Sweden's population will be 9,417,000 at the start of the new year, according to preliminary population statistics. That's 76,000 more than last year.

The high population increase is because of the continued high number of births and because immigration, Statistics Sweden said Monday.

Nearly one in five in Sweden now has a foreign background. The largest groups are born in Finland (170,000 persons) and Iraq (121,000 persons). This year most new immigrants come from Somalia, Iraq and Poland.

Emigration from Sweden is also on the rise. The most common countries for Swedish citizens to move to were Norway, followed by the UK and the US.

Full statement:

Most common that Swedes immigrate
During the year it is estimated that 99 000 persons will immigrate. This is about 4 000 fewer immigrants than last year. Despite this decrease, immigration remains at the record levels of recent years. The largest group of immigrants are returning Swedish citizens, followed by Somalis, Iraqis and Poles. The group of Iraqi immigrants has decreased the most; this year only half as many moved to Sweden as in 2009. Immigration among Poles has also decreased by 15 percent. Immigration of Somali citizens remains at the same level as in 2009. Immigrants were citizens from a total of 180 countries.

As in previous years, somewhat more men than women immigrate.

The number of births continues to increase
The number of children born is estimated to be 116 000 (57 000 girls and 60 000 boys). This is an increase of 3 percent compared to 2009, and is a continuation of the increase that has been going on during all of the 2000s. It is normal that more boys than girls are born.

The number of deaths is estimated to remain at last year's level of 90 000 persons.

Increased emigration
During the past year, 49 000 persons are estimated to have emigrated, an increase of 24 percent compared to the previous year. The increase is largely because in 2010 the Swedish National Tax Board did a special follow up on persons whose residence had been unknown for a longer period. If these persons are no longer considered to be residing in Sweden, they are removed from the population register as emigrants. If this group is excluded from the statistics, emigration would still be about 14 percent higher than the year before, which is a sharp increase.

Of the 49 000 persons who emigrated, more than half are Swedish citizens. Other large groups that emigrate are citizens from the Nordic neighbouring countries. In 2010 the most common countries for Swedish citizens to move to were Norway, followed by the UK and the US. The foreign citizens usually moved back to the country where they have citizenship. In case it is known where the foreign citizens moved to, two out of three moved to their country of citizenship.

Among emigrants, men outnumber women somewhat, as usual.

Nearly one in five has a foreign background
It is estimated that 15 percent of Sweden's population is born abroad. The largest groups are born in Finland (170 000 persons) and Iraq (121 000 persons). Further, 411 000 persons born in Sweden have two foreign-born parents. The foreign born persons together with the Swedish born persons with two foreign-born parents comprise the group that has foreign background. At the end of the year, nearly 19 percent of Sweden's population has foreign background.