A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for 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.
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
62 00 N, 15 00 E
Europe
total: 450,295 sq km
land: 410,335 sq km
water: 39,960 sq km
slightly larger than California
total: 2,211 km
border countries (2): Finland 545 km, Norway 1,666 km
3,218 km
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
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
mean elevation: 320 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
agricultural land: 7.5%
arable land 6.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 1.1%
forest: 68.7%
other: 23.8% (2011 est.)
1,640 sq km (2012)
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
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
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
0.81% (2016 est.)
9,880,604 (July 2016 est.)
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
0-14 years: 17.28% (male 878,463/female 829,266)
15-24 years: 11.63% (male 591,495/female 557,229)
25-54 years: 39.38% (male 1,976,752/female 1,914,623)
55-64 years: 11.58% (male 574,175/female 570,424)
65 years and over: 20.12% (male 915,861/female 1,072,316) (2016 est.)
total dependency ratio: 59.3%
youth dependency ratio: 27.5%
elderly dependency ratio: 31.8%
potential support ratio: 3.1% (2015 est.)
total: 41.2 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 42.2 years (2016 est.)
12 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
most Swedes live in the south where there the climate is more mild 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
urban population: 85.8% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.83% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
STOCKHOLM (capital) 1.486 million (2015)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
total: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
total population: 82.1 years
male: 80.2 years
female: 84.1 years (2016 est.)
1.88 children born/woman (2016 est.)
11.9% of GDP (2014)
3.93 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
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 (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 99.3% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.7% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.7% of population (2015 est.)
0.18% (2014 est.)
NA
100 (2014 est.)
22% (2014)
7.7% of GDP (2013)
total: 18 years
male: 17 years
female: 20 years (2014)
28.9 (2010 est.)
total: 22.9%
male: 24.2%
female: 21.5% (2014 est.)
National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day
conventional 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.
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
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
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
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
history: several previous; latest adopted 1 January 1975
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; amended several times, last in 2014 (changes to the "Instrument of Government") (2016)
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship 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
18 years of age; universal
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 Stefan LOFVEN (since 3 October 2014); Deputy Prime Minister Isabella LOVIN (since 25 May 2016)
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
description: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; 310 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 39 members in "at-large" seats directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 September 2014 (next to be held in September 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - SAP 31.0%, M 23.3%, SD 12.9%, MP 6.9%, C 6.1%, V 5.7%, FP 5.4%, KD 4.6%, others 4.1%; seats by party - SAP 113, M 84, SD 49, MP 25, C 22, V 21, FP 19, KD 16
Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations or SACO [Goran ARRIUS]
Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO [Eva NORDMARK]
Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen) or LO [Karl-Petter THORWALDSSON]
other: environmental groups; media
highest court(s): 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 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
Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C [Annie LOOF]
Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD [Ebba Busch THOR]
Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP [Asa ROMSON and Gustav FRIDOLIN]
Left Party (Vansterpartiet) (formerly Communist Party) or V [Jonas SJOSTEDT]
Liberal Party (Liberalerna) or L [Jan BJORKLUND]
Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M [Anna KINBERG BATRA]
Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or SAP [Stefan LOFVEN]
Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD [Jimmie AKESSON]
three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow
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, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Bjorn O. LYRVALL (since 12 September 2013)
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Azita RAJI (since 15 March 2016)
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
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
name: "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
4.2% (2016 est.)
Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Sweden remains outside the euro zone largely out of concern that joining the European Economic and Monetary Union would dimin
Sweden’s economy experienced modest growth in 2014-16, with real GDP growth above 2%, but continues to struggle with deflationary pressure.
$498.1 billion (2016 est.)
$481 billion (2015 est.)
$461.7 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
$517.4 billion (2015 est.)
3.6% (2016 est.)
4.2% (2015 est.)
2.3% (2014 est.)
$49,700 (2016 est.)
$48,800 (2015 est.)
