This is a list of disasters and in modern Sweden sorted by death toll.
100 or more Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes Pandemic Sweden-wide 225,000–500,000 1350 The first wave of the Black Death in Sweden killed 30-40% to two-thirds of the then Swedish population. Famine Sweden-wide 100,000 1770s Famine due to crop failure. Pandemic Sweden-wide 37,573 (probably more) 1918–1920 In Sweden, 37,573 people died from the Spanish flu pandemic according to official statistics. Pandemic Sweden-wide 37,000 1834–1874 Between 1834 and 1874, 37,000 people died in Sweden of cholera. Pandemic Sweden-wide 23,563 2020, January 24 – present The COVID-19 pandemic is reported to have killed 23,563 people in Sweden as of February 11, 2023 Famine Sweden-wide 10,000 1867–1869 During the famine of 1867–69 which hit Finland and northern Sweden, poor harvests and uneven distribution of food led to the poor population, mainly in the North, died in their thousands. Snowstorm Öjfjället 3,000+ 1718 During a disastrous retreat from Tydalsfjällen by a Swedish Carolean army around New Year 1719, about 3,000 men froze to death. Massacre Ronneby 2,000 1564, September 4 Up to 2,000 people (men, women and children) were killed in Ronneby Bloodbath when Swedish troops entered Ronneby and executed people after a couple of Swedish soldiers have been assaulted and hanged there for a time before. Sea battle near Öland 810 1676, June 1 The warship Kronan was sunk during the battle of Öland. The sinking was caused by the ship capsized in a too sharp turn. During the capsizing, the gunpowder storeroom ignited and the main part of the bow was blown away on the starboard side. Sea battle near Öland 700 1676, June 1 The warship Svärdet was sunk during the battle of Öland after being ignited by a Dutch fire ship. Sea battle near Öland 500 1564, May 31 The warship Mars was sunk during the first battle of Öland after gunpowder storeroom was ignited. A total of 800 men, of which 300 were enemy crews, died in the ensuing explosion. Execution Stockholm circa 100 1520, November 8–9 During Stockholm Bloodbath, approximately 100 Swedes were executed in Stortorget, Gamla stan in conjunction with Christian II's coronation as Swedish king. Snowstorm Götaland and Svealand >100 1850, January 29 A sudden and very intense snowstorms caused roughly a hundred deaths, mainly in northeastern Götaland and Svealand. The incident is called The Blizzard Tuesday Yrväderstisdagen.
50 to 99 deaths Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes Shipwreck Baltic Sea 84 1944, November 24 was hit by a Russian torpedo and sank about 44 kilometers north of Visby. Of the 86 people on board, 84 perished. Murder Käpplingen 70 1392, June 17 Seventy Swedes were incarcerated in a barn after which the building was set on fire. Fire Gothenburg 63 1998, October 30 In the Gothenburg discothèque fire, 63 people died and about 214 were injured.
10 to 49 deaths Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes Shipwreck Armasjärvi 46 1940, October 24 The accident occurred on Lake Armasjärvi when a ferry sank and 46 men were killed. Fire Tidaholm 44–46 1875, February 25 Vulcan Match Plant in Tidaholm catches fire where 44 or 46 people are reported to have been killed; almost all girls between 18 and 20 years. Shipwreck Kattegat 33 1943, April 16 The submarine , during a training mission, hit a German naval mine off Gothenburg and 33 men were killed. Explosion Hårsfjärden 33 1941, September 17 A powerful explosion occurred in Hårsfjärden where the destroyer , and were destroyed. Air disaster Ängelholm 31 1964, November 20 Linjeflyg Flight 277 crashed during approach to Ängelholm Airport. 31 people died. Shipwreck Beckholmen 30 1628, August 10 The warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage after capsizing. The water began to gush in through the open gun hatches and the ship sank. At least 30 men were killed, but perhaps as many as 50. Murder Malmö 27 1978–79 An 18-year-old worker poisoned the elderly in Malmö Östra Hospital with corrosive cleaning agents Gevisol and Ivisol. 27 patients were affected in what has been known as Malmö Östra hospital murders. Shipwreck Lilla Bommen 26 1908, April 15 The steamship Göta Elf capsized almost immediately after leaving the dock. 26 people died. Shipwreck Stora Hammarsundet 25 1828, April 28 A heavily laden ferry departed on his way home from the traditional spring market in Askersund. When the ferry reached halfway a line burst and an ox fell into the water. Several people hurried to try to pull up the animal. Oblique load meant that the ferry capsized and sank. 25 people drowned. Shipwreck Vättern 24 1918, November 19–20 The passenger ship Per Brahe sank in a storm on Lake Vättern outside Hästholmen, probably caused by the cargo had shifted. All on board were killed, including artist John Bauer and his family. Air disaster Kälvesta 22 1977, January 15 Linjeflyg Flight 618 crashed in a parking lot at Ängsullsvägen in Kälvesta in western Stockholm during an approach to Bromma Airport. 