Ingeborg was born the eldest daughter of King Erik Knutsson and his wife Rikissa of Denmark.

[1] She lived during her youth in exile in Denmark after her brother had been deposed by his guardian and regent in 1229.

[citation needed] Sometime between 1235 and 1240 Ingeborg married Birger Magnusson of the House of Bjälbo, who supported her brother Erik Eriksson to reacquire the Swedish throne from the usurper Knut Långe.

In 1250, her brother Erik died without an heir and her eldest son Valdemar was chosen to succeed him on the throne.

[1] Ingeborg is recorded to have inherited her brother Erik's private property upon his death, as his only living sibling.