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Chapter IV

A new wave of emigration after 1990

1990–2026

After Lithuania regained independence in 1990, a new wave of emigration began towards Western Europe, Sweden among the destinations. Many left in search of better work, study and living conditions. The Lithuanian community in Sweden carried on, and new organisations began to appear alongside it.

1990–2003

Ties restored and the first new initiatives

  • 1990
    Svensk-Litauiska riksföreningen is re-established, continuing the tradition of the society active in 1925–1940.
  • 1996
    The Lithuanian school “Saulės mokykla” is founded in Stockholm.
  • 1997
    The book Švedijos lietuviai (Lithuanians in Sweden) is published; a Swedish edition follows in 1998.
  • 2002
    To mark Gintautas Būga’s 75th birthday, Lietuvių mokyklos Švedijoje rėmimo fondas (a fund supporting the Lithuanian school) is established to sustain the Lithuanian language.
  • 2003
    The Lithuanian folk dance group “Baltija” is founded in Stockholm.
  • 2003–2011
    The Lithuanian Community in Sweden publishes its newsletter (Informacinis leidinys) — a chronicle of the community’s activities and events. Copies are sent to the National Library of Lithuania.
From 2004

Rapid growth after joining the European Union

When Lithuania joined the EU in 2004, migration to Sweden increased sharply. New organisations and schools were established, and a range of cultural and youth initiatives emerged. Many of them are still going today.

  • 2005
    The first international gathering of Lithuanian schools, “Draugystės tiltas” (Bridge of Friendship) is held in Sigtuna.
  • 2006
    Baltic Day (Swedish: Baltikumdagen) begins to be held in Stockholm.
  • 2008
    A branch in Skåne (Skonės skyrius) is founded.
  • 2009–2019
    The Lithuanian school “Gintaras” operates in Helsingborg.
  • 2010
    Lietuvių–švedų bendruomenė Geteborge (the Lithuanian-Swedish community in Gothenburg) is founded. The Lithuanian school “Draugystė” begins work in Gothenburg.
  • 2012
    Verslo vadovų klubas (VVK) — the business leaders’ club — is established in Skåne.
  • 2013
    Vesteros lietuvių bendruomenė (the Lithuanian community in Västerås) is founded.
  • 2014
    Lietuvių jaunimo bendruomenė Švedijoje (the Lithuanian youth community) is founded.
  • 2015
    The Lithuanian Community in Sweden is reorganised as an umbrella organisation. Stokholmo lietuvių bendruomenė (the Lithuanian community in Stockholm) and Lithuanian Professionals in Stockholm Club are founded.
  • 2018
    The ethnographic ensemble “Bitkrėslė” is founded.
  • 2019
    The Lithuanian school “Rytas” is founded in Eskilstuna and Västerås.
  • 2022
    Švietimo taryba — Lärarkårens Utbildningsråd i Sverige, the teachers’ education council — is founded.
  • 2023
    The women’s choir “Upė” is founded in Stockholm.
  • 2024
    Vakarų Švedijos lietuvių bendruomenė (the Lithuanian community of West Sweden) is founded in Gothenburg. The Lithuanian nursery school “Obuoliukas” opens in Gothenburg. Smolando lietuvių bendruomenė Švedijoje (the Lithuanian community of Småland) is founded, bringing together Lithuanians in south-eastern Sweden.
  • 2025
    The folk dance group “Laisvė” is founded in Gothenburg. Smolando lietuvių lituanistinė mokykla (the Lithuanian school of Småland) opens in Jönköping. Lietuvos šaulių sąjungos rėmėjų grupė Švedijoje (the support group of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union) is founded.
  • 2026
    Europos lietuvių kultūros dienos (the European Lithuanian Culture Days) are held in Stockholm.
“Draugystės tiltas” in Sigtuna, 2005
“Draugystės tiltas” in Sigtuna, 2005

The first “Draugystės tiltas” gathering in Sigtuna, 2005. More than 150 Lithuanians from various EU countries took part. Organising team: Eleonora Jonušienė, Jonė Šeštakauskaitė, Audronė Vodzinskaitė-Städje, Lilia Bakanauskaitė, Agnė Skeberdytė and Regina Molina.

