Statistical information Sweden 2023

Sweden in the World
top of pageBackground: A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in May 2022. Stockholm preserved and armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2021.
top of pageLocation: 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:
EuropeAreaTotal: 450,295 km²
Land: 410,335 km²
Water: 39,960 km²
Comparative: almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California
Land boundariesTotal: 2,211 km
Border countries: (2) Finland 545 km;
Norway 1,666 kmCoastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claimsTerritorial 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
ElevationHighest point: Kebnekaise South 2,100 m
Lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m
Mean elevation: 320 m
Natural resources: iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land useAgricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Forest: 68.7% (2018 est.)
Other: 23.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 519 km² (2013)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalMunicipal: 700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 1.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 174 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
GeographyNote: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third largest in Europe
top of pagePopulationDistribution: most Swedes live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated: 10,536,338 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 0.51% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 17.1% (2018 est.)
NationalityNoun: Swede(s)
Adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: Swedish 80.3%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.4%, other 15%
Languages: Swedish (official)
Major-language samples:Gheos World Guide, den obestridliga källan för grundläggande information. (Swedish)
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages
Religions: Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 57.6%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 33.5% (2019 est.)
Note: estimates reflect registered members of faith communities eligible for state funding (not all religions are state-funded and not all people who identify with a particular religion are registered members) and the Church of Sweden
Demographic profile: Sweden, the largest Nordic country in terms of size and population, is also Europe’s most sparsely populated. Most Swedish men and women agree that both partners should contribute to household income. Swedish society is very gender equal, which is reflected in the country’s public policies. A generous leave policy and high-quality subsidized childcare allows mothers and fathers to balance work and family life. Sweden’s income-replacement-based parental leave policy encourages women to establish themselves in the workforce before having children. In fact, Swedish women have one of the highest labor participation rates in Europe and one of its highest total fertility rates (TFR), the number of children women have in their lifetime. Postponement of parenthood has increased steadily. Since the late 1960s, marriage and divorce rates have declined, while non-marital cohabitation and births out of wedlock have increased rapidly. Sweden’s TFR has hovered for decades around 2, which is close to replacement level and among Europe’s highest.
Age structure0-14 years: 17.26% (male 936,274/female 882,347)
15-64 years: 62.05% (male 3,346,891/female 3,190,608)
65 years and over: 20.69% (2023 est.) (male 1,021,707/female 1,158,511)
Dependency ratiosTotal dependency ratio: 60.8
Youth dependency ratio: 28.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.3
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2021 est.)
Median ageTotal: 41 years (2023 est.)
Male: 40 years
Female: 42 years
Population growth rate: 0.51% (2023 est.)
Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Death rate: 9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Population distribution: most Swedes live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated
UrbanizationUrban population: 88.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areasPopulation: 1.700 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2023)
EnvironmentCurrent issues: marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soils and lakes; air pollution; inappropriate timber harvesting practices
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsParticulate matter emissions: 5.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 43.25 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 4.42 megatons (2020 est.)
Sex ratioAt birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth: 29.7 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rateTotal: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 82.8 years (2023 est.)
Male: 81.1 years
Female: 84.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 70.3% (2017)
Note: percent of women aged 16-49
Drinking water sourceImproved urban: 99.8% of population
Improved rural: 99.7% of population
Improved total: 99.8% of population
Unimproved urban: 0.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 0.3% of population
Unimproved total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure: 11.4% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density: 7.09 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility accessImproved urban:100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban:0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Hiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rate: 20.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumptionPer capita total: 7.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 2.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco useTotal: 24% (2020 est.)
Male: 29.8% (2020 est.)
Female: 18.2% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 7.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
LiteracyTotal population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationTotal: 20 years
Male: 18 years
Female: 21 years (2020)
Youth unemploymentRate ages 15 24 total: 24.5% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 26.1%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 23%
top of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
Conventional short form: Sweden
Local long form: Konungariket Sverige
Local short form: Sverige
Etymology: name ultimately derives from the North Germanic Svear tribe, which inhabited central Sweden and is first mentioned in the first centuries A.D.