22 people were killed, including table tennis world champion Hans Alsér. Fire Börstil Parish 22 1882, May 31 A fire in Börstil poorhouse on the night of 31 May 1882 in Börstil Parish outside Östhammar after being struck by lightning and the building was ignited. 22 people died. Shipwreck Kattegatt 21 1935, November 2 The steamship Gerd collided with the Åland barque Lingard, the entire crew of the Gerd perished. Fire Borås 20 1978, June 10 The city hotel catches fire during a graduation party. 20 people died in the fire and some 50 were injured. Explosion Vaxholm 19 1887, August 11 In connection with gunpowder handling at Vaxholm Fortress, a large explosion occurred which killed 19 gunners, 16 from Svea Artillery Regiment and three from Göta Artillery Regiment. Shipwreck Eggegrund 17 1954, January 19 The steamship Nedjan av Simrishamn was lost on 19 January 1954 in the Eggegrund area, where 17 people perished. Air disaster Oskarshamn 16 1989, May 8 16 people, including several members of parliament, were killed when a domestic flight crashed shortly before landing. Shipwreck Varpen 15 22 August 1896 The steamboat Ydale sank on Lake Varpen in Bollnäs Municipality. 13 children and two adults drowned. Shipwreck Baltic Sea 15 17 December 1956 Höken of Gothenburg disappeared, possibly after hitting a naval mine, while traveling from Klaipėda, Lithuania to Gävle. The ship had 15 crew. Shipwreck Baltic Sea 14 29 October 1944 The steamboat Bengt Sture was sunk by the Soviet submarine SC 406. 14 Swedes and one Norwegian disappeared. The submarine picked up seven Swedish crewmen. According to a Russian historian, they were shot by the NKVD security police in a prison camp, something that has not been officially confirmed by the Russians. Shipwreck Dorotea Municipality 14 12 May 1936 In connection with log driving, an overloaded boat capsized into the cold water and 14 people drowned. Explosion Palovaara 14 3 July 1944 Fourteen servicemen were killed when tank mines exploded at Palovaara, just west of Haparanda. Air disaster Hållö 13 22 October 1943 13 people were killed when Swedish AB Aerotransport's DC3 "Gripen" was shot down by German fighters at Hållö outside the coast of Bohuslän. Tram accident Gothenburg 13 12 March 1992 A powerless tram rolled backwards down Aschebergsgatan in Gothenburg without being able to brake. It derailed at Vasaplatsen and hit the waiting people at a stop. 13 people died and 29 were injured. Fire Svärdsjö 12 29 February 1932 Twelve elderly people were killed in a fire at a retirement home in Svärdsjö. Shipwreck Bössviken 11 23 July 1896 The boat Freja af Fryken sank in at Bössviken, Östra Ämtervik. Eleven people drowned. Shipwreck Böttö 11 29 August 1950 The tugboat rolled over and sank in bad weather at Böttö in the Archipelago of Gothenburg. 11 people were killed. Fire Rödebyholm 11 27 March 1944 Rödebyholm orphanage was destroyed by fire and eleven children aged three to eight years died. Explosion Björkborn 11 17 December 1940 An explosion occurred at AB Bofors Nobelkrut in Björkborn, Karlskoga Municipality after a fire started in the TNT casting foundry. 11 people were killed and around 100 buildings were completely destroyed and as many were damaged in an area of about 15 hectares. Air disaster Karlstad 10 23 September 1950 Svenska Aero's plane on its way to Stockholm had just taken off from Karlstad Airport when it reared up and fell to the ground. All ten on board were killed. Air disaster Huvudskär 10 6 September 1968 A Hkp 4 crashed at Huvudskär in the Stockholm archipelago when a rotor blade snapped. Ten people were killed. Murder Skåne 9+1 29 April 1939 The police officer Tore Hedin killed a man in the village of Tjörnarp. A year later, during a nighttime murder tour he killed another nine people before drowning himself in Lake Bosarpa. Shipwreck Vållö 10 29 April 1939 10 men from the torpedo cruiser drowned at Vållö when an overcrowded boat capsized. Shipwreck off Bergkvara 10 26 July 1925 Off Bergkvara in southern Kalmarsund, a group of ten young people aged 14–21 years drowned during a sailing trip from Garpen lighthouse to Bergkvara harbor. The boat was surprised by a gust and was overturned, with all ten ended up in the water and drowned. Explosion Baltic Sea 10 17 July 1940 During an exercise west of Gotland, one of the boilers in fire room number four exploded on the coastal defence ship . Eight men were killed immediately, and the two men on the deck and passed the boiler's air intake were severely injured. These were taken by a minesweeper to Visby Hospital, where they later died. Explosion Ränneslätt 10 6 March 1943 An accident occurred during an exercise with explosives at Ränneslätt. 31 men were injured and ten died of the explosion. Explosion Gräsgård 10 22 November 1941 Ten men were killed on when a naval mine exploded outside Gräsgård in Öland. A defused mine was lifted on board one of the boats, but had not noticed that a second mine was hanging on. Explosion Västervik 10 6 May 1918 Ten men were killed in a naval mine blast at the glass factory in Västervik after a fisherman found the mine floating in the water 400–500 meters outside Cape Gränsö and brought it to shore.
Significant incidents resulting in fewer than 10 deaths