Baltic Day (Baltikumdagen), 2019
Baltic Day in Sweden is an annual event introducing Swedish audiences to the culture, history and traditions of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Each year a different Baltic community organises it. Photo: Baltikumdagen 2019. Saulė School archive.
Today

Organisations, schools and arts ensembles

Today Sweden has a broad network of Lithuanian organisations — from regional communities and Lithuanian schools to professional clubs and arts ensembles.

Communities and professional organisations

  • 2008
    Švedijos lietuvių bendruomenė Skonėje — Lithuanian community in Skåne
  • 2010
    Lietuvių–švedų bendruomenė Geteborge — Lithuanian-Swedish community lietuviaigeteborge.se Facebook
  • 2012
    Verslo vadovų klubas (VVK) — business leaders’ club, Skåne
  • 2013
    Vesteros lietuvių bendruomenė — Lithuanian community in Västerås
  • 2014
    Lietuvių jaunimo bendruomenė Švedijoje — Lithuanian youth community jaunimas.se Facebook Instagram
  • 2015
    Stokholmo lietuvių bendruomenė — Lithuanian community in Stockholm
  • 2015
    Lietuvos profesionalai Stokholme — Lithuanian Professionals in Stockholm Club lpsclub.se LinkedIn Facebook
  • 2024
    Vakarų Švedijos lietuvių bendruomenė — Lithuanian community of West Sweden vsl.lt
  • 2024
    Smolando lietuvių bendruomenė Švedijoje — Lithuanian community of Småland Facebook
  • 2025
    Lietuvos šaulių sąjungos rėmėjų grupė Švedijoje — support group of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union

Lithuanian education

  • 1996
    Stokholmo lituanistinė „Saulės“ mokykla — Lithuanian school, Stockholm saulesmokykla.se
  • 2010
    Geteborgo lituanistinė mokykla „Draugystė“ — Lithuanian school, Gothenburg
  • 2019
    Lituanistinė mokykla „Rytas“ — Lithuanian school, Eskilstuna and Västerås lituanistinemokyklarytas.com Facebook
  • 2022
    Švietimo taryba — Lärarkårens Utbildningsråd i Sverige
  • 2024
    Lituanistinė mokyklėlė „Obuoliukas“ — Lithuanian nursery school, Gothenburg
  • 2025
    Smolando lietuvių lituanistinė mokykla — Lithuanian school, Jönköping

Arts ensembles

  • 2003
    Liaudiškų šokių grupė „Baltija“ — folk dance group, Stockholm Facebook Video
  • 2018
    Etnografinis ansamblis „Bitkrėslė“ — ethnographic ensemble Facebook
  • 2023
    Stokholmo moterų choras „Upė“ — women’s choir Facebook
  • 2025
    Tautinių šokių kolektyvas „Laisvė“ — folk dance group, Gothenburg

Other organisations in Sweden

  • 1925
    Svensk-Litauiska riksföreningen — active 1925–1940, re-established in 1990. svensklitauiska.se
  • 2002
    Lietuvių mokyklos Švedijoje rėmimo fondas — a fund supporting the Lithuanian school, founded on the initiative of Gintautas Būga, son of the linguist Kazimieras Būga.
2026

The Lithuanian Community in Sweden today

The umbrella organisation has eight member associations

  1. Stokholmo lietuvių bendruomenė (Stockholm)
  2. Švedijos lietuvių bendruomenė Skonėje (Skåne)
  3. Smolando lietuvių bendruomenė (Småland)
  4. Vakarų Švedijos lietuvių bendruomenė (West Sweden)
  5. Lithuanian Professionals in Stockholm Club
  6. Verslo vadovų klubas (VVK)
  7. Lietuvių jaunimo bendruomenė Švedijoje
  8. Lietuvos šaulių sąjungos rėmėjų grupė Švedijoje
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Credits Material compiled by Karolina Musteikytė. The community’s historical photographs come from Eva Dankis’s personal archive. Images restored by Thomas Gedminas.