| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Europe |
| Geographical Location |
62° 00' North Latitude
15° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
449,964 sq km |
| 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 |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Kingdom of Sweden |
| Capital City |
Stockholm |
| Government Type |
Constitutional monarchy |
| 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 Day |
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
9,001,774 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Swedish |
| Ethnic Groups |
Indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks |
| Religion |
Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist |
| Languages |
Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.17% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Swedish krona (SEK) |
| Industries |
Iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles |
| Labor Force |
4.46 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk |
| Export Commodities |
Machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals |
| Export Partners |
US 10.7%, Germany 10.3%, UK 7.2%, Denmark 6.6%, Norway 6.2%, Finland 5.9%, Belgium 5.1%, Netherlands 4.8%, France 4.7% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing |
| Import Partners |
Germany 20.2%, Denmark 8.2%, UK 7.9%, Netherlands 7.2%, Finland 7%, France 6.1%, Norway 5.9%, Belgium 4.5% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
11,481 km |
| Highways |
213,237 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 798 km (2004) |
| Airports |
254 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+46 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.se |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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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