In Sweden, months of winter darkness have made people obsessed with making the most of every ray of sunshine. Now, IKEA has identified the country’s sunniest square metre. Using 20 years of solar data analyzed together with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), IKEA has pinpointed the exact square meter estimated to have received the most sunshine and marked it with a permanent monument.
The site, located on Gotland, an island off Sweden’s east coast, is now marked by two stone armchairs inspired by the IKEA outdoor chair SKARPÖ, designed by Magnus Elebäck. The monument makes it possible to visit the exact square metre and serves as a lasting tribute to Sweden’s enduring love of sunshine.
The site is intended to become a new Swedish summer destination — a place where sun-seeking visitors can make the journey and experience Sweden’s sunniest spot for themselves.
“As the seasons change, so do the ways we live. When the sunlight and warmth return after winter, people across Sweden move outdoors. At IKEA, we want to help as many people as possible make the most of life outside. Identifying and marking Sweden’s sunniest square metre is part of that ambition,” says IKEA Sweden Communications Manager Linda Vikström.
Built on 20 years of solar data
To identify Sweden’s sunniest square metre, IKEA used SARAH-3, a high-resolution satellite-based climate database containing information about solar radiation.
Working together with meteorological experts at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), IKEA analysed how sunshine has been distributed across Sweden between January 2005 and December 2025. The satellite-based method made it possible to assess sunshine levels across the entire country and identify the area estimated to have accumulated the highest number of sunshine hours over the past two decades.
Between 2005 and 2025, the selected location averaged 2,137 sunshine hours per year — equivalent to nearly six hours of sunshine per day throughout the year.
From the sunniest area to one exact square meter
Once the area had been identified, the next step was to determine the exact square meter.
Together with architect and topographic advisor Erik Gardell, local conditions including elevation, slope, exposure, and shadowing were analysed. This topographic assessment made it possible to identify the precise point where sunlight has historically had the greatest opportunity to reach the ground over the highest number of hours and minutes.
Facts: How Sweden’s sunniest square meter was identified
- The analysis covers the period January 2005–December 2025.
- The selection is based on the estimated number of accumulated sunshine hours over a 20-year period.
- Between 2005 and 2025, the selected location averaged 2,137 sunshine hours per year — meaning that nearly a quarter of all hours throughout the year were sunny.
- The analysis is based on SARAH-3, a satellite-based climate database containing information about solar radiation.
- With support from meteorological experts at SMHI, IKEA identified the area in Sweden estimated to have accumulated the highest number of sunshine hours during the period.
- A topographic analysis was then carried out together with architect and topographic advisor Erik Gardell to determine the exact square metre based on local conditions such as slope, exposure, and shadowing.
- The site is located on southern Gotland, southwest of Burgsvik, and is marked with a permanent monument.
