The reference rate (pursuant to the Interest Act)

According to the Interest Act, the Riksbank must set a reference rate every calendar half-year. The level of the reference rate is controlled by the Riksbank’s policy rate.

What is the reference rate?

The reference rate is an interest rate that the Riksbank must set in accordance with Section 9 of the Interest Act (1975:635). The Interest Act contains provisions on payment terms in certain cases and on interest. This reference rate is used as a basis for calculating certain interest rates under the Interest Act. The reference rate serves no monetary policy purpose.

Reference rate

4.00%
Applies for the period 1 January-30 June 2024

Reference rate

When and how often is the reference rate published?

The reference rate is determined by a biannual decision by the Riksbank, taken on the last weekday before the start of a new calendar half-year. Decisions on the reference rate are thus published on the last working day before 1 January and on the last working day before 1 July. The reference rate applies for the coming six months, which is to say January to June and July to December respectively.

Where is the reference rate published?

The reference rate is published on the Riksbank’s website and is also announced in the Swedish Code of Statutes.

How is the reference rate calculated?

The level of the reference rate is controlled by the Riksbank’s policy rate. The reference rate corresponds to the policy rate, rounded up to the nearest half percentage point.

More information on how the reference rate is used to calculate certain interest rates can be found in the Interest Act. The reference rate is also used in other statutes and contexts. If you have any questions about the reference rate in these cases, contact the responsible authority or organisation for more information.

The reference rate
Date
(DD/MM/YY)
Reference rate
1/1/2024 4.00
1/7/2023 3.50
1/1/2023 2.50
1/7/2022 0.50
1/1/2022 0.00
1/7/2021 0.00
1/1/2021 0.00
1/7/2020 0.00
1/1/2020 0.00
1/7/2019 0.00
1/1/2019 -0.50
1/7/2018 -0.50
1/1/2018 -0.50
1/7/2017 -0.50
1/1/2017 -0.50 
1/7/2016 -0.50 
1/1/2016 0.00
1/7/2015 0,00 
1/1/2015 0.00 
1/7/2014 1.00
1/1/2014 1.00 
1/7/2013 1.00  
1/1/2013 1.00  
1/7/2012 1.50  
1/1/2012 2.00 
1/7/2011 2.00 
1/1/2011 1.50
1/7/2010  0.50
1/1/2010 0.50 
1/7/2009  0.50 
1/1/2009 2.00
1/7/2008  4.50 
1/1/2008 4.00 
1/7/2007 3.50 
1/1/2007  3.00 
1/7/2006 2.50 
1/1/2006  1.50 
1/7/2005  1.50 
1/1/2005  2.00 
1/7/2004  2.00 
1/1/2004  3.00 
1/7/2003  3.00 
1/1/2003 4.00 
1/7/2002  4.50 

The Riksbank’s reference rate pursuant to the Interest Act has existed since 1 July 2002, when it replaced what was then known as the discount rate.

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Updated 29/12/2023