Sweden, a nation that upheld neutrality for over two centuries, is making a grim but necessary adjustment as it strengthens its defense strategies.
Rising tensions in the Baltic region and Sweden's recent NATO membership have prompted preparations for potential wartime casualties.
This includes securing additional cemetery land to accommodate large-scale emergencies.
Municipalities Must Approve Plans
Following recommendations from the Swedish Church and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), funeral associations across the country are acquiring land to prepare for the possibility of mass burials.
These plans align with Swedish laws that require funeral services to reserve enough burial space for up to 5% of a parish’s population during crises.
Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city, illustrates the scale of this effort. Its funeral association is seeking an additional 40,470 square meters of land to prepare for approximately 30,000 emergency burials.
This is in addition to the 60,700 square meters needed for routine cemetery use. However, identifying land is just the first step.
Local municipalities, which manage land-use decisions, must approve the plans. Experts estimate it could take up to 10 years to establish these burial sites fully.
The push for expanded cemetery space is one part of Sweden’s broader preparedness strategy.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Sweden has shifted its defense policies significantly.
The decision to join NATO was a historic departure from its long-standing neutrality, driven by concerns over Russian aggression.
Jan-Olof Olsson, a critical infrastructure expert at MSB, emphasized the urgency of such measures.
"War could happen, and we must be prepared," he stated. The Swedish Church has played a leading role in civil defense planning.
Sweden's readiness efforts extend beyond burial preparations.
In November, Sweden and Finland issued updated civil defense guides, providing instructions for survival during a potential conflict.
These guides, while avoiding direct mention of Russia, underscore growing regional tensions.