The understanding of health inequalities requires further development of epidemiological capacity and must have a broad focus on social determinants of health The article by Agardh et al (1) in this issue of Läkartidningen compares the trend of population health in Stockholm county versus the rest of the country. The article represents an important attempt to monitor and understand the driving forces of geographical inequalities in health. However, such inequalities also depend heavily on migration patterns and how these are linked to social determinants of health. Therefore it is important to include determinants from a broad range of policy sectors (e.g. education, labour market, family welfare, as well as health care services) in order to interpret the deeper causes of geographic inequalities in health. Monitoring population health and health inequalities should be linked to a general follow-up of Agenda 2030 and a sustainable development.