Origins & History
The Scandinavian peoples are North Germanic groups native to the Nordic region, including Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, and Icelanders. Their common origin traces to the Viking Age (roughly 793–1066 CE), when Norse expansion extended their influence from North America to the Caspian Sea. Modern Scandinavian identity is closely tied to social democratic states and shared cultural traditions.
Geographic Distribution
Scandinavian populations number approximately 25 million people. Sweden has around 10 million, Norway around 5 million, Denmark around 6 million, and Iceland around 400,000. Finland, though geographically Nordic and often included culturally, is ethnolinguistically distinct (Finnish is a Uralic language, unrelated to Scandinavian languages).
Diaspora & Migration
The Scandinavian diaspora is largely a product of 19th-century emigration, particularly to North America. Around 11 million Americans claim Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish ancestry, with major historic communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas. Smaller populations exist in Canada, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil.
About This Map
This map reflects perceptions of Scandinavian populations. Because Scandinavians are numerically small but culturally visible, votes may highlight both the Nordic region and heritage communities abroad.
The map above shows crowd opinion, not official demographic data. Vote on the main map to contribute your own perception of where Scandinavians populations live.