Opposition to nuclear power in Sweden has risen sharply following the disaster in Japan, with 36 percent of Swedes now saying they want nuclear power phased out, up from 15 percent in 2008, a poll showed Tuesday.

The Synovate poll, published in the leading Dagens Nyheter (DN) daily, also showed that only 21 percent of Swedes are now in favour of further developping the country's nuclear power capacity, down from 47 percent in 2008.

The percentage of Swedes who want the country's nuclear capacity to stay the same currently stands at 36 percent, according to the poll, up slightly from 33 percent three years ago.

Pollster Karin Nelson explained that Swedish public opinion towards nuclear energy had stayed relatively stable throughout the years, but shifted after the disaster at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant.

"We didn't ask any questions related to Japan, but the shift (in opinion) is linked to the events there," she told DN.

Sweden has 10 nuclear reactors at three plants and the country's parliament passed a landmark bill last June allowing the reactors to be replaced at the end of their life spans instead of simply ending nuclear power when they expire.

The centre-right government announced earlier this month it was expanding its nuclear regulator's mandate to include reviewing the safety of the reactors, in the aftermath of the accident at Fukushima.