$47,400 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
30.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
29.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
28.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
household consumption: 45%
government consumption: 25.8%
investment in fixed capital: 24.9%
investment in inventories: 0.4%
exports of goods and services: 43.7%
imports of goods and services: -39.8% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 34.2%
services: 64% (2016 est.)
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
5.277 million (2016 est.)
agriculture: 2%
industry: 12%
services: 86% (2014 est.)
6.9% (2016 est.)
7.4% (2015 est.)
14% (2011 est.)
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24% (2012)
24.9 (2013)
25 (1992)
revenues: $248.3 billion
expenditures: $250.2 billion (2016 est.)
48% of GDP (2016 est.)
-0.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
41.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
43.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes 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 i
calendar year
0.8% (2016 est.)
0% (2015 est.)
0% (31 December 2014)
1% (31 December 2013)
note:: the Discount rate was abolished in 2002, and replaced by a "Reference rate" with no bearing on monetary policy; the rate quoted here is the Reference rate
2% (31 December 2016 est.)
1.96% (31 December 2015 est.)
$282.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$271 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$328.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$323 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$747.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$749.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$560.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$470.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$581.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$26.03 billion (2016 est.)
$25.86 billion (2015 est.)
$147.3 billion (2016 est.)
$151.1 billion (2015 est.)
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals (2012 est.)
Norway 10.3%, Germany 10.3%, US 7.7%, UK 7.2%, Denmark 6.8%, Finland 6.7%, Netherlands 5.2%, Belgium 4.4%, France 4.2% (2015)
$134.9 billion (2016 est.)
$137.3 billion (2015 est.)
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Germany 17.9%, Netherlands 8.1%, Norway 7.8%, Denmark 7.7%, China 6%, UK 5.5%, Finland 4.6%, France 4.3%, Belgium 4.3% (2015)
$58.11 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$62.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$939.9 billion (31 March 2016 est.)
$929.4 billion (31 March 2015 est.)
$390.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$380.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$465.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$445 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar -
8.569 (2016 est.)
8.4335 (2015 est.)
8.4335 (2014 est.)
6.8612 (2013 est.)
6.77 (2012 est.)
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
150 billion kWh (2014 est.)
127 billion kWh (2014 est.)
29 billion kWh (2014 est.)
14 billion kWh (2014 est.)
39 million kW (2014 est.)
9.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
24.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
43% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
22.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
23,210 bbl/day (2015 est.)
410,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
426,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
291,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
298,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
174,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 cu m (2014 est.)
933 million cu m (2014 est.)
0 cu m (2014 est.)
891 million cu m (2014 est.)
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
50 million Mt (2013 est.)
total subscriptions: 3,554,665
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (July 2015 est.)
total: 12.639 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (July 2015 est.)
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 (2015)
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 bro (2008)
.se
total: 8.881 million
percent of population: 90.6% (July 2015 est.)
number of registered air carriers: 8
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 219
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 11,623,930
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
SE (2016)
231 (2013)
total: 149
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 37 (2013)
total: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 77 (2013)
2 (2013)
gas 1,626 km (2013)
total: 11,915 km
standard gauge: 11,850 km 1.435-m gauge (7,567 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 65 km 0.891-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2014)
total: 579,564 km (includes 1,913 km of expressways)
paved: 135,444 km
unpaved: 444,412 km
note: includes 104,705 km of state roads, 433,034 km of private roads, and 41,825 km of municipal roads (2010)
2,052 km (2010)
total: 135
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 (2010)
major seaport(s): Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
LNG terminal(s) (import): Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2010)
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)
1.1% of GDP (2015)
1.1% of GDP (2014)
1.1% of GDP (2013)
1.18% of GDP (2012)
1.17% of GDP (2011)
none
refugees (country of origin): 52,707 (Syria); 23,886 (Iraq); 21,501 (Somalia); 20,203 (Eritrea); 13,064 (Afghanistan) (2015)
stateless persons: 31,062 (2015); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia
