What is Jantelagen? Swedish Culture Takes Humility and Equality Seriously!

Before moving to Sweden, I had never heard of Jantelagen (translated to the Law of Jante). Recently, one of my professors brought the idea up in class. He talked about how ABBA was an international sensation in 1970s, but originally wasn’t as popular as you would expect in Sweden. It’s not very Swedish to be so famous! This example of Jantelagen in action made me curious about the concept and what it reflects about Swedish culture.

What is Jantelagen, and where did it come from?

The concept of Jantelagen has literary origins, coming from Askel Sandemose’s 1933 novel “A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks.” The book centers around a made-up town in Denmark, called Jante. The community in Jante prioritizes the collective and conformity with group norms, through 10 laws.

1. You’re not to think you’re anything special
2. You’re not to think you’re as good as we are
3. You’re not to think you’re smarter than we are
4. You’re not to imagine yourself better than we are
5. You’re not to think you know more than we do
6. You’re not to think you are more important than we are
7. You’re not to think you are good at anything
8. You’re not to laugh at us
9. You’re not to think anyone cares about you
10. You’re not to think you can teach us anything

How is Jantelagen reflected in Scandinavian culture?

These laws basically boil down to not acting like you’re better than others. In Scandinavian societies, this idea seems to be present in unwritten rules and social norms. Jantelagen is a concept that emphasizes collective unity, modesty, and equality over individualism. Scandinavian countries tend to have a relatively flat social hierarchy (which Ravi talks more about here!), which reflects their commitment to equality. Because of these social norms, it seems to be bad form to brag or draw attention to individual success.

As one example, Swedish work environments are highly collaborative, and value group success over individual accomplishments. When I’ve attended career workshops, they stress the importance of these dynamics, and suggest using more “we” instead of “I” words in your application materials. They highlighted how you should demonstrate that you understand their work culture and will fit in with the team, as this is a big consideration in the hiring process. And while Sweden certainly acknowledges successful companies and how their success is connected to Swedish culture and work environments, it’s not as common to highlight specific individuals.

Different Perspectives on Jantelagen

Jantelagen isn’t necessarily specific to Scandinavian culture. For example, a Japanese proverb that translates to “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down” emphasizes conformity, group harmony, and fitting in. Individuals who stand out, behave differently, or challenge group norms might face criticism or pressure to conform to the group. Another similar idea is “tall poppy syndrome,” which is popular in Australia and New Zealand. Individuals with high achievements, wealth, or status (“tall poppies”) are often criticized (“cut down”) to promote egalitarianism and humility.

As an American, I’m used to a more individualistic culture. Instead of collective wellbeing, individual rights, personal autonomy, and independence are usually more highly valued. People like to stand out and be different. Individual achievements are very important, in the workplace and often to one’s identity. While it can be nice to feel free to express yourself, individualism can also be alienating when it distances you from a strong sense of community. It can also be problematic when trying to tackle complex and wide-reaching social issues, since individualists often have a tendency to value what is personally best for them, instead of what is best for the collective as a whole.

Criticisms of Jantelagen

At the same time, some people have criticized Jantelagen. They argue that it suppresses individuality, discouraging people from standing out and being unique. It might also limit ambition, if people feel like it’s better to be average than outstanding. And perhaps it’s harmful to individuals’ sense of self-worth, if they aren’t able to recognize what they’re good at and be proud of their success.

But considering that Nordic countries (including Sweden!) consistently rank in the top 5 in the World Happiness Report, perhaps Jantelagen isn’t so bad! And ambition and innovation haven’t been stifled, as Sweden ranks 1st among EU member states in the 2025 European Innovation Scoreboard. Sweden’s commitment to equality and flat hierarchies is likely enabling this innovation, as including a variety of different perspectives can make good ideas even better.

Takeaways

Jantelagen might be a fictional set of rules, but there are some parallels to Scandinavian culture. Since I’m not Swedish, I can’t really speak to any potentially negative effects of growing up with these social norms. But I have seen the more positive sides, like Sweden’s commitment to equality and inclusion in education, the workplace, and social life.