What the world can learn from Sweden’s approach to wellness

When it comes to wellness, Sweden is running laps around most of the world. In a recent global study by health insurance experts Compare the Market, Sweden earned a near-perfect Active Vitality Index score of 9.56, ranking first out of 185 countries. The report considered factors like life expectancy, physical activity levels, and access to health-promoting infrastructure... and Sweden came out shining.

But what’s behind the stats? It's not just about individual willpower or gym memberships. Sweden’s high score is the result of systemic, intentional design. It's the result of cities, policies, and culture working together to keep people, women, moving.

Here’s what we think the world can learn from Sweden’s model of movement:

Cities that are built for people, not just cars

One of the biggest secrets to Sweden’s active population is its pedestrian-first city planning. Urban spaces in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and beyond are designed to make walking, biking, and rolling the most convenient choices. Wide bike lanes are standard, not an afterthought. Green spaces are integrated into every neighborhood. Public fitness trails and outdoor gyms are free, accessible, and often lit during the dark winter months. This kind of infrastructure is especially empowering for women. It allows them to move safely through their cities when they're heading to work, running errands, or simply squeezing in a lunchtime walk or jog.

Public transit that keeps people moving

Sweden’s public transportation system reduces traffic and supports wellness by encouraging people to incorporate movement into their daily routines. Oliver Wyman Forum placed Stockholm's public transit system as 3rd in the world. With well-connected buses, subways, and trains, most commutes in Sweden include walking or cycling on either end. It's not uncommon for a Swedish morning routine to include a bike ride to the train station, a brisk walk between stops, and a final stroll through the city to work. For women, particularly those balancing work and family life, this seamless transit system means they can easily commute to a gym or workout space without the need for a car.

Paid parental leave to promote active parenting

Sweden’s generous and gender-equal parental leave policies are world-renowned. Parents can take up to 480 days of paid leave per child, and many split this time between both caregivers. On top of this, parents can also elect to transfer up to 45 days of this leave to grandparents or family friends. But here’s the wellness twist: because parents are home for longer, they’re more likely to take their babies on daily walks, join parent-and-child exercise groups, or just get moving more regularly throughout the day. There’s also a deeply embedded culture of being outside, no matter the weather. You’ll find Swedish mums and dads pushing prams through snowy parks, hiking forest trails with toddlers, or biking with kids strapped into trailers. It all adds up to a lifestyle where movement is modeled and encouraged from the very beginning.

A culture that values balance over burnout

Perhaps most importantly, Sweden’s approach to wellness isn’t rooted in hustle culture. There’s no obsession with six-packs or “summer bodies.” Instead, there's a quiet, consistent value placed on balance, movement, and mental wellbeing. Workplaces often support flexible hours, allowing time for midday walks or fitness classes. Lunch breaks are actually used for lunch, often outdoors, even in the cold. Wellness is an expectation rather than an aspiration. For women, this ethos helps create a sustainable, lifelong relationship with movement - one that isn’t tied to weight loss or punishment, but to joy, connection, and health.

We need systems - like Sweden’s - that make movement the easy choice, especially for women juggling multiple roles. The country has proven that wellness is more about designing a society that moves rather than one that simply provides access to gyms.

If we want to boost global wellness, increase gender equity in sport and movement, and create healthier futures for the next generation, we’d be wise to take a few pages from Sweden’s playbook.