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
CapitalName: StockholmGeographic 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
Etymology: stock and
holm literally mean "log" and "islet" in Swedish, but there is no consensus as to what the words refer to
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 areasIndependence: 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
National holiday: National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day
ConstitutionHistory: Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991)
Amendments:proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; the results of such a referendum are only binding if a majority vote against the proposal; there has not been a referendum on constitutional matters; The Instrument of Government - amended several times, last in 2018; The Act of Succession - changed in 1937, 1980; The Freedom of the Press Act - amended several times, last in 2019; The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression - amended several times, last in 2023
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
CitizenshipCitizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown
Dual citizenship recognized: no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree (daughter of the monarch, born 14 July 1977)
Head of government: Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022); Deputy Prime Minister Ebba BUSCH (since 18 October 2022)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
Legislative branchDescription: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; 310 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote and 39 members in "at-large" seats directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 11 September 2022 (next to beheld on 13 September 2,026)
Election results: percent of vote by party - S/SAP 30.3%, M 19.1%, SD 20.5%, C 6.7%, V 6.7%, KD 5.3%, L 4.6%, MP 5.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - S/SAP 107, M 68, SD 73, C 24, V 24, KD 19, L 16, MP 18; composition as of mid-2022 - men 188, women 161, percent of women 46%
Judicial branchHighest courts: Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the Government; following a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent
Subordinate courts: first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C [Muharrem DEMIROK]
Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD [Ebba BUSCH]
Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP [Marta STEVENI and Daniel HELLDEN]
Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V [Nooshi DADGOSTAR]
Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M [Ulf KRISTERSSON]
Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD [Jimmie AKESSON]
Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or S/SAP [Magdalena ANDERSSON]
The Liberals (Liberalerna) or L [Johan PEHRSON]
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023)
In the us chancery: 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 email address and website:ambassaden.washington@gov.se
[link] From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Erik D. RAMANATHAN (since 20 January 2022)
From the us embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm
From the us mailing address: 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
From the us email address and website: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: three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow
National anthemName: "Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)
Lyrics/music: Richard DYBECK/traditional
Note: in use since 1844; also known as "Sang till Norden" (Song of the North), is based on a Swedish folk tune; it has never been officially adopted by the government; "Kungssangen" (The King's Song) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies
National heritageTotal World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:top of pageEconomy overview: small, open, competitive, and thriving economy that remains outside of the euro zone; has achieved an enviable standard of living, with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$574.877 billion (2022 est.)
$558.427 billion (2021 est.)
$531.455 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real gdp growth rate:
2.6% (2022 est.)
5.08% (2021 est.)
-2.17% (2020 est.)
Real gdp per capita:
$54,800 (2022 est.)
$53,600 (2021 est.)
$51,300 (2020 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useHousehold consumption: 44.1% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 26% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.9% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.8% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 45.3% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -41.1% (2017 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.)
Industry: 33% (2017 est.)
Services: 65.4% (2017 est.)
Agriculture products: wheat, milk, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, rye, triticale
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: 5.72% (2021 est.)
Labor force: 5.556 million (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.66% (2021 est.)
8.29% (2020 est.)
6.83% (2019 est.)
Youth unemploymentRate ages 15 24 total: 24.5% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 26.1%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 23%
Population below poverty line: 17.1% (2018 est.)
Gini indexCoefficient distribution of family income: 29.3 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10%: 3.4%
Highest 10%: 24% (2012)
Distribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $259.17 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $256.454 billion (2019 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.58% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Public debt:
44% of GDP (2020 est.)
38.69% of GDP (2019 est.)
42.28% of GDP (2018 est.)
Note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
RevenueFrom forest resources: 0.21% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
2.16% (2021 est.)
0.5% (2020 est.)
1.78% (2019 est.)
Central bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balance:
$34.075 billion (2021 est.)
$32.372 billion (2020 est.)
$29.361 billion (2019 est.)
Exports:
$290.793 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$241.94 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$257.293 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: Germany 10%, Norway 9%, United States 8%, Denmark 8%, Finland 6% (2021)
Commodities: cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, lumber, iron, broadcasting equipment (2021)
Imports:
$263.269 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$217.165 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$233.648 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: Germany 18%, Netherlands 9%, Norway 8%, China 7%, Denmark 7% (2021)
Commodities: cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$62.053 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$58.26 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$55.51 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
Debt external:
$911.317 billion (2019 est.)
