Sweden
Jämtland Härjedalen
The region of Jämtland Härjedalen is a county in the northern part of Sweden with an area of 48,945 square kilometers that is about the same area as Slovakia
INTRO
In the dRural project the Krokom Municipality acts as the demonstrator as a representative for the other municipalities
The total population of 132,000 gives a population density of 2.7 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Roughly 50 % lives in the only city Östersund and 25.5 % of the total population is +65 Years old, with a higher percentage in the rural areas.
The region consist of 8 municipalities where Östersund is the administrative centre of the region and is the largest urban center. The county’s economy has historical been based on forestry and agriculture, while the strengths today lie in small scale manufacturing especially in the food-industry, and tourism-related services that are key drivers for the economy of the region.
A well-known advantage of living in Jämtland Härjedalen is its attractive landscapes and the many opportunities that this offers, such as world class skiing and a rich outdoor recreational scenario.
Krokom has around 15,000 inhabitants in an area of 6155 square kilometer; its main industries are within the green sector and tourism.
CHALLENGES
Health and ageing, economic growth, spatial planning and small trade base
- Health and ageing: the demography, with its ageing population, poses challenges in providing equal and safe health- and social care to a population spread all over a large geographical area. In 2017 the ratio between ages 65+ and <19 was 1.14; expected to increase to 1.21 by 2030.
- Economic growth of the Region: attracting labour supply is a major challenge. There is also a challenge to attract and secure capital in rural settings. However, there is a growing interest, partly due to the pandemic, in settling in the region as well as investing in its development.
- Integrate economic development and spatial planning: the increasing importance of tourism and renewable energy, and the changing relationship between agriculture and tourism, are generation new pressures related to land use in the region.
- Small trade base: the region has a one of the lowest level of exports as a propotion of gross regional product (GRP) of all regions in Sweden. About two thirds of the export is to the Nordic countries.
