Sweden Phone Numbers: Complete Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Introduction

Sweden uses the +46 country code for all international calls, with a structured numbering system managed by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS). This comprehensive guide covers Swedish phone number formats, area codes (including Stockholm 08, Gothenburg 031, and Malmö 040), mobile number validation, and E.164 compliance for developers building telecommunications applications, SMS services, or user input validation systems.

Understanding Swedish phone number formats is essential for developers implementing phone validation, building SMS applications, or integrating with Swedish telecommunications systems. The national numbering plan includes 264 geographic area codes and various non-geographic number ranges for mobile (070, 072, 073, 076, 079), freephone (020), premium (0900), and shared cost (077) services.

Swedish Phone Number Types at a Glance:

> 💡 Developer Note: All number formats comply with ITU-T Recommendation E.164 and PTS regulations as of January 2024 (latest published numbering plan: 2024-01-08). Consult the latest PTS technical specifications before implementing new features or deploying to production. Regulations change, so stay current to maintain compliance.

Source: PTS Swedish numbering plan for telephony according to ITU-T Recommendation E.164, dated 2024-01-08.

Swedish Phone Number Formats Explained

General Structure: Understanding +46 Country Code Format

The Swedish phone numbering system follows a hierarchical structure that enables efficient routing and number management while accommodating various service types with consistent formatting rules.

Standard International Format: +46 [Area Code] [Subscriber Number]

Key Components:

• Country Code: +46 (Sweden's international identifier, allocated in 1954)
• Area Code: 1-3 digits (identifies geographic regions or service types)
• Subscriber Number: 5-8 digits (varies based on the area code and service type)
• Minimum Length: 7 digits (excluding country code)
• Maximum Length: 13 digits (excluding country code)

Source: PTS numbering plan E.164, 2024-01-08; minimum and maximum length specifications.

> ⚠️ Implementation Note: Handle both international and national formats in your code. The leading zero in area codes is omitted when using the international format. Stockholm's area code is 08 nationally but 8 internationally. Account for this difference to avoid validation errors and routing problems.

Geographic Numbers: Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Regional Area Codes

Geographic numbers tie to specific regions within Sweden, with area codes indicating the location. These numbers form the foundation for local telecommunications infrastructure and serve many businesses and individuals.

National Format: 0[Area Code] [Subscriber Number]

Source: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; geographic area code specifications.

Swedish Mobile Numbers: 070, 072, 073, 076, 079 Prefixes

Mobile numbers in Sweden use distinct prefixes for easy identification. Handle these correctly for SMS messaging and mobile-specific services.

National Format: 070/072/073/076/079 [Subscriber Number]

The subscriber number for mobile phones is always 7 digits. Complete mobile numbers have 10 digits including the leading 0 (or 9 digits in international format with +46, since the leading 0 is dropped).

Source: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; non-geographic numbers for mobile telephony services designated under NDC 70, 72, 73, 76, 79.

// Example validation for Swedish mobile numbers (national format)
const validateSwedishMobile = (number) => {
  const mobileRegex = /^07[023679]\d{7}$/;
  return mobileRegex.test(number.replace(/\s+/g, '')); // Remove spaces before testing
};

// Example with international format
const validateSwedishMobileInternational = (number) => {
    const mobileRegex = /^\+467[023679]\d{7}$/;
    return mobileRegex.test(number.replace(/\s+/g, ''));
}

This example validates Swedish mobile numbers by removing spaces before testing to handle various input formats. Test your validation functions thoroughly with valid and invalid inputs, including edge cases like numbers with leading or trailing spaces, hyphens, or incorrect digit counts.

Common pitfall: Forgetting to remove spaces or formatting characters before applying the regular expression leads to false negatives where valid numbers are incorrectly rejected.

Capturing the nuances of Swedish mobile number formatting can be challenging. Various regular expressions exist, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, this Stack Overflow regex attempts to handle wider formatting variations: ^((([+]46)\s*((1|7)[0236]))|(0(1|7)[0236]))\s*(([-]|())\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*|([0-9]\s*([-]|()))\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*[0-9]\s*)$. However, complex regular expressions are difficult to maintain and debug. Evaluate the trade-offs between complexity and comprehensiveness when choosing a validation strategy.

