According to preliminary OECD figures, Sweden was the 5th largest European government donor in 2012, spending US$5.2 billion (SEK 35.5 billion) on net official development assistance (ODA). While net ODA decreased in relative terms from 1.02% in 2011 to 0.99% of gross national income (GNI) in 2012, Sweden has been exceeding the UN target of 0.7% since 1975. The 2013 budget allocates US$5.8 billion (SEK 38.2 billion) to development cooperation, which would equal 1% of GNI.

Swedish development cooperation is aimed at at reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and prioritizes democracy and human rights, gender equality and the role of women (including maternal and child health), and climate and environment (including agricultural development and food security). In its 2013 policy statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reinforces democratic development and strengthening human rights as priorities, but also stresses Sweden’s focus on aid effectiveness, innovation and results-based financing for development.

In 2010, Sweden spent US$477 million (SEK 3.1 billion) on global health, accounting for 9.4% of total ODA. Sweden’s two key priority areas are the fight against HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The Swedish government endorsed the Muskoka Initiative and committed SEK 500 million (US$82 million) in the framework of the UN Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. Sweden committed US$40 million (SEK 280 million) for contraceptives at the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning and US$231 million to the GAVI Alliance (both for 2011—2015).

Agriculture and rural development are not core priorities of Swedish development assistance, at 4.6% (US$235 million or SEK 1.5 billion) of total ODA in 2010. Focus areas are policy and administrative management, and agricultural development, including small-scale farming, infrastructure and knowledge dissemination. Sweden pledged US$500 million to the L’Aquila Food ecurity Initiative for the period 2009—2012. In addition, the government has invested US$523 million (SEK 4 billion) in a “Special Climate Change Initiative” (2009—2012) to support agricultural development and food security.