World Facts Index > Sweden > Stockholm
 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 of Sweden
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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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Coordinates:
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62 00 N, 15 00 E |
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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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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 NM (adjustments made to return a portion of
straits to high seas) |
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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: Baltic
Sea 0 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m |
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Natural resources:
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zinc, iron ore, lead,
copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower |
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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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Geography - note:
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strategic location along
Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
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Population of Sweden
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Population:
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9,045,389 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 16.7% (male 775,433/female 732,773)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,001,928/female 2,918,242)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 689,756/female 898,464) |
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Median age:
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40.9 years |
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Growth rate:
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0.16% |
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Infant mortality:
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2.76 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 80.51 years
male: 78.29 years
female: 82.87 years |
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Fertility rate:
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1.66 children born/woman |
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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%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of
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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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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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 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. |
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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) |
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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) |
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. 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 government 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.
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GDP:
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$338.5 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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2.7% |
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GDP per capita:
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$29,800 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 28.2%
services: 70.7% |
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Inflation rate:
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0.5% |
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Labor force:
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4.49 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% |
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Unemployment:
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5.8% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $210.5 billion
expenditures: $205.9 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 4%
hydro: 50.8%
other: 2.3%
nuclear: 43% |
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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, tourism |
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Agriculture:
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barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk |
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Exports:
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machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper
products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals |
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Export partners:
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US 10.4%, Germany 10.2%, Denmark 7.6%, Norway 7.1%, UK
6.6%, Finland 6.1%, Belgium 4.8%, France 4.4%, Netherlands 4.4% |
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Imports:
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machinery, petroleum and petroleum
products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing |
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Import partners:
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Germany 19.5%, Denmark 10.2%, Netherlands 7.4%, UK 7.1%,
Norway 6.7%, Finland 6.5%, France 5%, Belgium 4.3% |
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Currency:
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Swedish krona (SEK) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
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