Non-Geographic Corporate Numbers

Non-geographic corporate numbers provide nationwide accessibility without tying to a specific geographic location. Businesses and government agencies commonly use these numbers.

National Format: 010 [Subscriber Number]

The 010 prefix designates location-independent services, making it ideal for organizations that operate nationally or want a single contact number accessible from anywhere in Sweden.

Source: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; NDC 10 designated for non-geographic location-independent services.

Freephone Numbers

Freephone numbers let callers contact businesses and services without charges – the recipient pays for the call.

National Format: 020 [Subscriber Number]

Freephone services use the 020 prefix with a subscriber number of 6-7 digits, totaling 9 digits (including the leading 0).

Source: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; NDC 20 designated for freephone services with 9-digit total length.

Premium Rate Numbers

Premium rate numbers (starting with 0900, 0939, 0944, or 099) provide value-added content and professional services. The PTS regulates these numbers with specific requirements, including pricing transparency. Understand these regulations if your application interacts with premium rate numbers.

National Format: 0900/0939/0944/099 [Subscriber Number]

The subscriber number for premium rate numbers is 4-6 digits (7-10 digits total length including prefix).

Premium Rate Categories:

• 0900: Information services (public information, advice lines)
• 0939: Other services
• 0944: Entertainment services (games, lotteries, contests)
• 099: Major events (TV/radio participation)

Regulatory Requirements:

• Display pricing directly adjacent to the premium rate number in all marketing materials
• Provide Swedish-speaking customer service on a Swedish fixed-line number weekdays between 09:00-16:00
• The Ethical Council for Premium Rate Call Services (ERB) regulates the premium rate market in Sweden

Sources: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; Premium rate service categories; Swedish premium rate regulations via ERB.

Shared Cost Numbers

Shared cost numbers (starting with 077x) offer a cost-sharing model between callers and service providers. Customer service lines and other business applications often use these numbers.

National Format: 077[0-7] [Subscriber Number]

The subscriber number for shared cost numbers is always 6 digits, totaling 10 digits including the leading 0. Only the range 0770-0777 is designated for shared cost services.

Source: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; NDC 77 with leading digits 0-7 for shared cost services, subscriber number always 6 digits.

Emergency Numbers

Emergency numbers are short, easily memorable numbers for critical services. These numbers have special routing and availability requirements. Handle these numbers appropriately in your application, potentially providing location information or other relevant data to emergency services.

Key Emergency Numbers:

• General Emergency: 112 (EU standard emergency number for police, fire, ambulance)
• Healthcare Advice: 1177 (24/7 healthcare advice from nurses; +46 771 1177 00 from abroad)
• Non-Emergency Police: 114 14 (for non-urgent police matters)
• Crisis Information: 113 13 (information about major accidents and crises)

SOS Alarm, Sweden's official emergency services operator, operates all emergency numbers. The 112 number is available in both Swedish and English.

Sources: SOS Alarm official emergency services information; Swedish government crisis information service (krisinformation.se); Emergency number specifications 2025.

How to Validate Swedish Phone Numbers

Number Length and Format Validation Rules

Best Practices:

• Strict Length Control: Enforce E.164 length restrictions:
  • Minimum: 7 digits (excluding country code) for all Swedish numbers
  • Maximum: 13 digits (excluding country code) per PTS specifications
  • Geographic numbers: 7-9 digits total (including leading 0 in national format)
  • Mobile numbers: 10 digits total in national format (070/072/073/076/079 + 7 digits)
  • Freephone (020): 9 digits total
  • Shared cost (077): 10 digits total
  • Premium rate: 7-10 digits total depending on category
• Real-time Validation: Validate numbers as users enter them to provide immediate feedback
• Character Restrictions: Allow only numeric characters (plus optional leading + for international format)
• Prefix Validation: Verify area codes and service prefixes against the current PTS numbering plan
• Library Recommendation: Use Google's libphonenumber library, which handles E.164 validation comprehensively and stays updated with international numbering plan changes

Sources: PTS numbering plan E.164, 2024-01-08; E.164 length specifications (minimum 7 digits, maximum 13 digits excluding country code).

