Sápmi, the Sami and reindeer in the mountains
The Swedish mountains are reindeer grazing land and have been for longer than Sweden has existed as a state. This page explains what Sápmi is, how Sami villages and reindeer herding work, the eight seasons of the herding year and the simple rules that let visitors hike without disturbing the herds.
What is Sápmi?
Sápmi is the Sami homeland. It stretches from Idre in Dalarna in the south to the Arctic Ocean in Norway and east to the Kola Peninsula in Russia. National borders drawn from the 1700s onwards divided the Sami people between four states.
No official area exists for Sápmi. Neither the Sami Parliament nor the Sami information centre gives a figure in square kilometres, so numbers found on other websites have no official backing.
The number of Sami is estimated at 80 000 to 100 000 across all four countries. No census on ethnic grounds is carried out, so every figure is an estimate. The Sami were recognised as an indigenous people by the Swedish parliament in 1977 and as a people in the Swedish constitution in 2011.
Sami villages and reindeer herding
A Sami village, sameby, is not a village in the usual sense. It is a geographical area where reindeer are herded, organised as an economic association with its own board.
| Fact | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sami villages | 51 | 33 mountain, 10 forest and 8 concession villages |
| Reindeer in the winter herd | 225 000 to 280 000 | The number varies between years |
| Reindeer owners | About 5 000 | 85 per cent live in Norrbotten |
| Working herders | Just over 1 000 | About 18 per cent are women |
| Share of Sweden | About 50 per cent | Area with reindeer grazing rights |
Reindeer herding rights rest on immemorial custom. The Reindeer Husbandry Act says that anyone of Sami descent may use land and water to support themselves and their reindeer.
Mountain villages move with the seasons between the high fells in the west and the forest land in the east. In extreme cases the migration is up to 500 kilometres, while the southernmost villages move only 40 to 50 kilometres between summer and winter land.
The eight seasons of the herding year
The Sami information centre describes the herding year as eight seasons. In winter the reindeer seek shelter and food in the eastern forest. In summer they move west towards the cooler mountains, which is why most Sami villages stretch from east to west across the country.
Spring
Calves are born. A disturbed cow can abandon a newborn calf, so this is the most sensitive time.
Summer
Herds are gathered in corrals for calf marking. A frightened herd can undo days of work.
Autumn
Separation and slaughter, followed by the move towards the winter grazing land.
Winter
Reindeer dig through the snow for lichen. Ice after rain can lock the grazing over large areas.
How to hike in reindeer country
Advice from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is short. Keep your distance from reindeer, keep your dog on a leash in reindeer grazing land and avoid grazing land during calving from April to June.
- Watch the herdIf the reindeer move away from you, you have come too close.
- Sit down and waitIf you meet a herd, sit down and let it pass or take a detour around it.
- Leash your dogSwedish law requires dogs to be kept under control from 1 March to 20 August. The agency advises a leash at all times in reindeer land.
- Camp away from corralsDo not pitch your tent next to a reindeer corral, since it may be used.
Disturbing reindeer is more than impolite. Section 94 of the Reindeer Husbandry Act sets fines for anyone who deliberately or carelessly frightens or harasses reindeer. In the Laponia World Heritage Site Laponiatjuottjudus gives the same advice and asks visitors to enjoy the reindeer at a distance.
The Sami languages
Sami is not one language but nine. The Institute for Language and Folklore, Isof, lists them from south to north: South, Ume, Pite, Lule and North Sami, followed by the eastern languages Inari, Skolt, Kildin and Ter Sami.
Five of them are spoken in Sweden and have approved spellings. Sami is one of five national minority languages in Sweden. The many Sami place names on Swedish maps, such as jåkka for stream and vagge for valley, come from these languages.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sápmi?
The Sami homeland, stretching across Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. It has no official area.
How many Sami villages are there in Sweden?
51 according to the Sami Parliament: 33 mountain villages, 10 forest villages and 8 concession villages.
How many Sami live in Sweden?
Nobody knows exactly, since there is no ethnic census. Estimates for all of Sápmi range from 80 000 to 100 000.
When is calving season?
From April to June. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency advises visitors to avoid reindeer grazing land then.
What should I do if I meet reindeer on the trail?
Sit down and wait for the herd to pass, or walk around it. If the reindeer move away, you are too close.
Do I need to keep my dog on a leash?
Swedish law requires control from 1 March to 20 August. In reindeer grazing land the agency advises a leash at all times.
How many Sami languages are there?
Nine, of which five are spoken in Sweden.
Is it illegal to disturb reindeer?
Yes. The Reindeer Husbandry Act sets fines for frightening or harassing reindeer deliberately or through carelessness.
Sources
- www.sametinget.se: Sami Parliament: Sami villages
- www.sametinget.se: Sami Parliament: reindeer herding in Sweden, figures
- samer.se: Sami information centre: the Sami in numbers
- samer.se: Sami information centre: the reindeer herding year
- www.riksdagen.se: Reindeer Husbandry Act (1971:437), sections 1 and 94
- www.isof.se: Institute for Language and Folklore: the Sami languages
- www.naturvardsverket.se: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency: the right of public access in the mountains
- laponia.nu: Laponiatjuottjudus: conduct in the World Heritage Site
Facts checked on 6 November 2026.
English pages. Guide to the Swedish mountains, national parks, Sápmi and reindeer herding, Laponia World Heritage, mountain nature and fishing licences.
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