A long way to social integration: Ethnic partnering patterns in Sweden

Marriages or consensual unions across ethnic groups (exogamy) is a strong indicator of social integration, whereas in-group relations (endogamy) signal social seclusion. With a large and diverse foreign-background population, Sweden provides an interesting case for studying partnering across origin groups, defined by own or parental country of origin. Using population register data covering marriages and consensual unions we find clear endogamy in all origin groups, especially those with background in the Middle East and Somalia. ‘Pan-ethnic’ cohabitation is common for those with origin in the Middle East and the Balkans, and transnational partnering is surprisingly frequent in some groups – these phenomena contribute to endogamy rates up to 70%. Exogamous cohabitation is particularly rare among women with background in the Middle East and Somalia, who are much less likely than their brothers to live with a partner of Swedish origin. Endogamy decreases with time spent in Sweden and increases with more co-ethnics in the local area, but neither of these factors accounts for more than a small part of the differences in endogamy. Culturally attracting and/or repelling mechanisms in partner choice are likely to be a major factor behind endogamy.