Protected Services and Special Cases

Certain number ranges are reserved for specific services and require special handling. Know these restrictions to avoid conflicts and ensure proper routing.

Special Number Ranges:

• Short codes: Numbers like 90 XYZ, 112, 113 13, 114 XY, 116 XYZ, 117 X, 118 XYZ are national-only numbers and are not considered E.164 numbers (not reachable from other countries)
• Paging services: 074 prefix designated for paging services
• Personal numbering: 075 prefix for personal numbering services (follow-me numbers)
• Mobile broadband and M2M: 071 prefix for mobile broadband services and machine-to-machine (M2M) telematic services
• Routing addresses: Various number ranges (252, 254, 255, 673-676, 678) are assigned to specific operators for voice mail and internal routing purposes and are not for public use

Source: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; national-only numbers and special service designations.

Regulatory Compliance

Comply with PTS regulations by maintaining proper documentation, monitoring usage, and undergoing regular audits. Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements outlined by the PTS for your application's use case.

Key Regulatory Requirements:

• Number allocation: PTS assigns number blocks to operators, who then assign individual numbers to subscribers and users
• Geographic numbering: Sweden uses an open dialing plan for geographic numbers (within the area code region, users can dial just the subscriber number without the area code)
• Non-geographic numbering: Closed dialing plan applies (full number must always be dialed)
• E.164 compliance: Only E.164-compliant numbers are reachable from other countries; national-only numbers exist for domestic use
• PTS databases:
  • National numbering plan database: http://e-tjanster.pts.se/telefoni/nummertjanster/nummerplan
  • Number portability database: http://e-tjanster.pts.se/telefoni/nummertjanster/enskiltnummer
• Documentation requirements: Maintain records of number usage, especially for premium rate and shared cost services
• Price transparency: Display pricing adjacent to the number in all marketing for premium rate services
• Customer service requirements: Provide Swedish-language customer service during business hours for premium rate services

Sources: PTS numbering plan, 2024-01-08; PTS regulatory framework for number allocation; Premium rate service regulations.

Recommended Resources:

• Official PTS numbering plan (updated 2024-01-08): PTS Swedish Numbering Plan PDF
• PTS numbering and addressing portal: https://pts.se/en/internet-and-telephony/numbering-and-addressing/
• ITU-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010): "The international public telecommunication numbering plan"

Frequently Asked Questions About Swedish Phone Numbers

What is Sweden's country code?

Sweden's international country code is +46. When calling Sweden from abroad, dial +46 followed by the area code (without the leading 0) and subscriber number. For example, to call a Stockholm landline (08 123 4567) from outside Sweden, dial +46 8 123 4567. The +46 country code was allocated to Sweden by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is used for all international calls to Swedish numbers.

What are the area codes for Stockholm, Gothenburg, and other major Swedish cities?

The most commonly used area codes for major Swedish cities are:

• Stockholm area code: 08 (Sweden's capital and largest city)
• Gothenburg area code: 031 (Sweden's second-largest city)
• Malmö area code: 040 (Southern Sweden's major city)
• Uppsala area code: 018 (Fourth-largest city, near Stockholm)
• Linköping area code: 013 (Central Sweden)
• Örebro area code: 019 (Central Sweden)
• Västerås area code: 021 (Central Sweden)

Sweden has 264 geographic area codes total, with shorter codes assigned to larger cities (allowing more phone numbers). When dialing internationally, drop the leading 0: Stockholm's 08 becomes +46 8.

How do you format a Swedish mobile number correctly?

Swedish mobile numbers use specific prefixes: 070, 072, 073, 076, or 079 followed by 7 digits.

National format: 070 XXX XX XX (10 digits total including the leading 0) International format: +46 70 XXX XX XX (the leading 0 is dropped) E.164 format: +4670XXXXXXX (no spaces)

For example, a Swedish mobile number 070 123 4567 becomes +46 70 123 4567 when dialed internationally. All five mobile prefixes support SMS and voice calls.

What is E.164 format and how does it apply to Swedish phone numbers?

