The Swedish economy has taken a blow due to the coronavirus pandemic in the second quarter, though it has not suffered as badly as other European economies.
Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 8.3% in the second quarter from April to June compared to the previous quarter, the Swedish statistics agency announced on Friday.
Compared with the same quarter a year earlier, Sweden's economy declined by 7.7% in the second quarter.
Finland's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in the second quarter by 6.4% year-on-year and by 4.5% compared to the previous quarter.
This is the biggest economic decline in Sweden since records began in 1980.
The Swedish economy was already affected by the virus in the first quarter, though GDP still grew slightly by 0.2%.
Lax restrictions
In comparison, France's economy tanked by 13.8% and Italian GDP by 12.4% in the second quarter. Germany took a hit of 9.7%, and Britain was worst off with a decline of around 20%.
Sweden imposed relatively lax restrictions in the fight against Covid-19, as schools, restaurants and shops remained open throughout the pandemic.
Sweden's strategy was controversial, as the country recorded relatively high numbers of infections and fatalities related to the virus, compared to other Scandinavian countries.
