1998 Edition

Area

total: 449,964 sq km land: 410,928 sq km water: 39,036 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: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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 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 (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 852,520; female 808,600) 15-64 years: 64% (male 2,885,783; female 2,792,964) 65 years and over: 17% (male 653,631; female 893,240) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

11.7 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

10.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)

Infant mortality rate

3.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Swedish note: small Lappand Finnish-speaking minorities

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.19 years male: 76.52 years female: 82 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish

Net migration rate

1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

8,886,738 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

0.26% (1998 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 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 (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan

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

Data code

SW

Executive branch

chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the king (born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister elected by the Parliament; election last held NA March 1996 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: Goran PERSSON elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 183 votes out of 349

FAX

[1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr. embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00

[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)

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June 1809, a constitutional monarchy was established

International organization participation

AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G6, G8, G9, 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, MINUGUA, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rolf EKEUS chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet) Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Carl BILDT]; Liberal People's Party [Maria LEISSNER]; Center Party; Christian Democratic Party [Alf SVENSSON]; New Democracy Party [Vivianne FRANZEN]; Left Party or VP (Communist) [Gudrun SCHYMAN]; Communist Workers' Party [Rolf HAGEL]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG]

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 18 September 1994 (next to be held 20 September 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-Social Democrats 45.4%, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party 1.2%; seats by party-Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22, Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note-the New Democracy Party did not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.0% of votes for a seat in parliament

National capital

Stockholm

National holiday

Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk

Budget

revenues: $109.4 billion expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)

Currency

1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere

Debt-external

$66.5 billion (1994)

Economic aid

donor: ODA, $1.769 billion (1993)

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 clouded by budgetary difficulties, inflation, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, the government adopted an adjustment program in November 1994 that aims to eliminate the government budget deficit and to stabilize the debt to GDP ratio. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995. Sweden has decided not to join the EMU (European Monetary Union). Annual GDP growth should edge up to 2.5% in 1998-99.

Electricity-capacity

35.462 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

15,996 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

142.913 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1-8.0085 (January 1998), 7.6349 (1997), 6.7060 (1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993)

Exports

total value: $84.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products partners: EU 59.1% (Germany 13.2%, UK 10.2%, Denmark 6.9%, France 5.1%), Norway 8.1%, Finland 4.8%, US 8.0% (1994)

Fiscal year

1 January-31 December (Sweden changed its fiscal year from 1 July - 30 June in 1995) Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$176.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 2% industry: 27% services: 71% (1993)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$19,700 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

2.1% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $66.6 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EU 62.6% (Germany 18.4%, UK 9.5%, Denmark 6.6%, France 5.5%), Finland 6.3%, Norway 6.1%, US 8.5% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

2.6% (1996)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

2% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 4.552 million (84% unionized, 1992) by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0

Radios

7.272 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system

excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay network carries 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)

Telephones

13 million (1996 est.)

Television broadcast stations

880 (mostly repeaters)

Televisions

3.5 million

Unemployment rate

6.6% plus about 5% in training programs (1997 est.)

Airports

255 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 145 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 83 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 24 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 110 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 105 (1997 est.)

Heliports

1 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 138,000 km paved: 105,018 km (including 1,330 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,982 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 164 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,036,831 GRT/1,919,367 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 33, chemical tanker 27, combination ore/oil 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 29, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 41, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 12 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

natural gas 84 km Ports and harbors: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall

Railways

total: 11,837 km (includes 1,955 km of privately-owned railways) standard gauge: 11,837 km 1.435-m gauge (7,317 km electrified and 1,152 km double track) (1996)

Waterways

2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges

Military branches

Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$5.8 billion (FY94/95)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.5% (FY94/95)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 2,088,061 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,827,336 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

19 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 52,208 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for and consumer of narcotics shipped via the CIS and Baltic states; increasing consumer of European amphetamines