Schools in Pajala municipality

Key metrics — Pajala municipality

Overview of the municipality's education system.

Results and grades

Compulsory school results in Pajala (2025).

Merit value year 9 (municipal avg, 16 subjects)

230 (national avg: 228.5) (county avg: 213.2)

meritRating9 B

Source

kolada

Period

2025

Quality

B: Direct from source

Merit value municipal / independent

234.7 / 181

Passing all subjects year 9

81%

Passing mathematics

94.8%

Pupil satisfaction year 5

61.2%

Parents with post-secondary education

40.9%

Source: Kolada.

Teachers and personnel

Teacher density and qualification in compulsory schools (2024).

Qualified teachers (compulsory school)

61.8% (national avg: 72.6 %) (county avg: 60.9 %)

certifiedTeachersPercent B

Source

kolada

Period

2024

Quality

B: Direct from source

Qualification municipal / independent

64.2% / 46.2%

Pupils per teacher

9

Source: Kolada.

Staff stability

Teacher workforce stability in Pajala, measured by the trend in qualified teacher share over time.

Qualified teachers (2024)

61.8% (national avg: 72.6%)

Stability indicator (2020–2024)

↑ Improving (+6.2 pp)

National trend (2020–2024)

↑ Improving (+1.5 pp)

Forecast 2026

≈ 63.8% (linear extrapolation, +1.4 pp/year)

Source: Kolada.

Pupils and providers

Pupil numbers and distribution between municipal and independent schools (2024).

Compulsory school pupils

534

Municipal / independent share

90.6% / 9.4%

Source: Kolada.

Costs — compulsory school

Cost per pupil in compulsory school (2024). Includes breakdown for municipal schools.

Cost per pupil (total)

204,793 SEK (national avg: 142,154.8 SEK) (county avg: 163,592.8 SEK)

Municipal school cost

181,665 SEK/pupil

Teaching

102,071 SEK/pupil

Premises

27,083 SEK/pupil

Student health

6,825 SEK/pupil

School meals

12,506 SEK/pupil

Learning tools

4,159 SEK/pupil

Source: Kolada (N15006, N15008–N15014).

Student health and support

Student health resources, accessibility and school safety in Pajala.

Student health (compulsory)

6,825 SEK/pupil (national avg: 5,053.2 SEK)

Easy to access help, year 5

59.2%

Safety at school

74.4%

Study environment (studiero)

41.7%

Source: Kolada, Skolinspektionen.

SALSA — merit value vs prerequisites ⓘ∿Model computedThis value is calculated using a statistical model.This affectsSALSA score (municipality)SALSA is model-based and does not explain the full variation in school outcomes.Read more →Read more about the method →

SALSA compares schools' actual results with model-calculated values based on pupil composition. A positive residual = better results than expected. School year 2024/25. SALSA measures relative performance — not absolute school quality. The model explains approx. 53% of variation.

Top merit-value schools

Top 1 schools by year-9 merit value.

Adapted compulsory school

Key metrics for adapted compulsory school in Pajala (2024).

Number of pupils

4

Share of compulsory school pupils

0.7%

Cost per pupil

1,179,500 SEK/year

Teachers per 100 pupils

1.4

Source: Kolada.

Trends — compulsory school

Development over time (2020–2025).

Upper-secondary statistics

Key metrics for upper-secondary schools in Pajala (2024).

Upper-secondary pupils

165

Graduating within 3 years

67.2% (national avg: 71.3 %)

University eligibility (3 years)

19% (national avg: 57.5 %)

Qualified teachers (upper secondary)

56.7% (national avg: 85.3 %)

Cost per upper-secondary pupil

198,559 SEK (national avg: 144,058.4 SEK)

Grade points upper secondary (avg)

15.5 (national avg: 14.8)

Pupils per teacher (upper secondary)

6.6

Withdrawn study support

8.2%

Foreign background (upper secondary)

12%

Diploma/certificate within 3 years

72.4%

Directly to university

7.6% (national avg: 16.7 %)

Source: Kolada.

Trends — upper secondary

Development over time (2020–2024).

University connection

Share of upper-secondary students in Pajala going on to higher education (2021).

