Sweden

A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in 2022. Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. Stockholm preserved an armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022.  

land

410,335 sq km

total

450,295 sq km

water

39,960 sq km

almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California

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

3,218 km

highest point

Kebnekaise South 2,100 m

lowest point

reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m

mean elevation

320 m

62 00 N, 15 00 E

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third largest in Europe

519 sq km (2013)

border countries

Finland 545 km; Norway 1,666 km

total

2,211 km

agricultural land

7.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1.1% (2018 est.)

forest

68.7% (2018 est.)

other

23.8% (2018 est.)

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

fresh water lake(s)

Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km

Europe

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)

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

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

most Swedes live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

0-14 years

17.1% (male 934,668/female 880,310)

15-64 years

62.1% (male 3,365,754/female 3,208,248)

65 years and over

20.8% (2024 est.) (male 1,032,279/female 1,168,576)

beer

2.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

70.3% (2017)

note

note: percent of women aged 16-49

11.4% of GDP (2020)

53.4% (2023 est.)

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Sweden, the largest Nordic country in terms of size and population, is also Europe’s most sparsely populated.  Most Swedish men and women agree that both partners should contribute to household income. Swedish society is very gender equal, which is reflected in the country’s public policies.  A generous leave policy and high-quality subsidized childcare allows mothers and fathers to balance work and family life. Sweden’s income-replacement-based parental leave policy encourages women to establish themselves in the workforce before having children.  In fact, Swedish women have one of the highest labor participation rates in Europe and one of its highest total fertility rates (TFR), the number of children women have in their lifetime.  Postponement of parenthood has increased steadily.  Since the late 1960s, marriage and divorce rates have declined, while non-marital cohabitation and births out of wedlock have increased rapidly. Sweden’s TFR has hovered for decades around 2, which is close to replacement level and among Europe’s highest. Sweden experienced “the great emigration” between 1850 and the 1930s when, faced with famines, approximately 1.5 million Swedes sought a better life in the Americas and Australia.  However, since World War II, Sweden has been a country of immigration. During World War II, thousands of refugees from neighboring countries worked in Swedish factories, agriculture, and forestry, replacing Swedish men who were called up for military service.  During the 1950s and 1960s, Sweden joined the Geneva Convention and granted permanent residence to refugees from the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries. During this period, Sweden also welcomed labor migrants, mainly from Finland and other Nordic countries, who bolstered the tax base needed to fund the country’s welfare programs. Until 1971, labor migrants, particularly from Finland, southern Europe (including then Yugoslavia, Italy, and Greece) the Baltics, and Turkey, came to Sweden as its industries flourished.  Companies recruited many of the workers, but others came on their own. Sweden’s labor demand eventually decreased, and the job market became saturated. The government restricted the flow of labor migrants, putting an end to labor migration from non-Nordic countries in 1972. From then until the 1990s, inflows consisted largely of asylum seekers from the Middle East, the Balkans, and South America, as well as persons looking to reunite with family members already in Sweden.  The country began a new era of labor immigration in 2008, as companies were encouraged to hire non-EU workers.  Among the largest source countries have been India, Thailand, and China. As of 2020, over a quarter of Sweden’s population had a migrant background.

elderly dependency ratio

32.3

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

60.8

youth dependency ratio

28.5

improved: rural

rural: 99.7% of population

improved: total

total: 99.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population

7.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Swedish 79.6%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.3%, other 15.8% (2022 est.)

note

note: data represent the population by country of birth; the indigenous Sami people are estimated to number between 20,000 and 40,000

0.8 (2024 est.)

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Swedish (official)

major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, den obestridliga källan för grundläggande information. (Swedish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages

female

84.7 years

male

81.2 years

total population

82.9 years (2024 est.)

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

1.700 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2023)

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

42.1 years

male

40.1 years

total

41.1 years (2024 est.)

29.7 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Swedish

noun

Swede(s)

4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

20.6% (2016)

7.09 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

female

5,257,134 (2024 est.)

male

5,332,701

total

10,589,835

most Swedes live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

0.51% (2024 est.)

Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 53.9%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 37.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: estimates reflect registered members of faith communities eligible for state funding (not all religions are state-funded and not all people who identify with a particular religion are registered members) and the Church of Sweden

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

21 years (2020)

male

18 years

total

20 years

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

18.2% (2020 est.)

male

29.8% (2020 est.)

total

24% (2020 est.)