E.164 is the international telephone numbering standard defined by the ITU-T. For Swedish phone numbers, E.164 format requires:

Structure: +46 [area code without leading 0] [subscriber number] No spaces or special characters in the strict E.164 format Examples:

• Stockholm landline: +46812345678
• Swedish mobile: +46701234567
• Gothenburg landline: +46311234567

Swedish numbers in E.164 format range from 7 to 13 digits (excluding the +46 country code). E.164 compliance ensures international routing compatibility and is required for most telecommunications APIs and SMS gateways.

How do you validate Swedish phone numbers in code?

The most reliable method is using Google's libphonenumber library, which handles all Swedish number formats and stays updated with PTS regulations. This library provides comprehensive validation for both national and international formats.

Regex validation is a simpler alternative for basic checks:

• Verify proper prefixes (08, 031, 040, 070, 072, 073, 076, 079, etc.)
• Check length constraints (7-13 digits excluding country code)
• Ensure E.164 compliance for international formats

For production applications handling Swedish phone numbers, libphonenumber is recommended because it handles edge cases, number portability, and regulatory changes automatically.

What are Swedish premium rate numbers?

Swedish premium rate numbers start with 0900, 0939, 0944, or 099 and charge callers elevated rates. Categories include 0900 (information services), 0944 (entertainment), 0939 (other services), and 099 (major events). All premium rate services must display pricing clearly and provide Swedish-language customer support.

What is the emergency number in Sweden?

112 is Sweden's primary emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance services. Other important numbers include 1177 for 24/7 healthcare advice, 114 14 for non-emergency police matters, and 113 13 for crisis information. SOS Alarm operates all emergency services.

What are freephone numbers in Sweden?

Freephone numbers in Sweden use the 020 prefix and let callers contact businesses without charge – the recipient pays for the call. These numbers have 9 digits total (including the leading 0) and are commonly used by customer service departments and support lines.

Do Swedish phone numbers support SMS?

Yes, Swedish mobile numbers (070, 072, 073, 076, 079) fully support SMS messaging. Geographic landline numbers typically do not support SMS unless they are VoIP numbers with SMS capabilities. For SMS services targeting Sweden, use mobile prefixes.

How to call Sweden from the United States or other countries?

To call Sweden from the United States:

Dialing sequence: 011 + 46 + [area code without 0] + [subscriber number]

Example calling Stockholm: 011 46 8 123 4567 (to reach 08 123 4567) Example calling Swedish mobile: 011 46 70 123 4567 (to reach 070 123 4567)

From other countries: Replace 011 with your country's international access code:

• Most countries: 00 (e.g., 00 46 8 123 4567)
• US/Canada: 011
• From mobile phones: Often just + (e.g., +46 8 123 4567)

Always drop the leading 0 from Swedish area codes when dialing internationally.

What are shared cost numbers in Sweden?

Shared cost numbers start with 077 (specifically 0770-0777) and split call costs between the caller and recipient. These 10-digit numbers are popular for customer service lines where businesses want to share telecommunications costs with callers while providing accessible support.

Can Swedish phone numbers be ported between operators?

Yes, Sweden supports number portability. Users can keep their phone numbers when switching operators. PTS maintains a real-time number portability database at http://e-tjanster.pts.se/telefoni/nummertjanster/enskiltnummer for checking current number assignments.

Conclusion

You now have a comprehensive understanding of Swedish phone numbers, from basic structure to specific requirements for different service types. Follow the best practices and guidelines in this guide to ensure your application handles these numbers correctly, efficiently, and in compliance with relevant regulations.

The Swedish numbering system, managed by PTS and compliant with ITU-T E.164 standards, encompasses 264 geographic area codes plus numerous non-geographic number ranges for mobile, corporate, freephone, premium, and shared cost services. The numbering plan distinguishes between E.164-compliant international numbers and national-only numbers, with different dialing rules for geographic (open plan) versus non-geographic (closed plan) numbers.

For production implementations, consult the latest PTS documentation and use established validation libraries like Google's libphonenumber to ensure accuracy and maintain compliance as regulations evolve.

This guide is based on the PTS Swedish numbering plan for telephony according to ITU-T Recommendation E.164, dated 2024-01-08. Verify current specifications before production deployment.