Directly to university

7.6% (national avg: 16.7 %)

University eligibility (all)

19% (national avg: 57.5 %)

Eligibility — academic programmes

61.1% (national avg: 82.4 %)

Eligibility — vocational programmes

0% (national avg: 27.4 %)

Graduating within 3 years

67.2% (national avg: 71.3 %)

Source: Kolada. Directly to university = share starting university the same year as graduation.

Pupil forecast

Population forecast for school-age children in Pajala (SCB).

Ages 16–18 (2025)

168

Ages 16–18 (2030)

182 (+8.3%)

Ages 6–15 (2025)

586

Ages 6–15 (2030)

554 (-5.5%)

Ages 1–5 (2025)

252

Total school age (2035)

931

Source: SCB population forecast. The forecast indicates future demand pressure.

Preschool in Pajala

Municipal preschool data. Source: Skolverket's statistics database.

Enrolled children

188

Preschool units

8 (7 municipal, 1 independent)

Share of 1–5 year-olds in preschool

69% (national avg: 86.8%)

Children per group

11.8 (national avg: 15)

Children per group (1–3 years)

9.5 (national avg: 12.1)

Children per FTE

4.3 (national avg: 5)

Preschool teacher licence

25% (national avg: 46.5%)

Pedagogical higher education

25% (national avg: 45.9%)

After-school care (fritidshem)

Key metrics for after-school care in Pajala (2024).

Cost per child

55,335 SEK/year (national avg: 46,711.8 SEK)

Children in after-school care

160

Children per FTE

15 (national avg: 21.6)

Share of 6–12 year-olds enrolled

40.3% (national avg: 57.6 %)

Source: Kolada.

Pedagogical care

Key metrics for pedagogical care (family daycare etc.) in Pajala (2024).

Children in pedagogical care

0

Source: Kolada.

Open preschool and family daycare

Open preschool and family daycare in Pajala (2024).

Open preschool units

0

Open preschool FTEs

0

Source: Kolada.

Trends — preschool and childcare

Development over time (2020–2024).

Children's and youth's health

Health indicators for children and young people in Pajala (2024).

Mental health issues, children/youth

8.2%

Source: Kolada (N33820).

Children's economic conditions

Child poverty and economic standard in Pajala (2024).

Children in economic hardship

19.3%

Source: SCB — EU poverty threshold (60% of median) and weighted DeSO medians.

Demographics

Population data for Pajala (2025).

Total population

5,706

Population change

-2.6%

Ages 1–5 (preschool age)

254

Ages 6–15 (compulsory school age)

519

Ages 16–18 (upper-secondary age)

168

Higher education 25–64

15.6%

Foreign-born 20–64

19.8%

16–24 not in work/education

4.6%

Source: Kolada.

Household types

Distribution of household types in Pajala (2024).

Single without children

48.6%

Single with children

3.7%

Couple without children

25.2%

Couple with children

14%

Other households

8.5%

Total number of households

2,969

Source: SCB.

Migration patterns

In- and out-migration in Pajala (2024).

In-migration

274

Out-migration

240

Net migration

+34

Source: SCB.

Neighboring municipalities

Comparison with the 6 nearest municipalities by geographic distance.

Refugee reception

Refugee reception in Pajala (2024).

Newly arrived received

4.4 per 1,000 pop.

Newly arrived children 0–17

0 per 1,000 pop.

Establishment rate after 2 years

80.8%

Source: Kolada.

Trends — demographics

Demographic development (2020–2025).

Municipal economy

Economic key metrics for Pajala (2025).

Municipal tax rate

23.4%

Total tax rate (municipality+region)

34.7%

Tax base

250,429 SEK/capita

Annual result

369 SEK/capita

Result, share of tax+grants

0.4%

Solidity

37.7%

Source: Kolada.

Economic assistance

Economic assistance (social benefits) in Pajala (2024).

Assistance households

0.3 per 1,000 pop.

Young adults 18–24 with assistance

2.4%

Assistance months (avg)

14.8

Net cost economic assistance

750 SEK/capita

Source: Kolada.

Learning tools and digitalisation

Cost of learning tools in Pajala. Includes textbooks, computers, software, internet access and other teaching equipment.

