The causes and effects of declining driver license holdings in Sweden

Car ownership and average annual mileage in Sweden has stagnated at the levels that were reached at the turn of the century. Driver licenses among the young (18-24) declined markedly during the first part of the 1990s, mainly as an effect of a severe economic recession. However, among citizens born in Sweden most of the gap compared to those who reached “driving age” before the crises had disappeared at the age of 35-39. A much lower rate of license holding among people born abroad, who make up 20 per cent of the Swedish population aged 15-39, explains most of the remaining difference for the population as a whole. The gender gap is small among people born in Sweden but large among those who immigrated from non-EU countries. The declining rate of license holding should not mistakenly be regarded a sign of Peak Car as changing priorities and better economic means may make second generation immigrants much more prone to acquire a license than their parents.