Background: A military power during the 17th century Sweden has not participated in any war for 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 and 2009 by the global economic downturns 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.

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N 15 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 450,295 km²
Rank: 56
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: 1600 km² (2008)

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

Population: 9,088,728 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 90
Growth rate: 0.163% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 182
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 (official) small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.4%
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 2,982,268/female 2,910,135)
65 years and over: 19.7% (male 800,169/female 992,665) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 42 years
Male: 40.8 years
Female: 43.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.163% (2011 est.)
Rank: 182

Birth rate: 10.18 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 188

Death rate: 10.2 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 50

Net migration rate: 1.65 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 44

Urbanization
Urban population: 85% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.061 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 2.74 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 219
Male: 2.9 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 2.57 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 81.07 years
Rank: 16
Male: 78.78 years
Female: 83.51 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 170

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 3.583 physicians/1000 population (2006)
Rank: 26

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 158
People living with hivaids: 8,100 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 107
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 133

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 12% (2009)
Rank: 49

Education expenditures: 6.6% of GDP (2007)
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: 16 years (2008)

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

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 Roman-Germanic law and customary law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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); Deputy Prime Minister Jan BJORKLUND (since 5 October 2010)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes the 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 19 September 2010 (next to be held in September 2014)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 30.7% Moderates 30.1% Greens 7.3% Liberal People's Party 7.1% Center Party 6.6% Sweden Democrats 5.7% Christian Democrats 5.6% Left Party 5.6% others 1.3%; seats by party - Social Democrats 112 Moderates 107 Greens 25 Liberal People's Party 24 Center Party 23 Sweden Democrats 20 Christian Democrats 19 Left Party 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 [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]; Sweden Democrats [Jimmie AKESSON]

International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member) AfDB (nonregional member) Arctic Council Australia Group BIS CBSS CD CE CERN EAPC EBRD EIB ESA EU FAO FATF G-9 G-10 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IEA IFAD IFC IFRCS IGAD (partners) IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA MONUSCO NC NEA NIB NSG OAS (observer) OECD OPCW OSCE Paris Club PCA PFP Schengen Convention UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNISFA UNMISS UNMOGIP UNRWA UNTSO UPU WCO 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: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN
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: three crowns; lion

National anthem
Name: 'Du Gamla Du Fria'
Lyricsmusic: Richard DYBECK/traditional
Note: in use since 1844; the anthem 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

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 little more than 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 2009 as deteriorating global conditions reduced export demand and consumption. Strong exports of commodities and a return to profitability by Sweden's banking sector drove the strong rebound in 2010.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 33
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 62

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 23
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.9%
Industry: 26.6%
Services: 71.5% (2010 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: 8.7% (2010 est.)
Rank: 36

Labor force: 4.961 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 75
By occupation agriculture: 1.1%
By occupation industry: 28.2%
By occupation services: 70.7% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8.3% (2009 est.)
Rank: 99

Population below poverty line: NA%

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: 140

Budget
Revenues: $241.5 billion
Expenditures: $243.1 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -0.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 47

Taxes and other revenues: 53% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 16

Public debt: 42.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 70

Inflation rate consumer prices: -0.3% (2009 est.)
Rank: 35

Central bank discount rate: 0.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 140

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 2.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 186

Stock of narrow money: $207.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 17

Stock of broad money: $267.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 30

Stock of domestic credit: $625.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 20

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 21

Current account balance: $29.03 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 14

Exports: $134.2 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 28
Commodities: machinery 35% motor vehicles paper products pulp and wood iron and steel products chemicals
Partners: Germany 10.5% Norway 9.8% UK 7.8% Denmark 6.9% Finland 6.5% US 6.4% Netherlands 5.2% France 5.2% Belgium 4.3% (2010)

Imports: $121.2 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 29
Commodities: machinery petroleum and petroleum products chemicals motor vehicles iron and steel; foodstuffs clothing
Partners: Germany 18.3% Norway 8.5% Denmark 8.3% Netherlands 6.2% UK 5.7% Finland 5.4% China 4.9% Russia 4.9% France 4.7% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $47.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 33

Debt external: $853.3 billion (30 June 2010)
Rank: 15

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $332.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 15

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $347.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 14

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 129.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 27
Consumption: 132.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 24
Exports: 9.085 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 4.686 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Production rank: 128
Consumption: 1.626 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 82
Exports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 182
Imports: 1.626 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 50
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 193

Telephones
Main lines in use: 5.014 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 31
Mobile cellular: 10.65 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 67

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: publicly-owned television broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately-owned television 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 systems; publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; nearly a hundred privately-owned local radio stations with some consolidating into near national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently (2008)

Internet
Country code: .se
Hosts: 4.396 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 20
Users: 8.398 million (2009)
Users rank: 33

Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 97

Military service age and obligation: 18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; service obligation: 7.5 months (Army) 7-15 months (Navy) 8-12 months (Air Force); the Swedish Parliament has abolished compulsory military service with exclusively voluntary recruitment as of July 2010; conscription remains an option in emergencies; after completing initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47 (2010)

Airports: 249 (2010)
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 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 97
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 92 (2010)

Heliports: 2 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 786 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 11,633 km
Rank: 20
Standard gauge: 11,568 km 1.435-m gauge (7,567 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways
Total: 572,900 km
Rank: 12
Note: (includes 98,400 km of state roads 433,500 km of private roads and 41,000 km of municipal roads; 215,700 km of these are open to public traffic) (2009)

Waterways: 2,052 km (2010)
Rank: 42

Merchant marine
Total: 163
Rank: 39
By type: bulk carrier 4 cargo 20 carrier 1 chemical tanker 31 passenger 5 passenger/cargo 37 petroleum tanker 12 roll on/roll off 32 vehicle carrier 21
Foreign owned: 46 (Denmark 15 Estonia 3 Finland 16 Germany 3 Ireland 1 Italy 5 Norway 3)
Registered in other countries: 194 (Antigua and Barbuda 1 Bahamas 6 Barbados 6 Bermuda 17 Cook Islands 3 Cyprus 5 Denmark 16 Faroe Islands 5 France 6 Germany 1 Gibraltar 12 Isle of Man 1 Italy 1 Liberia 10 Malta 3 Netherlands 18 former Netherlands Antilles 1 Norway 33 Panama 1 Portugal 6 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2 Singapore 9 UK 25 US 5 unknown 1) (2010)

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

Disputes international: none