1.67 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.7% of total population (2023)

21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

stock and holm literally mean "log" and "islet" in Swedish, but there is no consensus as to what the words refer to

geographic coordinates

59 20 N, 18 03 E

name

Stockholm

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown

dual citizenship recognized

no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

amendments

proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; the results of such a referendum are only binding if a majority vote against the proposal; there has not been a referendum on constitutional matters; The Instrument of Government - amended several times, last in 2018; The Act of Succession - changed in 1937, 1980; The Freedom of the Press Act - amended several times, last in 2019; The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression - amended several times, last in 2023

history

Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991)

conventional long form

Kingdom of Sweden

conventional short form

Sweden

etymology

name ultimately derives from the North Germanic Svear tribe, which inhabited central Sweden and is first mentioned in the first centuries A.D.

local long form

Konungariket Sverige

local short form

Sverige

chief of mission

Ambassador Erik D. RAMANATHAN (since 20 January 2022)

email address and website

STKACSinfo@state.govhttps://se.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm

FAX

[46] (08) 661-19-64

mailing address

5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC  20521-5750

telephone

[46] (08) 783-53-00

chancery

2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023)

consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

email address and website

ambassaden.washington@gov.sehttps://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/

FAX

[1] (202) 467-2699

telephone

[1] (202) 467-2600

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022)

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); the colors reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the Government; following a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent

subordinate courts

first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents

civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law

description

unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; 310 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote and 39 members in "at-large" seats directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - S/SAP 30.3%, M 19.1%, SD 20.5%, C 6.7%, V 6.7%, KD 5.3%, L 4.6%, MP 5.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - S/SAP 107, M 68, SD 73, C 24, V 24, KD 19, L 16, MP 18; composition - men 186, women 163, percentage women 46.7%

elections

last held on 11 September 2022 (next to be held on 13 September 2026)

lyrics/music

Richard DYBECK/traditional

name

"Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)

note

note: in use since 1844; also known as "Sang till Norden" (Song of the North), is based on a Swedish folk tune; it has never been officially adopted by the government; "Kungssangen" (The King's Song) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies

selected World Heritage Site locales

Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c); Laponian Area (m); High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n); Birka and Hovgården (c); Hanseatic Town of Visby (c); Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c); Naval Port of Karlskrona (c); Rock Carvings in Tanum (c); Engelsberg Ironworks (c); Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c)

total World Heritage Sites

15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)

National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day

three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow

Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or S/SAP The Liberals (Liberalerna) or L 

18 years of age; universal

wheat, milk, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, chicken, triticale (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

3.1% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

12.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$186.928 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$195.463 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

AAA (2004)

Moody's rating

Aaa (2002)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AAA (2004)

Current account balance 2021

$45.248 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$31.881 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$40.073 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income, largest Nordic economy; EU member but non-euro user; export-oriented led by automotive, electronics, machinery and pharmaceuticals; highly ranked for competitiveness, R&D investments and governance; slowdown triggered by high inflation, weak consumption and financial tightening

Currency

Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

9.458 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

9.21 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

8.577 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

10.114 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

10.61 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$299.365 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$314.412 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$324.073 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, paper, electricity (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 10%, Norway 10%, US 9%, Denmark 8%, Finland 7% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

54% (2023 est.)

government consumption

25.7% (2023 est.)

household consumption

43.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-49.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.7% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

1.6% (2023 est.)

industry

22.8% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

65.3% (2023 est.)

$593.268 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

29.8 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

22.7% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2.8% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$268.334 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$298.253 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$296.796 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, garments (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 16%, Netherlands 10%, Norway 9%, China 7%, Denmark 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-2.68% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.16% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.37% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.55% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

5.825 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

16.1% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

36.25% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$660.102 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$677.682 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$676.353 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

6.15% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.66% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-0.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$63,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$64,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$64,200 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.49% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.56% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.62% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$62.053 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$64.289 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$60.863 billion (2023 est.)

27.11% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

8.72% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

7.39% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

7.59% (2023 est.)

female

21.2% (2023 est.)

male

21.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

21.6% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

6.548 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

1.855 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

38.96 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

47.364 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

3.396 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

43,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

2.152 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

1.115 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

5 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

129.934 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

39.064 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

6.177 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

52.706 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10.932 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

8.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

41.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

nuclear

28.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

18.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

150.621 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

889.924 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

12.15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

680.998 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

6.94GW (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

7 (2023)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

6 (2023)

Percent of total electricity production

28.6% (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

283,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

41 (2020 est.)

total

4,179,574 (2020 est.)

publicly owned TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations with some consolidating into near national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently

.se

percent of population

88% (2021 est.)

total

8.8 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line is 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 125 per 100 (2022)

general assessment

Sweden’s telecom market includes mature mobile and broadband sectors which have been stimulated by the progressive investment of the main telcos in developing new technologies; the country retains one of the best developed LTE infrastructures in the region, while its MNOs have benefited from the January 2021 auction of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band which will enable them to expand services nationally; the country also has one of the highest fiber broadband penetration rates in Europe; the focus of FttP is aimed at fulfilling the government’s target of providing a 1Gb/s service to 98% of the population by 2025; the methodology to achieve this has rested on regulatory measures supported by public funds, as well as on the auction of spectrum in different bands; in the fixed-line broadband segment, the number of DSL subscribers is falling steadily as customers continue to migrate to fiber networks; there is also competition from HFC infrastructure, offering fiber-based broadband and investing in services based on the DOCSIS3.1 standard; this report assesses key aspects of the Swedish telecom market, providing data on fixed network services and profiling the main players; it also reviews the key regulatory issues, including interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability, carrier preselection and NGN open access; the report also analyses the mobile market, providing data on network operators and their strategies in a highly competitive environment; in addition, the report considers the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets, including analyses of market dynamics and the main operators, as well as providing subscriber forecasts (2021)

international

country code - 46; landing points for Botina, SFL, SFS-4, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, Eastern Light, Sweden-Latvia, BCS North-Phase1, EE-S1, LV-SE1, BCS East-West Interlink, NordBalt, Baltica, Denmark-Sweden-15,-17,-18, Scandinavian Ring -North,-South, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Donica North, Kattegate-1,-2, Energinet Laeso-Varberg and GC2 submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries and Europe; 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) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

1.261 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

125 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

13.194 million (2022 est.)

