Sweden

Internet country code

.se

Internet hosts

945,221 (2004)

Internet users

5.125 million (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)

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: 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

6,579,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.949 million (2002)

Television broadcast stations

169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk

Budget

revenues: $201.3 billion expenditures: $199.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Currency (code)

Swedish krona (SEK)

Current account balance

$24.08 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$66.5 billion (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25 (1992)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)

Economy - overview

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) focuses on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but picked up in 2004. Presumably because of generous sicktime benefits, Swedish workers report in sick more often than other Europeans. On 14 September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system, concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.

Electricity - consumption

138.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

14.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

20.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

142.8 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

Swedish kronor per US dollar - 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003), 9.7371 (2002), 10.3291 (2001), 9.1622 (2000)

Exports

$121.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 10.7%, Germany 10.2%, Norway 8.6%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 6.7%, Finland 5.7%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8%, Belgium 4.5% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$255.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2% industry: 29% services: 69% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $28,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)

Imports

$97.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 18.7%, Denmark 9.2%, Norway 7.6%, UK 7.5%, Netherlands 6.8%, Finland 6.4%, France 5.5%, Belgium 4% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate

5.5% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force

4.46 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Natural gas - consumption

949 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

968 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

328,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

203,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

553,100 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

51.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$19.99 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

5.6% (2004 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

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

Coastline

3,218 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

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

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 15 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

Irrigated land

1,150 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,233 km border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km

Land use

arable land: 6.54% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 93.45% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas) exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower

Terrain

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

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

Capital

Stockholm

Constitution

1 January 1975

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador M. Teel BIVINS 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

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

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 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

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)

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

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 15 September 2002 (next to be held 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

National holiday

Flag Day, 6 June

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran HAGGLUND]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 19-49: 1,838,427 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 19-49: 1,493,668 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males: 58,724 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Army, Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN), Air Force (Flygvapnet)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$5.729 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (2004)

Military service age and obligation

19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 7-17 months depending on conscript role; after completing initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment until the age of 47 (2004)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.1% (male 791,215/female 747,621) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 2,990,436/female 2,904,873) 65 years and over: 17.4% (male 677,161/female 890,468) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

10.36 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

10.36 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,600 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.93 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.4 years male: 78.19 years female: 82.74 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 40.6 years male: 39.49 years female: 41.75 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish

Net migration rate

1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

9,001,774 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

0.17% (2005 est.)

Religions

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

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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

254 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 154 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 100 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 90 (2004 est.)

Heliports

2 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 213,237 km paved: 167,604 km (including 1,542 km of expressways) unpaved: 45,633 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 205 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,702,763 GRT/1,884,570 DWT by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 33, chemical tanker 51, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 37, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 22 foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 11, Germany 6, Italy 7, Japan 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 9) registered in other countries: 155 (2005)

Pipelines

gas 798 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Oxelosund, Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg

Railways

total: 11,481 km standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (9,400 km electrified) (2004)