One kilometer. That is the average distance – as the crow flies – from home to school for the country's elementary school students, according to SCB.
But there are, of course, significant differences, both geographically and depending on the type of school.
In Bjurholm, Västerbotten, students have an average of six kilometers to the only school in the municipality. That is the longest distance in the country. The shortest distance is for students in Lomma, Skåne: 600 meters.
Students in independent schools have longer commutes to school than students in municipal schools: 2.3 kilometers and 900 meters, respectively.
The commute to school also becomes longer with age. High school students have an average of 1.6 kilometers to school, while lower and middle school students need to travel 900 meters.
The specified distances are median values, and since the distances are measured as the crow flies, the actual distances that children travel by car, on foot, or by bike are longer.
