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Background:
|
 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.
Indecision over the country's role in the political and
economic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the
EU until 1995, and waived the introduction of the euro in
1999. |
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Location:
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Northern Europe,
bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and
Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total:
449,964 sq km
water: 39,030 sq km
land: 410,934 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than California |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
2,205 km
border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km |
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Coastline:
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3,218 km |
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Climate:
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temperate in
south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy
summers; subarctic in north |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat or
gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, copper,
lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic,
feldspar, timber, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land:
6.8%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 93.2% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,150 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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ice floes in the
surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can
interfere with maritime traffic |
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Environment - current issues:
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acid rain damage
to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic
Sea |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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strategic
location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas |
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Population:
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8,986,400
(July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 17.5% (male 807,193; female 762,882)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,974,107; female 2,886,840)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 668,719; female 886,659)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
40.3 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 41.5 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.18%
(2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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10.46
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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10.38
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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1.67
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
2.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 2.93 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 80.3 years
male: 78.12 years
female: 82.62 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish |
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Ethnic groups:
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indigenous
population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities;
foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs,
Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks |
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Religions:
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Lutheran
87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish,
Buddhist |
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Languages:
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Swedish
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local short form: Sverige
local long form: Konungariket Sverige |
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Government type:
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constitutional
monarchy |
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Capital:
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Stockholm |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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6
June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king) |
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National holiday:
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Flag
Day, 6 June |
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Constitution:
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1
January 1975 |
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Legal system:
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civil
law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Executive branch:
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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 Goran PERSSON (since
21 March 1996)
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 15 September 2002 (next to be
held NA September 2006)
election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime
minister with 131 out of 349 votes |
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Legislative branch:
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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 15 September 2002 (next to be held
NA September 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social
Democrats 39.8%, Moderates 15.2%, Liberal Party 13.3%,
Christian Democrats 9.1%, Left Party 8.3%, Center Party 6.1%,
Greens 4.6%; seats by party - Social Democrats 144, Moderates
55, Liberal Party 48, Christian Democrats 33, Left Party 30,
Center Party 22, Greens 17 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime
minister and the cabinet) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Center
Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Alf
SVENSSON]; Green Party [no formal leader but party
spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left
Party or VP (formerly Communist) [Ulla HOFFMAN (acting)];
Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Moderate Party
(conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Goran
PERSSON] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Jan ELIASSON
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Charles A. HEIMBOLD, Jr.
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department
of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
(pouch)
telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64 |
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Economy - overview:
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Aided by peace
and neutrality for the whole 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 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs.
The government's commitment to fiscal discipline resulted in a
substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cut by more
than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown,
declining revenue, and increased spending. The Swedish central
bank (the Riksbank) is focusing on price stability with its
inflation target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003. On
September 14, 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the
euro system, concerned about the impact on democracy and
sovereignty. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $238.1 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.6% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $26,800 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
2%
industry: 29%
services: 69% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.3% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.4 million (2000
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 2%,
industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.6% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$119 billion
expenditures: $110 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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iron and steel,
precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts,
armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods,
motor vehicles |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1.5% (2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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152.9 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
4%
hydro: 50.8%
other: 2.3% (2001)
nuclear: 43% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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134.9 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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328,600 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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203,700 bbl/day
(2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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553,100 bbl/day
(2001) |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2001
est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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949 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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barley, wheat,
sugar beets; meat, milk |
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Exports:
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$102.8 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery 35%,
motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel
products, chemicals |
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Exports - partners:
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US 11.6%, Germany
10.1%, Norway 9%, UK 8.2%, Denmark 5.9%, Finland 5.5%,
Netherlands 5.3%, France 5.1%, Belgium 4.7% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$83.27 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery,
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles,
iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing |
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 18.5%,
Denmark 8.8%, UK 8.6%, Norway 8.2%, Netherlands 6.7%, France
5.4%, Finland 5.2%, US 5% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$66.5 billion
(1994) |
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $1.7 billion
(1997) |
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Currency:
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Swedish krona (SEK) |
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Currency code:
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SEK |
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Exchange rates:
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Swedish kronor
per US dollar - 8.09 (2003), 9.74 (2002), 10.33 (2001), 9.16
(2000), 8.26 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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6,579,200 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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7.949 million
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: excellent domestic and international
facilities; automatic system
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; 5 submarine coaxial
cables; 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) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 265,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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169 (plus 1,299
repeaters) (1995) |
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Internet country code:
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.se |
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Internet hosts:
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849,174 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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5.125 million
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
11,481 km
standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (7,527 km
electrified) (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
212,402 km
paved: 166,523 km (including 1,499 km of expressways)
unpaved: 45,879 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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2,052 km
note: navigable to small steamers and barges |
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Pipelines:
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gas 798 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Gavle, Goteborg,
Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Lulea,
Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 178
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,702,763 GRT/1,884,570 DWT
registered in other countries: 154 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Denmark 12, Finland 10, Germany 3, Italy
7, Japan 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 12, Russia 1
by type: bulk 7, cargo 36, chemical tanker 31,
combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker
25, roll on/roll off 39, short-sea/passenger 8, specialized
tanker 7, vehicle carrier 23 |
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Airports:
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255 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 155
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 36 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 100
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 90 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports:
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2 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army, Royal Navy,
Air Force (Flygvapnet) |
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Military manpower - military age:
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19 years of age;
conscripts serve seven to 15 months depending on their role;
after completing their initial service, soldiers have a
reserve commitment until the age of 47 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 2,082,776 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 1,821,394 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
56,859 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$4.395 billion
(FY01) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.1% (FY01) |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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