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Sweden's population increased by 67,285 persons during 2011 and amounted to 9,482,855 persons at the end of the year, the statistics office said Tuesday.

The emigration of 51,179 persons exceeded the level of the peak year for emigration to America in 1887.

Most Swedes emigrated to the US, the UK and other Nordic countries. During the year a total of 1,787 Swedes moved to China, making the Middle Kingdom the seventh most popular emigration country.

Sweden's population grow mainly on the back of more immigrants. Inflow from Yemen, Libya, Egypt and Syria grew by 50 percent compared to 2010 due to the unrest after the Arab spring. 

For the first time since 2000, the number of births declined in Sweden last year.