Learning tools, compulsory school

4,159 SEK/pupil

Source: Kolada (N15012, N17011). Learning tools incl. IT: computers, software, books, AV equipment etc.

Housing and infrastructure

Housing and infrastructure indicators for Pajala.

Overcrowded households (Kolada)

19.1%

Completed dwellings

0.5 per 1,000 pop.

Good public transport

79.7%

Broadband ≥100 Mbit/s

50.5%

Rental

16.8%

Cooperative

0.6%

Owner-occupied

80.5%

Overcrowded (SCB, norm 2)

19%

Cars in traffic

3,460

Source: Kolada, SCB.

Trends — economy and housing

Economic development (2020–2025).

Crime and safety

Reported crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in Pajala (2024).

Reported crimes (total)

6,420 per 100,000 pop.

Violent crimes

376 per 100,000 pop.

Burglaries

102 per 100,000 pop.

Drug crimes

102 per 100,000 pop.

Source: Kolada. Data from BRA.

LSS and disability services

LSS services in Pajala (2024).

LSS cost per capita 0–64

6,720 SEK/year

LSS decisions per 1,000 pop. 0–64

0.9

Source: Kolada.

Culture school

Key metrics for the music and culture school in Pajala (2024).

Share of pupils 6–19

17.9%

Number of pupils

145

Average pupil fee

0 SEK/pupil

Cost per capita

373 SEK/capita

Source: Kolada.

Public library

Key metrics for public libraries in Pajala (2024).

Loans per capita

4.7 per capita

Children's book loans (0–17)

4.9 per capita

Active borrowers

17%

Media allocation

550 SEK/capita

Source: Kolada.

Environment

Environmental indicators for Pajala (2023).

CO₂ emissions per capita

13.5 tonnes

Organic food (municipal kitchens)

15.7%

Source: Kolada.

Trends — society and culture

Development in society and culture (2021–2024).

Trends — adult education

Development in komvux and SFI (2020–2024).

Teacher certification: trend and forecast

Historical trend for the share of qualified teachers in Pajala with a forecast based on linear extrapolation.

Source: Kolada. The forecast is indicative and based on linear regression.

Cost-effectiveness

Comparison between cost per pupil and achieved school results (merit value year 9) in Pajala.

Pajala achieves fewer merit points per invested krona than the national average.

Source: Kolada. Merit value per cost unit is a simplified measure and should be interpreted considering the municipality's socioeconomic conditions.

Comparison with peer municipalities

Pajala compared with 7 statistically similar municipalities. Colour coding: better / average / worse than peer average (±3%).

Source: Kolada. Municipalities selected based on similar education key metrics within Norrbottens län.

Municipalities in the same SCB group

Pajala belongs to SCB municipality group C8 — Landsbygdskommun: kommun med mindre än 15 000 invånare i den största tätorten, låg pendling. 40 municipalities in total. Showing 8 below.

Source: SCB municipality classification (2017) and Kolada. Compare with more municipalities using the Benchmark tool →

All 18 schools in Pajala

Common questions about schools in Pajala

How many schools are there in Pajala?

Pajala municipality has 18 active school units: 6 compulsory schools and 1 upper-secondary schools. Of these, 17 are municipal and 1 are independent. A total of 807 pupils attend schools in Pajala.

What are the merit values in Pajala?

The average year-9 merit value in Pajala is 233.4 points (based on 1 schools). The highest merit value belongs to Pajala Centralskola with 233.4 points.

Which school in Pajala has the highest teacher qualification rate?

Gårdbyskolan has the highest share of qualified teachers in Pajala at 78.2%. The municipal average is 40.7%.

How much does a school place cost in Pajala?

The cost per pupil in compulsory school in Pajala is 204,793 SEK per year (2024). In municipal schools the cost is 181,665 SEK per pupil.

How do student health services work in Pajala?

Student health services in Pajala cost 6,825 SEK per pupil (2024). 59.2% of year 5 pupils find it easy to access student health services.

Statistics: school year 2023/24. Source: Skolverket, SCB, Kolada. Glossary · About the data.
— = data not available from source.