Sweden

Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige

constitutional monarchyIndependence 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

Sweden as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalStockholm

Position62 00 N, 15 00 E

Area449,964 sq km land: 410,934 sq km water: 39,030 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Populationas each edition published it

8.88 million July 2001 est. · 8.53m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.02% 2001 est. · 0.58% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 40.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

79.71 years 2001 est. · 78.08 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.53 children per woman 2001 est. · 1.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

3.47 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$22,200 2000 est. · $16,900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.3% 2000 est. · -1.7% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 has recently been undermined by high unemployment, rising maintenance costs, and a declining position in world markets. Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe caused Sweden not to join the EU until 1995, and to forgo the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Geography

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

18 fields

Coastline

3,218km

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)

Irrigated land

1,150sq km

(1993 est.)

Location

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 15 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 449,964 sq km land: 410,934 sq km water: 39,030 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km

Climate

temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Terrain

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Natural resources

zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 68% other: 24% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Environment - current issues

acid rain damaging 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

People

18 fields

Population

8,875,053

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 0.02% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

9.91Death

10.61Net migration

0.91

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.08%

(1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.19% (male 828,308; female 786,353) 15-64 years: 64.53% (male 2,911,949; female 2,814,730) 65 years and over: 17.28% (male 649,296; female 884,417) (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.71 years male: 77.07 years female: 82.5 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.53 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish

Ethnic groups

indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks

Religions

Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist

Languages

Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1979 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

36.5%

Social Democrats 36.5%Moderates 22.7%Left Party 12%Christian Democrats 11.8%Center Party 5.1%Liberal Party 4.7%Greens 4.5%

Parliament or Riksdag, 349 seatsseats by party

Social Democrats 131Moderates 82Left Party 43Christian Democrats 42Center Party 18Liberal Party 17Greens 16

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

Stockholm

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

National holiday

Flag Day, 6 June

Constitution

1 January 1975

Legal system

civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary;
prime minister elected by the Parliament;
election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister with 131 out of 349 votes

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 20 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 36.5%, Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian Democrats 11.8%, Center Party 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%; seats by party - Social Democrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43, Christian Democrats 42, Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Lennart DALEUS];
Christian Democratic Party [Alf SVENSSON];
Communist Workers' Party [Rolf HAGEL];
Green Party [no formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG];
Left Party or VP (formerly Communist) [Gudrun SCHYMAN];
Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG];
Moderate Party (conservative) [Bo LUNDGREN];
New Democracy Party [Vivianne FRANZEN];
Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jan ELIASSON chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600

FAX

[1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr. embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch) telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00

FAX

[46] (8) 661 19 64

Flag description

blue with a yellow cross that extends 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)

Economy

Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole twentieth century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits.

32 fields

Real growth rate

4.3%

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 7% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.2%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

(2000 est.)

Labor force

4.4million

(2000 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

146.633 billion (1999)Electricity consumption

128.819 billion (1999)Electricity exports

15.9 billion (1999)Electricity imports

8.35 billion (1999)

Economy - overview

Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole twentieth 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.

In recent years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been somewhat clouded by budgetary difficulties, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995. GDP growth is forecast for 4% in 2001.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $197 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $22,200 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.2% industry: 27.9% services: 69.9% (1999)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.)

Budget

revenues: $133 billion expenditures: $125.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Industries

iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 5.53% hydro: 47.24% nuclear: 45.42% other: 1.81% (1999)

Agriculture - products

grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk

Exports

$95.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals

Exports - partners

EU 55% (Germany 11%, UK 10%, Denmark 6%, Finland 5%, France 5%), US 9%, Norway 8% (1999)

Imports

$80 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners

EU 67% (Germany 18%, UK 10%, Denmark 7%, France 6%), Norway 8%, US 6% (1999)

Debt - external

$66.5 billion (1994)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)

Currency

Swedish krona (SEK)

Currency code

SEK

Exchange rates

Swedish kronor per US dollar - 9.4669 (January 2001), 9.1622 (2000), 8.2624 (1999), 7.9499 (1998), 7.6349 (1997), 6.7060 (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

3.835 million

(October 1998)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

6.017 million

(December 1998) · country code .se

Telephone system

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: 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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

8.25 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

4.6 million (1997)

Internet users

4.5 million (2000)

Transportation

10 fields

Railways

total: 12,821 km (includes 3,594 km of privately owned railways) standard gauge: 12,821 km 1.435-m gauge (7,918 km electrified and 1,152 km double track) (1998)

Highways

total: 210,760 km paved: 162,707 km (including 1,428 km of expressways) unpaved: 48,053 km (1999)

Waterways

2,052 km note: navigable for small steamers and barges

Pipelines

natural gas 84 km

Ports and harbors

Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall

Merchant marine

total: 167 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,205,370 GRT/1,663,091 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 28, chemical tanker 31, combination ore/oil 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 29, railcar carrier 1, roll on/roll off 40, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 17 (2000 est.)

Military

Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1%

(FY98)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

none

Central Intelligence Agency. “Sweden.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sweden/2001.

How to cite ← 2000 edition 2002 edition →

Introduction

Geography

People

Government

Economy

Communications

Transportation

Military

Transnational Issues

Cite this entry