Temperature measurements in eight holes reaching vertical depths between 287 and 1100m below ground surface in the Malmberget area (lat. 67° 10' N, long. 20° 40' E Gr.) and the Kiruna area (lat. 67° 52' N, long. 20° 9' E Gr.) in the Swedish Precambrian are reported. The mean equilibrium heat flow in this part of the Swedish shield after climatic correction is 52.6 ± 1.7mWm-2. The mean uncorrected heat flow is 46.6 mWm-2. Comparison with other shield areas shows that in common with the S. African and Indian shields, the north Swedish shield has a greater heat flow than the remaining shield areas of the world.