säffle mainly originated from nearby regional municipalities, while migration to Åre to a greater extent came from larger urban areas such as Stockholm and Gothenburg. This suggests that some municipalities with strong lifestyle and natural attractiveness became more attractive during the pandemic. Overall, the results indicate that the covid-19 pandemic contributed to temporary changes in migration patterns, but that the dominant trend remained regional redistribution rather than a clear and long-term counterurbanization process.