Statistical information Sweden 1993

Sweden in the World
top of pageBackground: Having long lost its military prowess of the 17th century, Sweden has evolved into a prosperous and peaceful constitutional monarchy with a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements. As the 20th century comes to an end, this long successful formula is being undermined by high unemployment; the rising cost of a "cradle to the grave" welfare state; the decline of Sweden's competitive position in world markets; and indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe.
top of pageLocation:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Norway and
Finland
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the
World
AreaTotal: 449,964 km²
Land: 410,928 km²
Land boundaries: total 2,205 km, Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
ElevationNatural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential
Land useArable land: 7%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 2%
Forest and woodland: 64%
Other: 27%
Irrigated land: 1,120 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 8,730,286 (July 1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Swede(s)
Adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: white, Lapp, foreign born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Languages: Swedish
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 13.78 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 10.96 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.97 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: water pollution; acid rain
Current issues note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 5.8 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 78.08 years
Male: 75.3 years
Female: 81.02 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
Total population: 99%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
Conventional short form: Sweden
Local short form: Sverige
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands
Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan,
Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan,
Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala
Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Dependent areasIndependence: 6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy established)
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral parliament (Riksdag)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik LILJEGREN
In the us chancery: Suite 1200 and 715, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: (202) 944-5,600
In the us fax: (202) 342-1319
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
From the us chief of mission: (vacant)
From the us embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: 46 (8) 783-5,300
From the us fax: 46 (8) 661-1964
Flag description
: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In the last few years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Although Prime Minister BILDT'S center-right minority coalition had hoped to charge ahead with free-market-oriented reforms, a skyrocketing budget deficit - almost 13% of GDP in FY94 projections - and record unemployment have forestalled many of the plans. Unemployment in 1993 is forecast at around 7% with another 5% in job training. Continued heavy foreign exchange speculation forced the government to cooperate in late 1992 with the opposition Social Democrats on two crisis packages - one a severe austerity pact and the other a program to spur industrial competitiveness - which basically set economic policy through 1997. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has since depreciated around 2.5% against the dollar. The government hopes the in the economy, BILDT continues to propose cuts in welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden continues to harmonize its economic policies with those of the EC in preparation for concluding its EC membership bid by 1995.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -1.7% (1992)
Real gdp per capita: $16,900 (1992)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes; Sweden is about 50% self-sufficient in most products; farming accounted for 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of jobs in 1990
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate -3.0% (1992)
Labor force: 4.552 million
By occupation community socialandpersonalservices: 38.3%
By occupation mining and manufacturing: 21.2%
By occupation commerce hotels andrestaurants: 14.1%
By occupation banking insurance: 9.0%
By occupation communications: 7.2%
By occupation construction: 7.0%
By occupation agriculture fishing andforestry: 3.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 5.3% (1992)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $70.4 billion; expenditures $82.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $56 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodoties: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products
Partners: EC 55.8% (Germany 15%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.2%, France 5.8%), EFTA 17.4% (Norway 8.4%, Finland 5.1%), US 8.2%, Central and Eastern Europe 2.5% (1992)
Imports: $51.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
Commodoties: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
Partners:EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France 4.9%),
EFTA (Norway 6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern Europe 3% (1992)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.8812 (December 1992), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188 (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,500 million kWh produced, 16,560 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $6.7 billion, 3.8% of GDP (FY92/93)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 253
Usable: 250
With permanentsurface runways: 139
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 12
With runways 1220-2439 m: 94
HeliportsPipelines: natural gas 84 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Merchant marine:
179 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,473,769
GRT/3,227,366 DWT; includes 10 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container, 43 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 13 vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 32 oil tanker, 27 chemical tanker, 4 specialized tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 combination ore/oil, 10 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo
Ports and terminalsSweden - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: increasingly used as transshipment point for Latin American cocaine to Europe and gateway for Asian heroin shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market