Sweden
Kingdom of SwedenKonungariket Sverige
constitutional monarchyIndependence 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
Sweden as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 162 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 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.
Geography
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
20 fieldsLocation
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
Land use
- agricultural land:
- 7.5%;
- arable land 6.4%;
- permanent crops 0%;
- permanent pasture 1.1%
- forest:
- 68.7%
- other:
- 23.8% (2011 est.)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 2.62 cu km/yr (37%/59%/4%)
- per capita:
- 285.6 cu m/yr (2007)
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 and Society
30 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)
Male · female
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%
Sex ratio
- 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 (2015 est.)
Government
Constitutional monarchy; King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Prime Minister Stefan LOFVEN (since 3 October 2014)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Riksdag, 349 seats, elected 14 September 2014seats 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
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 2015 (2015)
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 Stefan LOFVEN (since 3 October 2014); Deputy Prime Minister Asa ROMSON (since 3 October 2014)
- 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
Legislative branch
- 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 4.5%, others 4.1%;
- seats by party - SAP 113, M 84, SD 49, MP 25, C 22, V 21, FP 19, KD 16
Judicial branch
- 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
Political parties and leaders
- Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C [Annie LOOF]
- Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD [Goran HAGGLUND]
- Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP [spokespersons Asa ROMSON and Gustav FRIDOLIN]
- Left Party (Vansterpartiet) (formerly Communist Party) or V [Jonas SJOSTEDT]
- Liberal People's Party (Folkpartiet) or FP [Jan BJORKLUND]
- Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M [Anna KINBERG BATRA]
- Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or SAP [Stefan LOFVEN]
- Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD [Jimmie AKESSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations or SACO; Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO; Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen) or LO [Wanja LUNDBY-WEDIN]; other: environmental groups; media
International organization participation
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mark Francis BRZEZINSKI (since 14 November 2011)
- 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; 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
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.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
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. Sweden remains outside the Eurozone because of concerns over its impact on the country’s economy, welfare system, 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. Agriculture accounts for less than 1% of GDP. Economic growth slowed in 2013, as a result of continued economic weakness in the EU - Sweden’s main export market;
however, Sweden’s economy experienced modest growth in 2014, with an adjusted real GDP growth that averaged 2.1%. Sweden’s economy is expected to grow modestly in 2015, although the country continues to struggle with deflationary pressure.
Gross national saving
29.6% of GDP (2014 est.) · 29.4% of GDP (2013 est.) · 29.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Industries
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Distribution of family income - Gini index
24.9 (2013) · 25 (1992) country comparison to the world: 141
Public debt
40.2% of GDP (2014 est.) · 38.8% of GDP (2013 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 intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions country comparison to the world: 96
Central bank discount rate
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
country comparison to the world: 69
Commercial bank prime lending rate
2.8% (31 December 2014 est.) · 3.23% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Stock of narrow money
$256.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $287.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Stock of broad money
$336.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $371.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Stock of domestic credit
$742.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $811.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Current account balance
$35.73 billion (2014 est.) · $34.54 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Exports - commodities
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$66.32 billion (2014 est.) · $65.38 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Debt - external
$1.039 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) · $992.5 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 16
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$509.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $500.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$593.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $558.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Exchange rates
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.759 (2014 est.) · 6.5118 (2013 est.) · 6.77 (2012 est.) · 6.4918 (2011 est.) · 7.2075 (2010 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 37.94 million kW(2012 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
51.08 million Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Communications
8 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)
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) (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)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 135 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- 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)
country comparison to the world: 21
Roadways
- 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)
country comparison to the world: 13
Ports and terminals
- major seaport(s):
- Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
- LNG terminal(s) (import):
- Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil
Military
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2010)
6 fieldsMilitary 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;
- 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)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 2,065,691
- females age 16-49:
- 1,996,764 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 34,285 (Syria);
- 24,184 (Iraq);
- 21,189 (Somalia);
- 14,107 (Eritrea);
- 12,090 (Afghanistan) (2014)
- stateless persons:
- 27,167 (2014); note - the majority of stateless people come from the Middle East and Somalia
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Sweden.” The World Factbook 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sweden/2015.