With detailed and continuous information on nearly 1.5 million individuals and their families spanning close to 300 years, the Parish register databases are among the most information-dense demographic databases in the world. Using church records documenting birth, baptism, marriage, family formation, migration, occupation, residence, and death, it is possible to trace individuals and families across time, space, and generations.
Find out more about the database POPUM.
Find out more about the database POPLINK.
Find out how to order data from CEDAR's databases.
Find out more about the search tool Familia.
With detailed and continuous information on nearly 1.5 million individuals and their families spanning close to 300 years, the Parish register databases are among the most information-dense demographic databases in the world. Using church records documenting birth, baptism, marriage, family formation, migration, occupation, residence, and death, it is possible to trace individuals and families across time, space, and generations.
The Parish register databases contain information extracted from Swedish church registration, which until 1990 was a central part of Sweden’s population registration system. The databases include individual data from household examination rolls/parish registers, birth and baptism records, banns and marriage records, death and burial records, and migration records. These sources provide information on birth data, occupation, place of residence, and relocations. They also include details about parents, spouses, children, banns and marriage dates, and, when applicable, date and cause of death.
Data from the parish registers form the basis of two population databases. Parishes that have been registered and linked up to 1915 are included in a database called POPUM. All parishes that have been registered and linked are included in a separate database, POPLINK. This database is highly secured because it extends to 1950 and contains personal data. Data in POPLINK can be linked to other population registers at Statistics Sweden (SCB).
In September 2025, new versions of the POPUM and POPLINK databases (version 6.6.2) were launched. Updates in this version include the addition and linkage of Robertsfors and Bygdeå to the previously defined Västerbotten area, now referred to as Northern Sweden (NOS). Fällfors, Karesuando, Jokkmokk, Gällivare, Kvikkjokk, and Jukkasjärvi are also linked to Northern Sweden. Holmsund is a new parish linked to the Umeå area. Income and taxation data are available for the city of Skellefteå. Two entirely new population tables are included: Disability and Generation. The Death Cause table has been expanded with more variables.