$1,012,171,000,000 (2018 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates:
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 8.577 (2021 est.)
9.21 (2020 est.)
9.458 (2019 est.)
8.693 (2018 est.)
8.549 (2017 est.)
top of pageElectricityAccess electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 43.499 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 124.609 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Exports: 36.824 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 11.827 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 10.434 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 29.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 44.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
CoalProduction: 1.07 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 3.328 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 24,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 2.144 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2019 est.)
PetroleumTotal petroleum production: 10,600 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 295,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 403,200 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Crude oilRefined petroleumProducts production: 413,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products exports: 371,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products imports: 229,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gasProduction: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 1,275,785,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Exports: 34.886 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Imports: 1,310,671,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 48.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 7.38 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 38.406 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 2.359 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 210.882 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
top of pageTelephonesFixed lines total subscriptions: 1,261,073 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 13,194,189 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2022 est.)
Telephone systemBroadcast media: publicly owned TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations with some consolidating into near national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently
InternetCountry code: .se
Users total: 8.8 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 88% (2021 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptionsTotal: 4,179,574 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2022)
1.3% of GDP (2021)
1.2% of GDP (2020)
1.1% of GDP (2019)
Military and security forces: Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten or "the Defense Force"): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (2023)
Military service age and obligation: 18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; service obligation: 7-15 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; compulsory military service, abolished in 2010, was reinstated in January 2018; conscription is selective, includes both men and women (age 18), and requires 6-15 months of service (2023)
Note 1: Sweden conscripts about 5,500 men and women each year; it plans to increase this number to 8,000 by 2025
Note 2: as of 2023, women made over 20% of the military's personnel
Note 3: conscientious objectors in Sweden have the right to apply for alternative service (called vapenfri tjänst); after completing alternative service, the conscript then belongs to the civilian reserve
Space programOverview: member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and program is integrated within the framework of the ESA; produces and operates satellites; builds and launches sounding rockets; involved in the research, development, production, and operations of a wide variety of other space-related areas and capabilities, including astronomy, atmospheric monitoring, geographic information systems, infrared imaging, meteorology, propulsion systems, remote sensing, satellite subsystems, spacecraft systems and structures, space physics, scientific research, stratospheric balloons, and telecommunications; conducts extensive bilateral and multilateral international cooperation, in particular through the ESA and EU and their member states, as well as with the US; has a robust commercial space industry with more than 30 companies involved in a broad range of space-related capabilities (2023)
Overview note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in
space programsTerrorist groupsTerrorist groups: Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in
terrorist organizationstop of pageNational air transport systemNumber of registered air carriers: 11 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 316
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SE
Airports: 231 (2021)
With paved runways: 149
With paved runways civil airports: 26
With paved runways military airports: 4
With paved runways joint use (civil-military) airports: 3
With paved runways other airports: 116
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 82
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Heliports: 2 (2021)
Pipelines: 1626 km gas (2013)
RailwaysTotal: 10,910 km (2020) 8,184 km electrified
Narrow gauge: 65 km
RoadwaysTotal: 573,134 km (2016) (includes 2,050 km of expressways)
Paved: 140,100 km (2016)
Unpaved: 433,034 km (2016)
Note: includes 98,500 km of state roads, 433,034 km of private roads, and 41,600 km of municipal roads
Waterways: 2,052 km (2010)
Merchant marineTotal: 368 (2022)
By type: general cargo 46, oil tanker 21, other 301
Ports and terminalsMajor seaports: Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
Lng terminals import: Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil
Sweden - Transnational issues 2023
top of pageDisputes international: none identified
Refugees and internally displaced personsRefugees country of origin: 113,213 (Syria), 26,857 (Afghanistan), 25,849 (Eritrea), 10,464 (Iraq), 9,315 (Somalia), 7,146 (Iran) (mid-year 2022); 41,520 (Ukraine) (as of 30 November 2023)
Stateless persons: 46,515 (2022); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia
Illicit drugs