Introduction

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.
`

Geography

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 references: |  |
`Europe`
Area: |  |
`total: 450,295 sq km country comparison to the world: 55 land: 410,335 sq km water: 39,960 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly larger than California`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 2,233 km border countries: 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 -2.4 m 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: |  |
`1,150 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`179 cu km (2005)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 2.68 cu km/yr (37%/54%/9%) per capita: 296 cu m/yr (2002)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea`
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
`

Geography - note: |  |
`strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas`

People

Population: |  |
`9,088,728 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 90`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 15.4% (male 722,558/female 680,933) 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.) country comparison to the world: 183`
Birth rate: |  |
`10.18 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 189`
Death rate: |  |
`10.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50`
Net migration rate: |  |
`1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 44`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 85% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`STOCKHOLM (capital) 1.279 million (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.061 male(s)/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/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 219 male: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 81.07 years country comparison to the world: 16 male: 78.78 years female: 83.51 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.67 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 171`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 162`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`8,100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks`
Religions: |  |
`Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%`
Languages: |  |
`Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities`
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)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`6.6% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 21`

Government

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 (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); Deputy Prime Minister Jan BJORKLUND (since 5 October 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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]`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`Children's Rights in Society; Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO; Swedish Federation of Trade Unions or LO other: media`
International organization participation: |  |

`
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, 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, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
`

Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Jonas HAFSTROM chancery: The House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: New York`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00 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 anthem: |  |

`
name: "Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)
lyrics/music: 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

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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$354.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $336.1 billion (2009 est.) $355.1 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$455.8 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 -5.3% (2009 est.) -0.6% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$39,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $37,100 (2009 est.) $39,300 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 1.7% industry: 26.1% services: 72.2% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`4.93 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 1.1% industry: 28.2% services: 70.7% (2008 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`8.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 8.3% (2009 est.)`
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: |  |
`23 (2005) country comparison to the world: 136 25 (1992)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`18.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $230.1 billion expenditures: $236.6 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`40.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 41.6% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`1.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 -0.3% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`2% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 106 3.5% (31 December 2007)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`NA% NA%`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$225 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 $205.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$293.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $260.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$640.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $583.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$432.3 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 22 $252.5 billion (31 December 2008) $612.5 billion (31 December 2007)`
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% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31`
Electricity - production: |  |
`144 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 25`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`134.5 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`14.71 billion kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`12.75 billion kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`4,833 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`328,100 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38`
Oil - exports: |  |
`248,500 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47`
Oil - imports: |  |
`589,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`1.229 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`1.229 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190`
Current account balance: |  |
`$21.68 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $30.23 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$162.6 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $133.3 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Norway 10.61%, Germany 10.2%, UK 7.45%, Denmark 7.35%, Finland 6.44%, US 6.36%, France 5.05%, Netherlands 4.67% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$158.6 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $120.5 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Germany 17.9%, Denmark 8.9%, Norway 8.7%, Netherlands 6.17%, UK 5.56%, Finland 5.14%, France 5.06%, China 4.79% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $47.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$853.3 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 16 $617.3 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$321.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $304.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$383.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $367.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 7.5077 (2010) 7.6529 (2009) 6.4074 (2008) 6.7629 (2007) 7.3731 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`5.146 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 32`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`11.426 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 60`
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`
Internet hosts: |  |
`4.396 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 20`
Internet users: |  |
`8.398 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 33`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`249 (2010) country comparison to the world: 26`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 152 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 76 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 36 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 97 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 92 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`2 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 786 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 11,633 km country comparison to the world: 20 standard gauge: 11,568 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified) narrow gauge: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 572,900 km (includes 1,855 km of expressways) country comparison to the world: 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) country comparison to the world: 42`
Merchant marine: |  |

`
total: 163
country comparison to the world: 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`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2010)`
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)
`

Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 2,065,691 females age 16-49: 1,996,764 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,709,055 females age 16-49: 1,650,432 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 54,960 female: 52,275 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.5% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 100`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011