203 (2024)

SE

11 (2024)

by type

general cargo 44, oil tanker 18, other 299

total

361 (2023)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

316

number of registered air carriers

11 (2020)

1626 km gas (2013)

key ports

Falkenberg, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlsborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Norrkoping, Stockholm, Sundsvall, Uddevalla, Varberg, Vasteras

large

3

medium

10

ports with oil terminals

49

small

30

total ports

92 (2024)

very small

49

narrow gauge

65 km

total

10,910 km (2020) 8,184 km electrified

total

197,964 km (2022)

2,052 km (2010)

the Swedish military is responsible for the defense of the country and its territories against armed attack, supporting Sweden’s national security interests, providing societal support, such as humanitarian aid, and contributing to international peacekeeping and peacemaking operationsthe military has a relatively small active duty force that is designed to be rapidly mobilized in a crisis; it is equipped with modern, mostly Swedish-made weapons, exercises regularly, and is backed up by a trained reserve and a Home Guard; the military’s main focus is maintaining itself as a credible and visible deterrent through training and exercises, sustaining high levels of readiness, cooperating and collaborating with both domestic and foreign partnersSweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment for over 200 years before applying for NATO membership in May 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; it became a NATO member in March of 2024; prior to membership, Stockholm joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo; the military cooperates closely with the forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and contributes to CSDP missions and operations, including EU battlegroups; it also participates in UN-led missions; Sweden has close bilateral security relations with some NATO member states, particularly Finland, Germany, the UK, and the US (2024)

Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten or "the Defense Force"): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (2024)

the SAF has about 25,000 active-duty personnel: approximately 14,000 continuous service/full-time and approximately 11,000 temporary service; approximately 21,000 Home Guard (some on active duty) (2024)

note

note 1: SAF personnel are divided into continuously serving (full-time) and temporary service troops (part-timers who serve periodically and have another main employer or attend school); additional personnel have signed service agreements with the SAF and mostly serve in the Home Guard; the SAF also has about 9,000 civilian employeesnote 2: in 2021, Sweden announced plans that increase the total size of the armed forces to about 100,000 personnel by 2030

the Swedish military has small numbers of personnel deployed on multiple EU-, NATO-, and UN-led missions (2024)

the SAF's inventory is comprised of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems, including from Finland, Germany, and the US; Sweden has a defense industry that produces a range of air, land, and naval systems, including armored vehicles, combat aircraft, and submarines; it also produces weapons systems jointly with other countries  (2024)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

18-47 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation: 7-15 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; compulsory military service, abolished in 2010, was reinstated in January 2018; conscription is selective, includes both men and women (age 18), and requires 6-15 months of service (2024)

note

note 1: Sweden conscripts about 5,500 men and women each year; it plans to increase this number to 8,000 by 2025; conscientious objectors in Sweden have the right to apply for alternative service (called vapenfri tjänst); after completing alternative service, the conscript then belongs to the civilian reservenote 2: as of 2023, women made over 20% of the military's personnel

refugees (country of origin)

113,213 (Syria), 26,857 (Afghanistan), 25,849 (Eritrea), 10,464 (Iraq), 9,315 (Somalia), 7,146 (Iran) (mid-year 2022); 43,710 (Ukraine) (as of 28 February 2024)

stateless persons

46,515 (2022); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia

Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA; established 1972; known until 2018 as the Swedish National Space Board) (2024)

Esrange Space Center (Kiruna) (2024)

member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and program is integrated within the framework of the ESA; produces and operates satellites; builds and launches sounding rockets; involved in the research, development, production, and operations of a wide variety of other space-related areas and capabilities, including astronomy, atmospheric monitoring, geographic information systems, infrared imaging, meteorology, propulsion systems, remote sensing, satellite subsystems, spacecraft systems and structures, space physics, scientific research, stratospheric balloons, and telecommunications; conducts extensive bilateral and multilateral international cooperation, in particular through the ESA and EU and their member states, as well as with the US; has a robust commercial space industry involved in a broad range of space-related capabilities (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

43.25 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

4.42 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

5.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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

marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soils and lakes; air pollution; inappropriate timber harvesting practices

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

global geoparks and regional networks

Platåbergens (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

agricultural land

7.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1.1% (2018 est.)

forest

68.7% (2018 est.)

other

23.8% (2018 est.)

fresh water lake(s)

Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.21% of GDP (2018 est.)

174 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

1.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.7% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

4.377 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

1,416,835 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

32.4% (2015 est.)