Sweden’s Gender Voting Gap Widens Before September Election, With Men Backing Far Right 2-to-1
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 14
Sweden’s Gender Voting Gap Widens Before September Election, With Men Backing Far Right 2-to-1
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 14
Summary
Statistics Sweden’s latest survey points to an even wider gender split than in 2022: 25% of men back the Sweden Democrats versus 12% of women, while 39% of women support the Social Democrats against 29% of men.
That divide could reshape the September election because the two parties now lead the polls and together are expected to win more than 50% of the vote.
If only women voted, the left bloc led by Magdalena Andersson would take 64%; if only men voted, the right-leaning parties under Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson would win 51%.
Researchers say the split reflects men’s stronger pull toward lower taxes, a smaller state and less immigration, while women remain more tied to welfare services because they still carry more caregiving responsibilities.
The gap has become a strategic fault line as Kristersson has promised Sweden Democrats major influence if his bloc wins, potentially bringing the far-right party into government for the first time.
Why are Swedish men and women so divided on the country's political future?
Will Sweden's strict new immigration laws redefine its identity as a welfare state?
Sweden’s 2026 Election Faces Historic Gender Split in Voter Preferences
Overview
As Sweden heads toward its 2026 general election, the country faces a record gender divide in voting intentions, with women strongly favoring the Social Democratic Party and men leaning toward the Sweden Democrats. This split could dramatically influence the election outcome and shape Sweden’s political future. If only women voted, the Social Democrats would win decisively, while a men-only vote would put the Sweden Democrats in the lead. In response, right-wing parties have launched targeted campaigns to attract women, highlighting how gender differences are now central to political strategies and the nation’s evolving political landscape.