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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Sweden
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Sweden Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Sweden Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 449,964 sq km
land: 410,934 sq km
water: 39,030 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2,233 km
border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
3,218 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 5.93%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 94.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
1,150 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
179 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 2.68 cu km/yr (37%/54%/9%)
Per capita: 296 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
   People    Sweden Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,031,088 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 759,488/female 717,812)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,007,899/female 2,926,220)
65 years and over: 17.9% (male 707,687/female 911,982) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 41.1 years
male: 40 years
female: 42.2 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.159% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.2 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.27 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.058 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.028 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.776 male(s)/female
total population: 0.982 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 80.63 years
male: 78.39 years
female: 83 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.66 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,600 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
   Government    Sweden Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens, Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
1 January 1975
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
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: Fredrik REINFELDT elected prime minister with 175 out of 349 votes
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, 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, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonas HAFSTROM
chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael M. WOOD
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:
Definition Field Listing
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)
   Economy    Sweden Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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. 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 2% of employment. Sweden is in the midst of a sustained economic upswing, boosted by increased domestic demand and strong exports. This and robust finances have 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. The govenment plans to sell $31 billion in state assets during the next three years to further stimulate growth and raise revenue to pay down the federal debt. In September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$333.1 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$394.5 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$36,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 29.2%
services: 69.4% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.66 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2%
industry: 24%
services: 74% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
23 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $241.2 billion
expenditures: $229.1 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
41.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
153.2 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
134.1 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
21.97 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
14.58 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,350 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
363,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
231,100 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
580,600 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
893.9 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
893.9 million cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$30.19 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$176.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 9.8%, US 9.3%, Norway 9.2%, UK 7.1%, Denmark 6.9%, Finland 6%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.7%, Belgium 4.5% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$157.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 17.3%, Denmark 9.1%, Norway 8.2%, UK 6%, Netherlands 5.8%, Finland 5.7%, France 4.6%, Belgium 4.1% (2006)
Economic aid - donor:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$28.02 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$598.2 billion (30 June 2006)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$199.6 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$226.4 billion (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$403.9 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Swedish krona (SEK)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Swedish kronor per US dollar - 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731 (2006), 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Sweden Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.379 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.087 million (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.se
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.318 million (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.981 million (2006)
   Transportation    Sweden Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
250 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 152
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 38 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 98
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 92 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 798 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11,528 km
standard gauge: 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,527 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 424,947 km
paved: 129,651 km (includes 1,591 km of expressways)
unpaved: 295,296 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,052 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 194 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,883,695 GRT/2,451,123 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 23, carrier 1, chemical tanker 49, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 37, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 35, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 22
foreign-owned: 34 (Denmark 4, Finland 10, Germany 4, Italy 7, Japan 1, Norway 5, UK 2, US 1)
registered in other countries: 198 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 5, Barbados 5, Bermuda 15, Cayman Islands 1, Cook Islands 9, Cyprus 2, Denmark 4, Finland 2, France 10, Gibraltar 10, Isle of Man 3, Italy 1, South Korea 2, Liberia 11, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 27, Netherlands Antilles 3, Norway 31, Panama 9, Portugal 2, Singapore 17, St Vincent and The Grenadines 2, UK 19, US 5) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
   Military    Sweden Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation: 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 19-49: 1,838,427
females age 19-49: 1,774,659 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 19-49: 1,493,668
females age 19-49: 1,441,257 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 58,724
females age 19-49: 55,954 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Sweden Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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