Map of Sweden | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: A military power during the 17th century Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in 2000-02 by the global economic downturn but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Sweden joined the EU in 1995 but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.


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Location: Northern Europe bordering the Baltic Sea Gulf of Bothnia Kattegat and Skagerrak between Finland and Norway

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N 15 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 449,964 km²
Land: 410,934 km²
Water: 39,030 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries
Total: 2,233 km
Border countries: (2) Finland 614 km; , Norway 1,619 km

Coastline: 3,218 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
Exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate: 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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m
Extremes highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Natural resources: iron ore copper lead zinc gold silver tungsten uranium arsenic feldspar timber hydropower

Land use
Arable land: 5.93%
Permanent crops: 0.01%
Other: 94.06% (2005)

Irrigated land: 1150 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters especially in the Gulf of Bothnia can interfere with maritime traffic

Geography
Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas


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Population: 9,031,088 (July 2007 est.)
Growth rate: 0.159% (2007 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Swede
Adjective: Swedish

Ethnic groups: indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns Yugoslavs Danes Norwegians Greeks Turks

Languages: Swedish small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Religions: Lutheran 87% other (includes Roman Catholic Orthodox Baptist Muslim Jewish and Buddhist) 13%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 759,488/female 717,812)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,007,899/female 2,926,220)
65 years and over: 17.9% (male 707,687/female 911,982) (2007 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 41.1 years
Male: 40 years
Female: 42.2 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.159% (2007 est.)

Birth rate: 10.2 births/1000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate: 10.27 deaths/1000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.66 migrant(s)/1000 population (2007 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.058 male/female
15-64 years: 1.028 male/female
65 years and over: 0.776 male/female
Total population: 0.982 male/female (2007 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 2.76 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 2.92 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 2.59 deaths/1000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.63 years
Male: 78.39 years
Female: 83 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 3,600 (2001 est.)
Deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
Conventional short form: Sweden
Local long form: Konungariket Sverige
Local short form: Sverige

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital
Name: Stockholm
Geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 21 counties (lan singular and plural); Blekinge Dalarnas Gavleborgs Gotlands Hallands Jamtlands Jonkopings Kalmar Kronobergs Norrbottens Orebro Ostergotlands Skane Sodermanlands Stockholms Uppsala Varmlands Vasterbottens Vasternorrlands Vastmanlands Vastra Gotalands

Dependent areas

Independence: 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

National holiday: Swedish Flag Day 6 June (1916); National Day 6 June (1983)

Constitution: 1 January 1975

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977)
Head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5 October 2006)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by the parliament; election last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010)
Election results: Fredrik REINFELDT elected prime minister with 175 out of 349 votes

Legislative branch
Elections: last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 37.2%, Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, People's Party 8.0%, Christian Democrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats by party - Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, People's Party 28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders: Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran HAGGLUND]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]

International organization participation: AfDB Arctic Council AsDB Australia Group BIS CBSS CE CERN EAPC EBRD EIB ESA EU FAO G- 6 G- 9 G-10 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt ICRM IDA IEA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA MONUC NAM (guest) NC NEA NIB NSG OAS (observer) OECD OPCW OSCE Paris Club PCA PFP Schengen Convention UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMEE UNMIL UNMIS UNMOGIP UNOMIG UNRWA UNTSO UPU WCO WEU (observer) WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO ZC

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Gunnar LUND
In the us chancery: 902 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 467-2,600
In the us fax: [1] (202) 467-2,699
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles, New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael M. WOOD
From the us embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11,589 Stockholm
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5,750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20,521-5,750
From the us telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
From the us fax: [46] (08) 661 19 64

Flag description: blue with a golden yellow cross extending 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th century 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 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. Agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP and 2% of employment. The government's commitment to fiscal discipline resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001 which was cut by more than half in 2002 due to the global economic slowdown declining revenue and increased spending. The Swedish central bank (the Riksbank) focuses on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003 but picked up during 2004-06. Presumably because of generous sick-leave benefits Swedish workers report in sick more often than other Europeans. In September 2003 Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $290.1 billion (2006 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 4.5% (2006 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $32,200 (2006 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.4%
Industry: 29%
Services: 69.6% (2006 est.)

Agriculture products: barley wheat sugar beets; meat milk

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: 4.3% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.586 million (2006 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 2%
By occupation industry: 24%
By occupation services: 74% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.6% (2006 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.6%
Highest 10: 22.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income gini index: 25 (2000)

Budget
Revenues: $221.6 billion
Expenditures: $213.5 billion (2006 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 47.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1.4% (2006 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares: $403.9 billion (2005)

Current account balance: $27.5 billion (2006 est.)

Exports: $153.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: machinery 35% motor vehicles paper products pulp and wood iron and steel products chemicals
Partners: Germany 9.8% US 9.3% Norway 9.2% UK 7.1% Denmark 6.9% Finland 6% France 4.9% Netherlands 4.7% Belgium 4.5% (2006)

Imports: $132.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: machinery petroleum and petroleum products chemicals motor vehicles iron and steel; foodstuffs clothing
Partners: Germany 17.3% Denmark 9.1% Norway 8.2% UK 6% Netherlands 5.8% Finland 5.7% France 4.6% Belgium 4.1% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $28.02 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external: $598.2 billion (30 June 2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $199.6 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $226.4 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates: Swedish kronor per US dollar - 7.3731 (2006) 7.4731 (2005) 7.3489 (2004) 8.0863 (2003) 9.7371 (2002)


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Electricity
Production: 153.2 billion kWh (2005)
Consumption: 134.1 billion kWh (2005)
Exports: 21.97 billion kWh (2005)
Imports: 14.58 billion kWh (2005)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Consumption: 893.9 million m³ (2005 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Imports: 893.9 million m³ (2005)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 6.379 million (2005)
Mobile cellular: 9.087 million (2005)

Telephone system
General assessment: excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system
Domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels
International: country code - 46; 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .se
Hosts: 3.318 million (2007)
Users: 6.981 million (2006)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 1.5% (2005 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation: 7-15 months (Navy) 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47 (2006)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 250 (2007)
With paved runways total: 152
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 12
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 75
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 24
With paved runways under 914 m: 38 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 98
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 92 (2007)

Heliports: 2 (2007)

Pipelines: gas 798 km (2006)

Railways
Total: 11,528 km
Standard gauge: 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,527 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways
Total: 424,947 km
Paved: 129,651 km (includes 1,591 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 295,296 km (2004)

Waterways: 2,052 km (2005)

Merchant marine
Total: 194 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,883,695 GRT/2,451,123 DWT
By type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 23, carrier 1, chemical tanker 49, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 37, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 35, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 22
Foreign owned: 34 (Denmark 4, Finland 10, Germany 4, Italy 7, Japan 1, Norway 5, UK 2, US 1)
Registered in other countries: 198 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 5, Barbados 5, Bermuda 15, Cayman Islands 1, Cook Islands 9, Cyprus 2, Denmark 4, Finland 2, France 10, Gibraltar 10, Isle of Man 3, Italy 1, South Korea 2, Liberia 11, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 27, Netherlands Antilles 3, Norway 31, Panama 9, Portugal 2, Singapore 17, St Vincent and The Grenadines 2, UK 19, US 5) (2007)

Ports and terminals: Goteborg Helsingborg Karlshamn Lulea Malmo Oxelosund Stenungsund Stockholm Trelleborg


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs