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: 450,295 km²
Rank: 55
Land: 410,335 km²
Water: 39,960 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries
Total: 2,233 km
Border countries: (2) Finland 614 km; Norway 1619 km

Coastline: 3,218 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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 -2.4 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: 179 km³ (2005)

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: 9,059,651 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 87
Growth rate: 0.158% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 186
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: 15.7%
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 3,003,358/female 2,927,038)
65 years and over: 18.8% (male 753,293/female 950,171) (2009 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 41.5 years
Male: 40.4 years
Female: 42.6 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.158% (2009 est.)
Rank: 186

Birth rate: 10.13 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 194

Death rate: 10.21 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 60

Net migration rate: 1.66 migrant(s)/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 48

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 85% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 2.75 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 222
Male: 2.91 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 2.58 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.86 years
Rank: 10
Male: 78.59 years
Female: 83.26 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 173

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 125
People living with hivaids: 6,200 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 119
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 132

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 7.1% of GDP (2005)
Rank: 21

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
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 17 years (2006)

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 Dalarna Gavleborg Gotland Halland Jamtland Jonkoping Kalmar Kronoberg Norrbotten Orebro Ostergotland Skane Sodermanland Stockholm Uppsala Varmland Vasterbotten Vasternorrland Vastmanland Vastra Gotaland

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 ; 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: Center-right coalition of Moderate Center Liberal and Christian Democrats parties win 175 out of 349 votes; Fredrik REINFELDT becomes prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
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% Liberal 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 Liberal 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]; Liberal People's Party [Jan BJORKLUND]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]

International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member) AfDB (nonregional member) Arctic Council Australia Group BIS CBSS CE CERN EAPC EBRD EIB ESA EU FAO 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 MINURCAT MONUC NAM (guest) NC NEA NIB NSG OAS (observer) OECD OPCW OSCE Paris Club PCA PFP Schengen Convention UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO 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 Jonas HAFSTROM
In the us chancery: The House of Sweden 2,900 K 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 consulate general: Los Angeles New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador ; Charge d'Affaires Robert J. SILVERMAN
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); the colors reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field

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. In September 2003 Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty. 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 of employment. Until 2008 Sweden was in the midst of a sustained economic upswing boosted by increased domestic demand and strong exports. This and robust finances offered the center-right government considerable scope to implement its reform program aimed at increasing employment reducing welfare dependence and streamlining the state's role in the economy. Despite strong finances and underlying fundamentals the Swedish economy slid into recession in the third quarter of 2008 and growth continued downward in the fourth as deteriorating global conditions reduced export demand and consumption. On 3 February 2009 the Swedish Government announced a $6 billon rescue package for the banking sector.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 33
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 202

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 25
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.6%
Industry: 28%
Services: 70.5% (2008 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: -1.8% (2008 est.)
Rank: 150

Labor force: 4.897 million (2008 est.)
Rank: 76
By occupation agriculture: 1.1%
By occupation industry: 28.2%
By occupation services: 70.7% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6.1% (2007 est.)
Rank: 77

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 (1992)
Rank: 134

Budget
Revenues: $259.9 billion
Expenditures: $248.1 billion (2008 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 51.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Rank: 64

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.2% (2007 est.)
Rank: 50

Central bank discount rate: 3.5% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 129

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 4% (2004)
Rank: 140

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit: $630.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Rank: 19

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 21

Current account balance: $38.42 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 11

Exports: $170.5 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 26
Commodities: machinery 35% motor vehicles paper products pulp and wood iron and steel products chemicals
Partners: Germany 10.4% Norway 9.5% Denmark 7.4% UK 7.3% US 6.6% Finland 6.3% Netherlands 5.1% France 4.9% Belgium 4.4% (2008)

Imports: $152.2 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 27
Commodities: machinery petroleum and petroleum products chemicals motor vehicles iron and steel; foodstuffs clothing
Partners: Germany 17.5% Denmark 9.4% Norway 8.6% UK 6.2% Finland 5.7% Netherlands 5.6% France 5% Russia 4.4% China 4.2% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $31.04 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 44

Debt external: $598.2 billion (30 June 2006)
Rank: 17

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $252.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 16

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $306.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 13

Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.4074 (2008 est.) 6.7629 (2007) 7.3731 (2006) 7.4731 (2005) 7.3489 (2004)


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Electricity
Production: 144 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 24
Consumption: 134.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 23
Exports: 14.71 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 12.75 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 127
Consumption: 913 million m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 89
Exports: 0 m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 110
Imports: 913 million m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 55
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 133

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 5.323 million (2008)
Main lines in use rank: 30
Mobile cellular: 10.988 million (2008)
Mobile cellular rank: 57

Telephone system
General assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line mobile-cellular Internet and broadband penetration
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; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; 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: 3.886 million (2009)
Hosts rank: 20
Users: 8.1 million (2008)
Users rank: 32

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 106

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18-47 years of age for male compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation: 7.5 months (Army) 7-15 months (Navy) 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2009)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 249 (2009)
Rank: 26
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: 76
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 25
With paved runways under 914 m: 36 (2009)
With unpaved runways total: 97
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 92 (2009)

Heliports: 2 (2009)

Pipelines: gas 786 km (2008)

Railways
Total: 11,633 km
Rank: 20
Standard gauge: 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways
Total: 425,300 km
Rank: 14
Paved: 139,300 km (includes 1740 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 286,000 km (2008)

Waterways: 2,052 km (2007)
Rank: 43

Merchant marine
Total: 195
Rank: 34
By type: bulk carrier 6 cargo 23 carrier 1 chemical tanker 45 passenger 4 passenger/cargo 36 petroleum tanker 15 roll on/roll off 37 specialized tanker 3 vehicle carrier 25
Foreign owned: 41 (Denmark 4 Estonia 2 Finland 12 Germany 5 Italy 9 Norway 7 UK 2)
Registered in other countries: 207 (Antigua and Barbuda 1 Bahamas 4 Barbados 7 Bermuda 20 Cook Islands 8 Cyprus 2 Denmark 6 Finland 2 France 9 Germany 1 Gibraltar 13 Isle of Man 1 Italy 1 Liberia 10 Malaysia 3 Malta 2 Marshall Islands 1 Netherlands 28 Netherlands Antilles 1 Norway 34 Panama 6 Portugal 3 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2 Singapore 20 UK 17 US 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Brofjorden Goteborg Helsingborg Lulea Malmo Stenungsund Stockholm Trelleborg Visby


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs