Sweden
Kingdom of SwedenKonungariket Sverige
constitutional monarchyIndependence 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
Sweden as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 137 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
20 fieldsLand useshare of 450,295 sq km
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Climate
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Natural resources
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
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
People
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.79 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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%
Government
Constitutional monarchy; King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5 October 2006)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Riksdag, 349 seats, elected 17 September 2006seats by party
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Sweden
- conventional short form:
- Sweden
- local long form:
- Konungariket Sverige
- local short form:
- Sverige
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
Legal system
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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)
- 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:
- Center-right coalition of Moderate, Center, Liberal, and Christian Democrats parties win 175 out of 349 votes; Fredrik REINFELDT becomes 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 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
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 (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT];
- Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]
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, 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, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), 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:
- Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert J. SILVERMAN
- 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
Economy
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.
51 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2008 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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 only 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 the fourth as deteriorating global conditions reduced export demand and consumption. On 3 February 2009, the Swedish Government announced a $6 billon rescue package for the banking sector.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
23 (2005) · 25 (1992) country comparison to the world: 134
Central bank discount rate
2% (31 December 2008) · 3.5% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 129
Commercial bank prime lending rate
NA% (31 December 2008) · 4% (2004) country comparison to the world: 140
Stock of money
$185.4 billion (31 December 2008) · $217.1 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of quasi money
$54.55 billion (31 December 2008) · $48.49 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 28
Stock of domestic credit
$549 billion (31 December 2008) · $630.8 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 19
Industries
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Current account balance
$40.32 billion (2008 est.) · $38.42 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Exports - commodities
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
Imports - commodities
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$29.72 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $31.04 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Debt - external
$617.3 billion (31 December 2008) · $598.2 billion (30 June 2006) country comparison to the world: 17
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$290.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $252.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$333.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $306.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Exchange rates
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.4074 (2008 est.), 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731 (2006), 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 195 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 11,633 km
country comparison to the world: 20
- standard gauge:
- 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways
- total:
- 425,300 km
country comparison to the world: 14
- paved:
- 139,300 km (includes 1,740 km of expressways)
- unpaved:
- 286,000 km (2008)
Ports and terminals
Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
Military
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2008)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2008)
Military service age and obligation
- 18-47 years of age for male compulsory or voluntary military service;
- conscript service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force);
- after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47;
- women are eligible for voluntary military service (2009)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 2,052,890
- females age 16-49:
- 1,980,550 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Sweden.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sweden/2009.