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 intermixed 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

Area
Rank: 56
Land: 410,335 km²
Water: 39,960 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

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

Coastline: 3,218 km

Maritime claims
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 highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

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

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.02%
Other: 94.18% (2011)

Irrigated land: 1597 km² (2007)

Total renewable water resources: 174 km³ (2011)

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: 9,723,809 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 91
Growth rate: 0.79% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 140
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
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
15-24 years: 12.3% (male 617,054/female 582,755)
25-54 years: 39.2% (male 1,937,091/female 1,872,070)
55-64 years: 11.7% (male 571,079/female 568,093)
65 years and over: 20.5% (male 882,653/female 1,045,190) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 27.1 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 31.1 %
Potential support ratio: 3.2 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 40.2 years
Female: 42.2 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.79% (2014 est.)
Rank: 140

Birth rate: 11.92 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 167

Death rate: 9.45 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 57

Net migration rate: 5.46 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 25

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: STOCKHOLM (capital) 1.385 million (2011)

Environment
Current issues: acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 28.9 (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 219
Male: 2.88 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 2.3 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 12
Male: 80.03 years
Female: 83.87 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 142

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 3.8 physicians/1000 population (2010)

Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 145
People living with hivaids: 8,100 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 111
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 149

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 18.6% (2008)
Rank: 104

Education expenditures: 7% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 20

Literacy
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 15 years
Female: 17 years (2011)

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

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital
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: National Day 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day

Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 1 January 1975; amended several times last in 2011 (2011)

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
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 - SAP 30.7% Moderate Party 30.1% Green Party 7.3% FP 7.1% C 6.6% SD 5.7% KD 5.6% V 5.6% others 1.3%; seats by party - SAP 112 Moderate Party 107 Green Party 25 FP 24 C 23 SD 20 KD 19 V 19

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Board of Judges 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 and appellate general and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment immigration labor markets and patents

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member) AfDB (nonregional member) Arctic Council Australia Group BIS CBSS CD CE CERN EAPC EBRD EIB EITI (implementing country) ESA EU FAO FATF G-9 G-10 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICRM IDA IEA IFAD IFC IFRCS IGAD (partners) IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA MINUSMA 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 (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO ZC

Diplomatic representation
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 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
Lyrics and music: Richard DYBECK/traditional

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 highly 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 vast majority of industrial output of which the engineering sector accounts for about 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 the contraction continued 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 a rebound in 2010 but growth slipped in 2013 as a result of continued economic weakness in the EU - Sweden’s main export market.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 35

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 177

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 26

Gross national saving:
Rank: 45

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 26.8%
Investment in fixed capital: 18.3%
Investment in inventories: 0.4%
Exports of goods and services: 45.8%
Imports of goods and services: -39.9%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 31.3%
Services: 66.8% (2013 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% (2013 est.)
Rank: 175

Labor force: 5.107 million (2013 est.)
Rank: 74
By occupation industry: 28.2%
By occupation services: 70.7% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8% (2012 est.)
Rank: 90

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Distribution of family income gini index: 25 (1992)
Rank: 141

Budget
Expenditures: $294.7 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 88

Taxes and other revenues: 51.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 12

Public debt: 38.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 85

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.9% (2012 est.)
Rank: 7

Central bank discount rate: 0.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 138

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 3.57% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 163

Stock of narrow money: $260.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 18

Stock of broad money: $347 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 28

Stock of domestic credit: $792.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 19

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 20

Current account balance: $36.31 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 15

Exports: $184.8 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 28
Commodities: machinery 35% motor vehicles paper products pulp and wood iron and steel products chemicals
Partners: Norway 10.4% Germany 10.3% UK 8.1% Finland 6.8% Denmark 6.7% Netherlands 5.5% US 5.5% Belgium 5% France 4.8% (2012)

Imports: $163.3 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 30
Commodities: machinery petroleum and petroleum products chemicals motor vehicles iron and steel; foodstuffs clothing
Partners: Germany 17.4% Denmark 8.5% Norway 8.4% UK 6.5% Netherlands 6.4% Russia 5.6% Finland 5.1% China 4.9% France 4.2% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $50.35 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 36

Debt external: $992.5 billion (31 December 2011)
Rank: 18

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $500.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 17

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $527.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 14

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 148.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 26
Consumption: 136 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 26
Exports: 31.28 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 6
Imports: 11.68 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 17
Installed generating capacity: 36.51 million kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 24
Generation sources fossil fuels: 13% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 194
Generation sources nuclear: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 4
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 45.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 49
Generation sources other renewable sources: 16.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 11

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 11,270 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 87
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 186
Crude oil imports: 398,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 21
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 191

Refined petroleum
Products production: 419,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 35
Products consumption: 316,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 41
Products exports: 261,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 23
Products imports: 187,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 27

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 194
Consumption: 1.53 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 81
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 186
Imports: 1.129 billion m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 55
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 195

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 53.15 million Mt (2011 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 4.321 million (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 41
Mobile cellular: 11.643 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 71

Telephone 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; 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) (2011)

Broadcast 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 (2008)

Internet
Country code: .se
Hosts: 5.978 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 19
Users: 8.398 million (2009)
Users rank: 33

Military expenditures:
Rank: 87

Military service age and obligation: 18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; Swedish citizenship required; 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 (2013)

Airports: 231 (2013)
Rank: 25
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: 22
With paved runways under 914 m: 37 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways: 77 (2013)

Heliports: 2 (2013)

Pipelines: gas 1626 km (2013)

Railways
Rank: 21
Standard gauge: 11,568 km 1.435-m gauge (7,567 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways
Rank: 12
Paved: 135,444 km
Unpaved: 444,412 km

Waterways: 2,052 km (2010)
Rank: 41

Merchant marine
Rank: 42
By type: bulk carrier 4 cargo 16 carrier 1 chemical tanker 15 passenger 5 passenger/cargo 36 petroleum tanker 11 roll on/roll off 30 vehicle carrier 17
Foreign owned: 35 (Denmark 4 Estonia 3 Finland 16 Germany 3 Ireland 1 Italy 5 Norway 3)
Registered in other countries: 189 (Bahamas 11 Barbados 4 Bermuda 14 Canada 2 Cook Islands 3 Cyprus 5 Denmark 15 Faroe Islands 11 Finland 1 France 4 Gibraltar 11 Italy 1 Liberia 12 Malta 1 Marshall Islands 1 Netherlands 12 Norway 27 Panama 2 Portugal 3 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10 Singapore 11 UK 28) (2010)

Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 9,596 (2012); note - the majority of stateless people come from the Middle East and Somalia